A cheap brand new washing machine is hard to get by these days, so it is a good choice to check out some refurbished or used washing machines. Of course, you will hesitate about the idea of buying a second-hand machine because you will not avail of the same guarantee as you would with a new model. But you can find good buys if you have the skills in picking a good refurbished or used washing machine.

• Get some kind of warranty when buying a second-hand washing machine.
• If the machine is refurbished and the seller gave you a warranty, the repair man will come to your house and repair it if the washing machine breaks down unexpectedly.
• Refurbished machines have been repaired and rejuvenated by factories to work like the brand new one, so make sure to test it before deciding whether to pursue with the purchase or not.

Keeping Your Home Safe

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  Take charge of your own house - Make sure to clean your residence regularly to avoid accumulating dust, germs and other harmful microorganisms.
• Quit smoking - Tobacco smoke is dangerous to you and your family’s health. To save a lot of money, better kick that bad habit.
• Test your house for any contamination - Radon and lead are poisonous substances that can harm the family so to know if your house contains these, hire the services of a testing company.
• Get rid of the chemical based pesticides - If you need to use insecticides inside your home or for your garden, opt for the type which is made from natural ingredients. By doing so, you are eliminating the likeliness of poisoning especially when you live with young kids.
• Be wary of canned goods and plastic bottles - The safety of bisphenol A (BPA) is still being debated up until present, so be very careful in buying products made of this.
• Purify your tap water - Since many sources of water are deemed as unsafe, it is better to filter the water before drinking it to reduce the amount of microorganisms and impurities.  This is especially important for those with kids as the little ones have weaker bodies compared to adults.
• Beware of the nonstick cookware - Use your Teflon pots and pans wisely. These contain perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) that can be potentially carcinogenic. Opt for copper-coated, cast iron or enamel-coated cookware.
• Keep your hands clean - Washing the hands regularly can keep the germs, viruses and bacteria from being passed from one person to another.  Be sure to teach your kids the importance of washing their hands so they can form this as a habit.
• Select cleaning products carefully - Opt for the non-toxic supplies, or better yet, select the organic household cleaning items for your home. Make sure to keep your cleaning products out of reach of the young ones, if you have children living with you at home.
• Go organic - Try to incorporate as many organic foods into your diet every day.
• Safety refuge - In case of an emergency or a fire, designate an area outside your home for the family to get together.

Child-Proofing Your Home

• Dangerous objects should be kept out of children’s reach - Detergents, chemicals and medicines should be stored in their proper places to keep it safe from the children.
• Keep the kitchen safe- Sharp objects should be kept in the drawers and the fridge or oven should have fasteners so the young ones will not be able to open it.
• Keep the bathroom dry - Wet floor and buckets filled with water with no cover are dangerous especially to children.
• Install safety staircase railings – If you have stairs, it is a wise idea to invest in safety staircase railings to ensure that the little ones will not get injured as they try to crawl up to the stairs. This will also prevent the likeliness of falling accidents, which is very common among kids.

Tobacco/Cigarette Smoke

Everybody knows the danger that can be brought by cigarette smoke. It is a toxic air pollutant that contains over 4,000 harmful chemicals. The actual smokers are not the only ones who experience difficulties and incur smoking-related diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, respiratory allergies and lung cancer—secondhand smokers (people who can inhale the cigarette smoke) also suffer.

Pesticides

These substances are used to get rid of pests and weeds, but pesticides are also harmful to the body especially in high amounts. Skin rashes, allergies, respiratory diseases and even cancer are associated with too much exposure to certain insecticides.

Formaldehyde

Used in glues, plywood, fertilizers, particleboard, fiberboard and other types of insulation, formaldehyde is also used in some antibacterial soaps, disinfectants and beauty products. EPA has classified this chemical as a potential carcinogenic substance. The vapor can irritate several parts of the body like the eyes, throat, nose and skin. It can also lead to asthma attacks and respiratory allergies among children.

Radon

This an odorless, invisible and radioactive gas which comes from the decay of radium, a naturally occurring element found in soil. Radon can get inside the home through the cracks and can accumulate in the floor especially in the basement. It can cause lung cancer among humans.

Lead

Lead had been banned since 1978 but its harmful effects last up until now because old paints that contain lead still remain on the walls of many structures. This element can cause anemia, brain damage, behavioral problems and even learning disabilities among young people.

The list of potentially harmful objects and substances inside the home goes on but you can do something about these. Have your house tested for the presence of the dangerous elements and consult the experts on the ways to resolve the problems. As for smoking issue, try your best to quit smoking and designate your house as a no-smoking zone.

In that regard, here are some simple and easy ways to purify water from the faucets and other sources in your home.

