HEALTH - ~ How to Breathe EasierAt Home

Having a healthy home isn't necessarily about making every surface
spotless. (Phew!) But a bit of strategic cleaning protects you from
germs and toxins. In fact, concentrations of some pollutants can be
two to five times greater inside our homes than they are outdoors,
according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency—a worrisome
factconsidering we spend, on average, 90 percent of ourtime indoors.
What's more, ordinary objects like a dirty dish towel or neglected
houseplant "can provide just the right environmentfor harmful microbes
to grow," says Kelly Reynolds, PhD, associate professor of
environmental sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Fortunately, small changes, whether it's shaking out your welcome mat
or installing a water filter, can improvethe well-being of your
home—and everyone in it.Here, the most important moves to make.
Step up your doormat
About 60 percent of the dust in our home comes from outside—most of it
tracked in on the bottom of our shoes, research says. And those tiny
particles are made up of a combination of all sorts of icky things
like human skin, animal fur, food debris, lead, and even arsenic.
"Fortunately, using the right kind of doormats canhelp reduce dirt,
pesticides, pollen, and other pollutants in your home," says Oluremi
Aliyu,MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of
Connecticut Health Center. Pick an abrasive one (it will grab more
gunk) made of synthetic fibers like nylon yarn or polypropylene.
Then don't forget to clean it: "Vacuum or shake out your mat once a
week," advises Linda Cobb, cleaning expert and author of Talking Dirty
with the Queen of Clean . Once a month, do a deep clean: Scrub it with
a scrubbrush and warm, soapy water, then hose it off.
Filter your tap water
Your home H2O can contain bacteria, chemicals, and other pollutants,
including heavy metals like lead. At least 74 million Americans in 42
states drink tap water containing chromium (a metal that in some forms
can cause cancer), a study from the Environmental Working Group
reveals.
And although chlorine is necessary to disinfect our water supply,
large amounts can damage healthy cells. The chlorine can also react
with other elements in water to form compounds that have been linked
to cancer, miscarriages, and birth defects. Long-term exposure to
water contaminants—via drinking or inhalation (such as in the steam
fromyour shower)—can also lead to blood, bone, and lung diseases,
notes Michael Roizen, MD, chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Wellness
Institute.
For extra peace of mind, invest in a water filter for your kitchen
faucet that is certified by the National Science Foundation (such as
Pur or Brita). In the shower, install a carbon filter to help remove
chlorine as well as metals that may leach out of pipes. Remember: "The
longer water has been sitting in the pipes, the higher the metal
content, so let it run for a few seconds before showering," Roizen
adds.

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