A High Five for a Healthy Home

Maintaining a healthy home can be challenging, but it IS possible. Use the “right hand rule” to make your home a healthy one.

Thumb: Temperature and Moisture Control

First Finger: Fire and Environmental Safety

Middle Finger: Maintained and Clean

Ring Finger: Reduce Contaminants and Keep It Ventilated

Pinky Finger: Pest Free

Thumb: Temperature and Moisture Control

Problem: Indoor temperatures that aren’t controlled lead to problems, such as higher energy bills and humid or moist areas for mold to grow. Humidity, harsh cold winters, and overexposure to heat can have negative effects on your family.

Solution: Maintain an inside temperature of 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer. Use fans and blankets for inside comfort. This way you can stay comfortable and cut energy bill costs!

Note that fans should be cleaned of dust regularly, especially for those who have asthma or allergies.

Problem: Damp homes invite mold, dust mites, and pests. No one wants to share living space with pests! Buildings and their structures can also be damaged by dampness.

Solution: Control moisture by promptly cleaning leaks or spills, repairing roof gutters regularly, keeping indoor humidity low by using vent systems in the kitchen and bathroom, and drying wet surfaces such as windows, walls, or pipes quickly.

First Finger: Fire and Environmental Safety

Problem: Homes can be more dangerous that we typically think, and adults can be just as vulnerable as children! Use caution around stoves or hot objects, slick floors such as those in the bathroom or kitchen, and exposure to medication and household chemicals.

Solution: Promote safety in your home by keeping pathways clear of rugs and other trip hazards. Make sure dark areas are well-lit to prevent falls. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors regularly, and create a fire plan with everyone who lives in your house.

Middle Finger: Maintained and Clean

Problem: A house that’s dirty or in need of repairs can hurt people. Rough or cluttered floors can cause people to trip or fall. Shoes and pets both track in dirt and pests. Bedding can become infested with dust mites or worse, bed bugs!

Solution: Clear floors and pathways of unneeded furniture, toys, and rugs. Remove shoes before going inside. Keep pets outside. Wash bedding weekly.

Check out our videos for making your own cleaning products, including all-purpose household cleaner, glass cleaner, and furniture cleaner!

Ring Finger: Reduce Contaminants and Keep It Ventilated

Problem: Smoke, lead, asbestos, and carbon monoxide levels are typically much higher indoors. However, you can take steps to maintain a well ventilated home with minimal contaminants.

Solution: Be sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries and are working properly. Keep harmful chemicals out of your home. Enforce handwashing before eating. Change your air filters regularly. Run a vent for 30 minutes after you bathe or cook. Run a dehumidifier if necessary to reduce indoor humidity.

Pinky Finger: Pest Free

Problem: Pests around the house are typically cockroaches, rodents, and bed bugs. Did you that, in addition to be gross, pests can trigger asthma attacks, create fires from wire damage, and cause residents to become ill from bites? YUCK!

Solution: Limit exposure to pests by sealing food in containers, cleaning after cooking, and taking out the trash regularly. Don’t make it easy for pests to get in your home! Seal up entry points, including those holes under the sink where the pipes enter the house.

To learn more about MSU Extension’s Healthy Homes Initiative or to request a Healthy Homes workshop in your community, visit the Healthy Homes website.

Or visit the national Healthy Homes Partnership on Facebook.