Eight things in an apartment that make us sick are named

When we use familiar things that make our lives more convenient and enjoyable, we often do not think that they can be dangerous. Some items that you bring into your home need to be put in order first, and only then do you start using them. And some turn into a source of danger in the process of use.

The ArchZiner blog analyzed how most people use ordinary household items or manifest their daily habits, and compiled a list of what can cause real illness. And he gave advice on what to do to avoid these problems.

Dirty sheets

Even if you live alone, you never sleep alone in your bed. Dust mites are there with you. These microscopic arachnids feed on dead skin particles. And a person loses an average of 14 grams of such particles per week, so there is no shortage of food for these pests. The waste products that dust mites leave behind can cause unpleasant reactions, such as eczema, exacerbation of seasonal allergies, skin irritation, asthma, and more.

To get rid of this harmful neighborhood, bedding should be washed at a temperature of 60 degrees. And it is advisable to change sheets and pillowcases at least once a week.

Old air conditioner

Air conditioning not only cools the air in the heat and heats it in the cold, making our lives more comfortable. It also accumulates various bacteria, viruses, and mold spores on its filter and eventually begins to bring them back into your room. Perhaps the most dangerous of these is Legionella, which can cause severe pneumonia.

To extend the life of your appliance, you need to maintain and clean it regularly. But over time, it will still become so dirty that no amount of cleaning will help it. In this case, it is better to replace the air conditioner with a new one.

An old vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner harms your health in the same way as an air conditioner - by releasing more dust into the air than it collects. A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology showed that 21 devices of different brands, price segments, and ages spread dust, bacteria, and allergens around them during operation. Old vacuum cleaners without appropriate filters performed the worst.

The solution to the problem is to buy a modern vacuum cleaner with a highly efficient particulate filter. Or with an aqua filter.

Refrigerator drawers

At the bottom of the fruit and vegetable drawers, which are usually located in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment, various microorganisms accumulate that you bring home with unwashed food. Unlike in the freezer, where the low temperature kills pathogens, E. coli, salmonella, and similar pathogens can survive in the refrigerator. This increases the risk of food poisoning.

To avoid this risk, wash and disinfect your refrigerator drawers at least once a month. Also, remember to wash food before cooking.

Household cleaning products

Hygiene in the home sometimes requires the use of quite aggressive household chemicals. Plumbing cleaners can contain components that cause asphyxiation if inhaled, some laundry detergents contain carcinogenic formaldehyde, and jewelry cleaners contain toxic perchloroethylene.

Light dirt can be dealt with with eco-friendly products such as lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda. There is also a wide range of non-toxic household chemicals available today.

Pet hair

Cats and dogs are real members of our families, but they cause almost as much mess as small children. The reason is the hair they leave behind, especially on various fabrics. It is carried throughout the house and can cause allergies.

It's difficult to deal with hair, but necessary, so you'll need to clean your home textiles and upholstered furniture more often.

Cigarette smoke

A person who smokes consumes more than 7,000 chemicals through smoke, about 70 of which can cause cancer. And not only smokers themselves suffer, but also people who are close to them. This is called passive smoking and is no less dangerous to health.

The only way to prevent cigarette smoke from entering your home is to ban smoking inside its walls. Even if a person smokes through an open window, some of the smoke will enter the room. Therefore, it is better to solve the problem radically.

Invisible mold

Mold fungi most often settle in damp rooms with poor ventilation, such as bathrooms. Your shower head may look shiny and clean on the outside, but inside it may have an unpleasant surprise. Mold can cause such unpleasant symptoms as headaches, nausea, nasal congestion, and even asthma attacks.

Look into remote corners more often to see if anything unwanted has taken up residence there. If you notice something that looks like mold, treat it immediately with special products.