Our homes are out safe spaces where we feel comforted and cozy. But did you know that your home can, and probably does, make you sick? There are certain dangers lurking in your home that can make you and your family feel sick that you should be aware of.

If you’ve been wondering, “Is my house making me sick?” keep reading. We’re going to go over 5 common things that could be lurking in your home and making you feel ill.

1. Dust

Dust isn’t only unsightly: it’s a common allergen that can make us sneezy, stuffed up, and generally sick. Dust mites trigger an immune response similar to allergic reactions, which can make you feel sick. Dust can also trigger asthma attacks and cause respiratory issues.

Be sure to wipe down surfaces, vacuum, and wash your sheets/clothes in order to eliminate as much dust as possible.

2. Mold

Mold grows anywhere that’s humid, warm, and wet, which makes inside of homes an excellent spot for mold growth. Like dust, mold can trigger immune responses, allergic reaction, and generally make you feel sick.

If you and your family have been experiencing allergy-like symptoms like respiratory issues, wheezing, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, etc, consider having mold testing done.

3. Clogged Heating/Cooling Filters

As time goes on, allergens, dust, and harmful bacteria can get clogged in the filters. If they’re not changed out, the heating and cooling system will end up circulating these harmful substances around your house, which makes breathing them in and getting sick quite easily.

The good news is there’s a simple solution to this problem: switch out the filters on a regular basis. Heating and cooling system filters should be replaced at least once per year. But, if you have pets, many family members, or are particularly sensitive to dust/allergens, it can’t hurt to switch them out more often.

4. Toxic Cleaning Products

In your efforts to prevent getting sick and keeping your house clean, you might be using some cleaning products that contain harmful chemicals and components. Some examples of harmful cleaning product chemicals include:

• Phthalates (cause skin reactions and sometimes allergies)
• Bleach (causes skin reactions, respiratory issues, lightheadedness)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (causes difficulty breathing, nausea, affects organ health, etc)

When choosing cleaning products, look for ones with all natural ingredients as well as ones without the ones listed above. These will be gentler on your health and prevent any further issues that could be inadvertently caused by your cleaning methods.

5. An Unclean Refridgerator

Most of us remember to clean the kitchen, but what about inside the fridge? Old food, especially fresh produce, can leave dangerous bacteria and microorganisms on the shelves which can make us sick.

Don’t skip cleaning the inside of the fridge when cleaning your home!

Is My House Making Me Sick? 5 Common Things Doing Just That

So: is my house making me sick? If you notice (or do) any of these 5 things, then it might be. Homes should be a place of comfort and safety; be sure to look for these things and fix them to make your home as safe and clean as possible.

Check out this article for other tips on how to make your home as safe as possible.