Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Tips from fixing the room to finding health remedies in the kitchen.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Are Hidden Dangers In Your Home Making You Ill?

Are Hidden Dangers In Your Home Making You Ill?

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A home is supposed to be a safe haven from all the dangers of the outdoors. But have you ever stopped to think that there could be hidden dangers lurking inside your home too? Many of our houses contain bad chemicals and bacteria that can make us ill. Here are some of the common perpetrators that are worth taking a stand against if you want to keep your home safe.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass is most commonly found in loft insulation, consisting of thinly spun glass wool. There have been claims that it could be carcinogenic, although no evidence has found this to be true. Particles can, however, come off in the air and cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Keeping your loft sealed up or covering over loft insulation if you live in a converted loft could reduce the chance of this happening.

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Lead paint

The manufacture of lead paint was banned in many countries in the 70s and 80s. However, it’s believed that many homes still have lead paint in them without owners knowing. Lead is renowned for its toxicity and it is possible that flecks of paint could come off and be ingested, causing lead poisoning. This should particularly be a concern if you have young children, who are likely to put anything in their mouths.

Read: WHY YOU CAN’T FORGET THE EXTERIOR OF YOUR HOME

There are many companies, such as LM Blast Cleaners that can professionally remove lead paint from your property. Victorian lead piping is also worth checking for – whilst most properties have had this removed, some old houses may still have it.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a material known for its incredible heat resistance and was once used in as an insulator in many homes. However, this material has since been banned in fifty countries after studies showed it was highly carcinogenic. This is caused by fibres, which can come off and float in the air when the asbestos is disturbed (which could include anything from drilling a hole in a wall to accidentally knocking it and causing it to flake). Like lead, asbestos is best removed by a professional.

Gas leaks

Carbon monoxide is a big killer and is hard to detect, given that it’s colorless and odorless.  If you’ve been feeling unusually nauseous or sleepy, this gas could be to blame. It’s usually the result of a gas leak, either from a faulty gas light or an oven ring. Carbon monoxide detectors can alert you if there is a leak in your home. Your first point of call should always be to turn off the gas if on and then get out of your home into the fresh air as soon as possible.

Unclean air con

Air conditioning units need to be regularly cleaned. When not used often, they can build up dust and mold and become a breeding ground for bacteria. This then gets pumped around the air the next time the air con is switched on, which can cause breathing problems and sickness (in extreme cases, Legionnaire’s Disease). Using a company such as All Hours Air conditioning and heater repair service could help to prevent this. Regularly using air-con can also reduce the chance of bacteria build-up.

Mold

Mold is a fungus that can appear in homes as a result of dampness. Some people can be more susceptible to it than others – in some cases, it can cause sickness, rash, wheezing, itchy eyes, and other allergy symptoms. It can also quite often bring on symptoms of asthma. Fixing leaks promptly and buying an air dehumidifier can help to prevent mold from appearing. You can usually clean it off yourself with soapy hot water and a sponge, although bleach may be needed for more stubborn outbreaks (in this instance, wear gloves and protect your mouth).

Read: COULD YOUR MOLDY HOME BE MAKING YOU FEEL SICK?

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Your kitchen worktop

You might not consider your kitchen worktop to a common offender, but quite often, it can be a leading cause of sickness and bugs in the home. Without thoroughly cleaning it on a regular basis, germs such as salmonella can easily breed. However, quite often, it’s not forgetting to clean the worktops that do it, but the tools we use for cleaning. An overused sponge or dishcloth could simply be coating everything it touches in more bacteria. Replace sponges regularly and put dishcloths through the wash (given that they’re so cheap to buy, you can even replace them). Another way of limiting bacteria spreading is to use different chopping boards for meat and vegetables and to keep these thoroughly cleaned.

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram. 

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Keep a Healthy Home in the Heat This Summer

Keep a Healthy Home in the Heat This Summer

Staying healthy is something you should work at all year, but it’s often in the spring and summer months when you really want to commit yourself. It’s hard to stay motivated when it’s colder and darker, so you can feel much more energized when summer arrives. Keeping your home healthy during the summer is sometimes a challenge, especially if you suffer from hayfever. You need to stay cool and hydrated and make sure you can get a good night’s sleep in the heat. Here’s how you could make your home healthier this summer to live a healthier lifestyle.

