Most people these days have heard of unsanitary house syndrome. You may not know it by that name, but you have heard of the problems some houses have, making them unsanitary for their occupants. Many new houses are treated for termites and other nasties as they are built, and the poison residue is enough to make the occupants sick. The formaldehyde in new carpets, while low dose, contributes to feelings of discomfort. Often, paint or wall treatments, glue used on tiles, and even interior wall coverings contribute to occupant discomfort. The amounts of the chemicals are not sufficient to cause disease on their own, but the continued combination of the chemicals and their residues causes a feeling of sickness in some occupants.
Young children and babies are particularly susceptible to minute doses of chemicals and parents should be aware of this. They may feel fine themselves, but find that their babies are often sick with cold symptoms, or just not quite well in general. If you are a parent and have just moved into a new home, be sure to properly ventilate rooms while the home is still new. Most new houses do not have the old air vents because they make the air conditioning system inefficient. Therefore, the rooms are totally sealed from the fresh air outside and are not properly ventilated. Any chemical residue and associated odors become trapped in the room and in the fibers of the room’s furniture.
Old houses also have their dangers. Dirty vents or ductwork can be filled with bacteria, mold, or dust that can aggravate allergies and lung problems. Paint is often lead-based, especially on exterior surfaces. Red Lead was often used as an undercoat to preserve exterior wood from the effects of the elements.
When doing renovations, be very careful as asbestos was often used to line the walls, especially in areas near heat sources like hot water services.
Proper ventilation and ventilation can eliminate most unsanitary house syndrome problems. Once a year, you should clean all the ducts. When doing maintenance or renovating, be careful around lead-based paint or asbestos. Appropriate precautions should be taken when any of these are disturbed. Make sure all surfaces like walls are fully washable and fabrics like furniture and drapes are well ventilated after cleaning. Use low odor paint if painting indoors. Consider rugs instead of rugs in bedrooms. If you have carpet, make sure the room has adequate ventilation, especially if the carpet is new.
Most importantly, when cleaning your home, use safe cleaners. Vinegar and baking soda are cheap and effective and have no hazardous residue. There are alternative products on the market, which look nice and smell good, but have minimal impact on the environment and people. You might consider these.