Boil the Water

Considered as the simplest and easiest method to purify water, boiling is commonly done by people all around the world to ensure that the water they are going to drink is clean and safe. All you need to do is to bring the water to a rolling boil and leave it for at least five minutes. Experts recommend a longer boiling time. The disadvantage of this process, however, is that it takes away the oxygen in the substance and the water becomes flat-tasting. But you can improve the quality of water by just shaking it up or by pouring it back and forth on two containers.

Use Water Purifiers

You may use chemical purifiers on your water to make it potable. There are several types of chemical purifiers on the market such as the iodine that comes in tablet and liquid form. Chlorine, potassium permanganate, and halazone tablets are also effective in the purification process.

Employ the Use of Filters

Commercial filters are all the rage nowadays because they are easy to use and very affordable. Filters work by allowing water to pass through a ceramic or charcoal filter and then it is chemically treated before people could use the liquid. Most filters work with hose. To keep the water clean, make sure that the hose are not contaminated. Keep it in a separate bag to avoid contact with the contaminated ones.

Water Distillation

Distillation generally refers to the process of separating fresh water from salts and minerals. Be wary and employ your common sense when collecting water for your household or personal use. Avoid water sources where you have found carcasses of animals and also, do not collect water from stagnant sources. In addition to these, do not into the rushing water because you might end up gathering more sediments than the clear liquid.

• Increase your awareness about the things related to your home. Research on the safest construction materials, the best products to use and the health effects of the contaminants that you usually use every day.
• Increase the home’s durability by using high-quality materials for construction. Also, reduce the cost of maintenance by repairing or fixing the broken parts of the house as early as these are detected.
• Keep your home dry. Since water sets the condition for insects, molds, rodents and dust mites to proliferate, you must ensure to get rid of stagnant water inside and around your abode.
• When planning to design a house, choose a style that will allow for easy clean-up to minimize the accumulation of dust, allergens and other harmful build-ups.
• Ventilate your house very well to remove air pollutants and reduce the amount of allergens.
• In choosing paint for your repainting project, opt for the brand that contains no lead. This substance is not only harmful to you and your family’s health; it is also unbeneficial to the soil.
• Buy products that do not contain toxic chemicals. If there is a dire need for wax, solvents and other similar substances, limit the amount and ensure their safe to use.
• Minimize the pest infestation by getting rid of water, sealing up the holes and using tight food containers that will hinder insects, rodents and other harmful elements from polluting the air inside the house.
• Have a proper dust control system to get rid of microbes, bacteria, germs and toxic compounds from threatening your family’s health.
• Install a good air filtration technology in your home to help purify indoor air. Make sure to replace your old air conditioning units and their filters because these allow the accumulation of dust and other particles.
• Avail of sterilization technology to decrease the amount of microbial contaminants indoors.
• Maintain the right level of humidity by using a dehumidifier inside the home.  When the house is too humid, bacteria, germs and other harmful microorganisms might thrive and cause several diseases that could victimize your entire family.

Maintaining a clean and healthy home is not as difficult as you might think. You just need to take some proactive steps to ensure that your family will be disease-free.

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  Identify the main sources of indoor air pollution in your home. There are three major categories of pollutants—dangerous chemicals, allergens and irritants.
• Consult your doctor about air pollution and ask for help in making a plan to manage the problem.
• Reduce the build-up of indoor pollutants by ventilating the house properly. Make sure to open your windows to let air in and use an exhaust fan to send exhaust air outside.
• Replace your old air conditioning and furnace filters. Opt for the pleated filters that have MERV rating of 6 and better.
• Do not be afraid to use air purifiers. These come in different shapes and sizes and can be used for single rooms or the entire house.
• Use ultraviolet lights to improve air quality. This is considered as the most cost-effective and cheapest way to kill up to 99% of bacteria dwelling in the air.
• Set a no-smoking zone inside the house. Tobacco smoke is dangerous to the health and it also contributes to the air pollution. If there are family members who smoke, ask them to do their thing outside at a distance which the smoke from the cigarette cannot enter the home.
• Exterminate the dust mites by washing your bed linens regularly, keeping the pets away from the furniture and using a dehumidifier or air-conditioner to decrease the indoor humidity level.
• Vacuum your carpets regularly to prevent allergens, dust your home to eliminate other harmful particles from proliferating and polluting the air inside your home.
• Install an air filtration system if you have enough resources to do so. This will help filter the air in the entire home especially if you use a centralized air purifying system.
• Before purchasing cleaning and air purifying products, make sure to read the labels very carefully.
• Make sure to use household chemicals in limited quantities only. Paints, wax, cosmetic and cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals that can harm the respiratory system when inhaled. These also add up to the air pollution inside the house.

 Take note of the aforementioned air purifying tips to help you enhance the quality of air that you breathe inside your home.