 

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Staying Cool

Keeping cool is one of the most important things you need to do during the summer. It’s important to avoid becoming dehydrated or even experiencing things like heat stroke. Plus, staying cool helps to keep you comfortable, putting you in a better mood and generally making it easier for you to live your life. Most people’s immediate thought to ensure their home stays cool is to get the best air conditioner they can find. An air conditioner is often the most effective way of staying cool. However, you can also make use of fans, open windows, and also keep your home darker to prevent the sun heating it up.

Stock the Kitchen with Healthy Food

During the winter, it’s easy to take comfort in less healthy foods. When summer arrives, it can often be easier to stick to a healthier diet. You might have less of an appetite when it’s hot, and prefer to eat lighter and smaller meals. However, there can be lots of tempting treats too, from ice cream to BBQ. Instead of indulging in barbecue and cold desserts, you can try to be a little healthier. Focus on enjoying different types of salads, which you can bulk up using ingredients like couscous or quinoa. Consider making your own ice pops too, using fruit juice, so you know exactly what’s in them.

 

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Spend Time Gardening

Getting to spend more time outside is one of the best things about summer. Gardening is a great way to spend time in your backyard, and it’s excellent for your mental health. It can also be pretty hard physical work, depending on what you choose to do, so it can help to keep you fit. If you want something to get you outside in the summer, doing some gardening could be just what you need.

Sleep Well

Sleeping well is essential to both your mental and physical health. If you’re struggling to sleep in the summer, it could have more of an effect on you than you might think. You don’t want to be falling asleep by mid-afternoon when you have such lovely long days to enjoy. Staying cool at night is the key to a good sleep, so try to sleep with light sheets and have your air conditioning on if you can. You might also need to block out the late evening sun – blackout blinds or curtains can help with this.

Make your home healthier in the summer with a few changes to manage the heat. Spend your time wisely to keep fit and eat healthily.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Is Your Home Making You Ill?

Is Your Home Making You Ill?

For many of us, our home is our castle, and it is the one space in which we feel most safe and secure. But is that really the case?

Even though you may think your house is completely perfect, there could be some small imperfections that you aren’t really aware of. And these imperfections could be having a negative effect on your health. Want to make sure that your house isn’t dragging your family’s health down? Here are some things you need to check.

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The Refrigerator

If you already throw out old food from your refrigerator on a regular basis, you might think that you are doing everything you can in the battle against food poisoning. Think again! There are some very sneaky ways your fridge could be increasing the spread of germs. Does your fridge have an electrical coil in it? This freezes once in a while and then thaws. When it thaws, it drips water, which needs to be cleaned up regularly If it isn’t cleaned, it will evaporate and spread germs throughout your home. And don’t forget to wipe out the vegetable tray every now and then!

Read: ARE HIDDEN DANGERS IN YOUR HOME MAKING YOU ILL?

Heating And Cooling Systems

One of the biggest causes of illnesses caused in the home is the heating and air conditioning system. Air conditioning can leave traces of water it the system ducts. These small pools are great for encouraging germs and bacteria to breed. All of the bacteria can then cause respiratory problems, such as asthma and allergies. To make sure your family never suffers from these conditions, make sure your systems are professionally serviced every year.

Soft Furnishings

We all have our favorite chairs and sofas that we love to lounge in. And I’m sure you also enjoy spending lazy weekend mornings in bed! But did you know that your soft furnishings and bed sheets could be hiding a dirty secret? Over time, dust mites will collect in these soft items and make themselves at home. Bed bugs could congregate in between your sheets. These can cause skin irritation. While it is impossible to remove all dust mites from your home, a thorough cleaning every couple of months should keep their numbers down to a minimum.

Read: COULD YOUR HOME BE MAKING YOU ILL?

Cleaning Products

You may think that cleaning products are one of the most helpful tools you can have in your home to help you in the fight against germs and bacteria, but, in actual fact, they could be doing more harm than good. That’s because the strong chemicals in the products could be carcinogenic and cause cancer as well as headaches and skin irritations. Don’t worry; you don’t have to stop cleaning your home. Instead, you should just make the switch to natural cleaning products. Most of these are organic and eco-friendly and aren’t harmful to humans or animals.

I hope this blog post hasn’t scared you too much, but it is always worth knowing exactly how our health could be affected by the environment around us. At least now you know how to improve things!

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram. 

