5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality
And Protect the Health of Your Family
Fourth, pick laundry products and air fresheners that don’t list ‘fragrance’ as an ingredient. The composition of synthetic “fragrances” is considered a trade secret, but most scents are derived from petroleum products. There hasn’t been enough testing done to know how inhaling synthetic fragrances affects us because most current testing focuses on skin irritation. Still, scented products may induce allergy symptoms, so if you have a sensitive family member, stick to unscented products.
Many people have been spending more time at home in the past several months, and it's felt more important than ever to have good indoor air quality. Air pollution isn’t limited to smog visibly affecting the air around us. More often than not, indoor air can be just as polluted, or even more polluted, than outdoor air. Microscopic dust mites, chemicals, and allergens can aggravate your family members’ allergies or asthma. Here are some easy ways to improve your home’s air quality and better protect your family today. First, vacuum and mop regularly. We recommend vacuuming twice a week or more. Letting dust accumulate will increase how much dust you breathe in. A vacuum that has both strong suction and a HEPA filter can ensure that dust and dirt won’t be blown back out. Floor mats outside your
front and back doors can also really help keep contaminants out!
Second, keep the humidity moderate. Too much humidity attracts dust mites and mold. Keeping the humidity in your home around 30%–50% can help keep dust mites and mold under control. Third, test your home for radon. No matter how new your home may be, it’s important to test for this colorless, odorless, and radioactive gas. Radon is one of the top indoor air pollutants, and it’s the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. It occurs from the natural decay of uranium found in nearly all soils and tends to move up through the ground and into the cracks of a home’s foundation.
Fifth, replace your home’s air filters regularly. Talk to an expert about how
frequently you should be replacing your filters. This can depend on several factors, such as the number of pets in the household, the size and location of your home, what allergies you may be prone to, and seasonal changes.
Parents, Give Yourselves a Breather Tips for Taking the Pressure Off While Balancing Remote Work and Family
Our parents at Brooks & Crowley totally understand that right now, having empathy for your work-life balance is more important than ever. On top of your career, you might be thinking, “Is my child getting enough productive, social playtime in their day?” Along with Steve Brooks’ personal reflections on our cover, we thought we’d offer additional advice for this unusual back- to-school season. Create a (flexible) schedule. If your schedule didn’t stick around after a few weeks of the pandemic, don’t be hard on yourself. A strict schedule just isn’t always going to stick. Structure is good, but kids famously love spontaneity and interruptions. According to Parents.org, Christine Durst — a mom of two in Woodstock, Connecticut, and co-founder of RatRaceRebellion.com (a
site for remote jobs) — says that you’ll get more done if you work smarter, not harder. Keeping a flexible schedule (like an hour block that’s able to be dedicated to kids or work, depending on the day’s flow) can help you and your kids stay on track. But if your schedule is defined by your employer, don’t be afraid to try to arrange a nontraditional work schedule to fit your current parenting needs. It will help take the pressure off your shoulders. Keep kids entertained — or don’t. Speaking of pressure, you’ve probably heard your kids complain more than once about their boredom. That’s okay! Sometimes, kids need to be forced to overcome their “boredom” by using their own creativity (without a screen), and that’s a healthy thing. Steven Mintz, author of “Huck’s Raft: A History of American Childhood,” recently
told the New York Times, “All play is productive. They will learn something from whatever they do.” Kids can embrace this even when they’re very young. Renee Belbeck, a mom in Columbus, Ohio, and CEO and founder of the National Association of W.O.M.E.N. (Women, Owners, Moms, Entrepreneurs, and Networkers), discovered a rule when her kids were toddlers. “If I gave them a little quality time, I’d get two hours to work.” But don’t feel bad if you need to put on YouTube to distract them, too. The internet has become an integral part of our lives, and it’s always going to be there for your toddler when you can’t miss your 10 a.m. Zoom meeting. We hope this back-to-school season goes smoothly for you and your family!
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