Is your home a healthy home? Would you know if it wasn't?
Each home, and family, is different and you'll notice as you read that some of these fit you better than others. There isn’t enough room in one article to describe all the ways to find and fix problem. Future posts will delve more deeply into each “strategy” with tips for different budgets and schedules. So when you start thinking, "Of course I want to keep my house pest-free! Telling me pests are no good doesn't help me safely get rid of them!" know that such advice is on its way.
Your home is a single unit, each part affects and is affected by the others. So you will notice, for example, that keeping your home well-maintained will help with other issues such as moisture or safety. Most importantly, don’t get overwhelmed if you feel that your home has problems that are too big for you to handle. Even little steps , like sweeping after a meal or opening a window can make a difference.
1. Keep it Dry
Prevent water from entering your home through leaks in roofing systems, rain water from entering the home due to poor drainage, and check your interior plumbing for leaking.
2. Keep it Clean
Control the source of dust and contaminants, creating smooth and cleanable surfaces, reducing clutter, and using effective wet-cleaning methods.
3. Keep it Safe
Store poisons out of the reach of children and properly labeled. Secure loose rugs and keep children’s play areas free from hard or sharp surfaces. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and keep fire extinguishers on hand.
4. Keep it Well-Ventilated
Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens and use whole house ventilation for supplying fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home.
5. Keep it Pest-Free
All pests look for food, water and shelter. Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; store food in pest-resistant containers. If needed, use sticky-traps and baits in closed containers, along with least toxic pesticides such as boric acid powder.
6. Keep it Contaminant-Free
Reduce lead-related hazards in pre-1978 homes by fixing deteriorated paint, and keeping floors and window areas clean using a wet-cleaning approach. Test your home for radon, a naturally occurring dangerous gas that enters homes through soil, crawlspaces, and foundation cracks. Install a radon removal system if levels about the EPA action-level are detected.
7. Keep it Well-Maintained
Inspect, clean and repair your home routinely. Take care of minor repairs and problems before they become large repairs and problems.
Information available through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