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Moving Vs Renovating: The Pros and Cons

Moving Vs Renovating: The Pros and Cons

 

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When you first moved into your house, it might have felt like your dream home. However, just because it was exactly what you were after at the time, doesn’t mean there won’t be problems later down the line. Maybe you’ve had a couple of kids or adopted some pets. Perhaps you’ve started caring for an elderly relative, or have started working from home? Either way, a change in circumstances can mean a house you once loved is no longer suitable. When this happens, you have two main options: stay and renovate or move somewhere new. But which do you pick?

Renovation: The Pros

If you only need one or two extra rooms, a simple extension or even a conservatory can solve your issues. You could convert the loft, basement or even just re-jig the space you have by moving the internal walls. Either way, it could be a simple fix that saves you a lot of time, hassle, and money from moving house. If you’re close to family, good schools or just generally love your home and don’t want to move, renovating allows you to stay put while adapting your home to your current needs.

Renovation: The Cons

Renovation is no walk in the park. When this kind of work is being done while you’re still living in the property, it can be incredibly stressful as it feels like you’re living on a building site. When you’re doing major renovation work, you will often need planning permission too, and waiting around for that can be annoying when you just want to get cracking. Then, of course, there’s the cost too. If you don’t want to borrow against your home, you will need to come up with the money for renovations too which aren’t ever going to be cheap.

Moving House: The Pros

Moving house is incredibly exciting. It’s the perfect opportunity to start fresh, you have this new blank canvas and the promise of a new life ahead of you. There are few chances in life you get like this where you get to wipe the slate and start again. Moving house also allows you to work out exactly what you don’t like about your old place so you can find something better the next time around. Perhaps your commute is too far, or you want to be closer to better schools? Whatever it is, you could compare home loans and get started on the path to a new life.

Moving House: The Cons

There’s no doubt about it, moving is stressful. Physically moving your items, changing over bills and addresses with a hundred and one companies, cleaning and repairing your old property and finding the perfect new home. You have removals vans to book, solicitors to speak to and so much more. It’s mentally and physically exhausting, and definitely not something you want to be doing on a regular basis!

 

Will you be renovating or moving house this year? If so, what was the reason for your decision?

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram

 

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Protecting the Roof Over Your Head

Protecting the Roof Over Your Head

Most people know that our roof protects us. It shields us from things like bad weather, rodents and insects, and it keeps us warm at night when we’re sleeping in bed. However, there are times when we also need to give our roof a bit of love and care as well in order to keep it in top condition to protect us. As much as we need our roof, it needs us too.

 

But how can you protect your roof? There are plenty of ways to clean it, renovate it and even repair it without needing the help of a contractor. However, specialised roof services like Anderson Contractors are invaluable if you need some serious help with the roof over your head. Many roof repairs and renovations require at least two people to perform safely. It’s not recommended to tackle these on your own because it can be incredibly dangerous to climb up a roof on your own unless you have scaffolding set up, which is both expensive and time-consuming.

 

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Roof repairs can be expensive, but it’s worth the money

 

DIY roof repairs can save you a lot of money if you’re willing to put some time and effort into learning how to do them. Luckily for you, most roof repairs are easy to carry out assuming you have a bit of help from friends or family. Most of the cost comes down to expertise and experience, which is something you can guarantee your contracting has. When you carry out your own repairs, the majority of the cost will come down to the materials and equipment you need. Thankfully, roof repair and maintenance doesn’t need much equipment besides a few tools to remove shingles and tiles.

 

Don’t use a pressure cleaner

 

One of the worst things you can do to your roof is blast it with a pressure cleaner. The strength of the water can lead to many problems in the future, such as loosening tiles or even cracking them under the immense pressure of a specialised cleaning machine. If you want to clean off dirt and grime from your roof with a pressure cleaner, then use the lowest possible setting so that it doesn’t damage your roof. Alternatively, simply use a cloth and a brush to scrape off dirt and grime, or consider using a chemical roof cleaner to get rid of moss.

 

If your roof is noticeably aged, such as having lots of stains, missing tiles and the shingles are curved or cracked, then it might be time to have your entire roof replaced. Regular roof maintenance can keep its appearances up and help prolong its life, but no roof is sturdy enough to last more than 15 years without a replacement. If you’re going to replace your entire roof, then dedicated lots of days to it in a row so you can finish it in a timely manner. If you can’t make the time, then consider hiring a contractor instead. An ageing roof is susceptible to leaks, letting in rodents and insect infestations, and could even collapse depending on the structural integrity.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram