Which areas or rooms in your home should you be concerned about the most? Which are the most contaminated places? What can you do to reduce this contamination? 

The answers to these questions are not that simple to answer as they also depend on each person’s lifestyle and their overall residence.

To give you an idea, your home is as unique as the types of bacteria found inside. Studies show that each house has a specific amount and type of bacteria, like a fingerprint or signature. Did you know that in many cases, indoor air can be more harmful to one’s health than that of large urban outdoor areas?

We have prepared a questionnaire to allow you to evaluate how pollutants can contaminate each room and how you can help to alleviate this problem.

KITCHENS

1) Does your kitchen have poor ventilation with no openable windows?

• If so, it is likely to have a greater accumulation of pollutants, including bacteria and fungi (mold). One solution is frequent cleaning. Do not leave dishes unattended for a long period of time and clean the most used surfaces with a disinfectant. This prevents the overgrowth of microorganisms that may contaminate food or be inhaled. In cases of frequent cooking, the amount of these microorganisms tends to be higher, and constant cleaning is essential to avoid contamination and maintain a healthy environment.

2) Do you store the garbage inside the kitchen?

• Studies show that the amount of bacteria that remains in kitchen dust that can be inhaled is up to 7 times higher in homes where garbage is stored in the kitchen. It is ideal to remove trash daily from your kitchen environment.

3) Do you clean the floor with a broom?

• This question applies to the kitchen and any other areas of the house. Sweeping raises dust, which is then inhaled and/or deposited on surfaces.  It is suggested to use a damp cloth for cleaning.

LAUNDRY AREAS

1) Do you dry your clothes indoors using a dryer?

• If so, it can raise the humidity of the environment and increase the number of fungi and bacteria in this area. The best solution is to ventilate if the area has windows, or wait for drier days to do the laundry.

2) Do you store garbage in these areas?

• If so, the rule is the same as in the kitchen.  Keep garbage in trash containers that are outdoors and with lids.

BATHROOMS

1) Is your bathroom poorly ventilated with no openable windows? Do you have a forced exhaust system?

• This area is more susceptible to the accumulation of bacteria and fungi. Clean the bathroom with a disinfecting cleaner and always leave the environment as dry as possible.

2) Do you see mold on surfaces?

• This is very common due to the fact that the surfaces remain wet after bathing and hygiene activities. Suggested solutions are to increase ventilation, disinfect at least once per week and dry surfaces whenever possible.

ROOMS AND LIVING ROOMS

1) Do you have many porous materials in these rooms, such as carpets, curtains, pillows?

• The probability that there are many more mites in these environments is higher. Ideally, reduce the amount of these materials and wash them frequently at temperatures of 1300 F.

2) Cabinets tend to be great places for mold, bacteria, and mites to proliferate and need to be ventilated and sanitized often.

4) A bedroom is a place where we spend most of our time at home whether to relax or to sleep. Therefore, solutions to improve air quality in this space bring greater benefits.

OFFICES

1) In addition to the pollutants mentioned in bedrooms and living rooms, offices also have fax machines and printers that release irritating gases into the airways.

• It is best to ventilate the environment well, especially when these appliances are in use.

MEET THE MOST COMMON POLLUTANTS AND REACTIONS THAT THEY MAY CAUSE

The most common pollutants are those resulting from microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi – most commonly mold – mites and even pollens), chemical pollutants:

• Printers
• Fax machines
• New carpets
• Particles resulting from fireplaces and wood stoves, among other things

The main reactions to these pollutants are airway inflammation as well as allergic reactions. More severe reactions, such as infections and even cardiovascular disease, may occur.

The best step is to purify the air in each room and also to identify the type of allergens you may be most sensitive to by consulting an allergist doctor.