The right steps to being happy and healthy.
We are living through another pandemic, a virus that is causing our vulnerable to become gravely ill at worst, and very worried at best.
The world has gone hand gel and toilet roll mad!! It seems there is no extra ‘need’ for toilet roll if you contract covid-19 but as they come in bulky packages, when there is none on a shelf it looks dramatic, and this is what has caused panic buying.
Hand sanitiser is great if you are not near a sink all day, if you drive for a living or work outdoors. The rest of us have the luxury of washing our hands and keeping our natural defences in place rather than stripping ourselves of them with alcohol gels.
The nurse in me, although a little anxious about the virus, wants to reassure people they will be ok to have their normal amounts of both loo roll and hand gel.
Statistics.
Scientific people will always look to the stats for reassurance. Something I found of interest is that in the last year there have been over 100,000 reported deaths caused by inadequate housing in Europe. This covers damp, cold, indoor air quality and noise. As of today there are approximately 4000 reported deaths worldwide from Coronavirus. Our health and how we can take responsibility for it is in the spotlight. We need to ask how can we make our homes healthier for us?
Age.
I’m not talking about your age, but the age of your property. If your home was built and decorated before 1975 the chances are you have lead paint on your walls. In fact lead paint was not banned until 1988. I know it seems a long time ago, but if you’ve been freshening up your home every few years, the paint is still down there, as is the lead.
Right now you can get amazing safe paints from all suppliers, from real eco friendly to non toxic. We have to be mindful that what we put on our walls, we breathe in every day!
Condition.
People presume damp only happens in run down properties, but this just isn’t the case. We have more shower rooms and WC’s than ever, and the continual use of these without the right ventilation and surface protection can cause damp to grow.
There are paints and primers specifically for bathroom use, which do protect against damp. If you aren’t that bothered about having speciality paints all over your home, please make sure you do have them in your wetter areas, and your bedrooms, as this is where we are most vulnerable.
Carbon staining.
Some people see discolouration around fireplaces and assume it’s the heat or just that redecoration is needed. That’s not always the case. Carbon monoxide and gas staining can occur on your walls, and where it may not have a dramatic effect on your health straight away, if you don’t have the safest appliances in your home (especially heat producing ones) the long term health effects will eventually show.
Your health and well being.
Redecorating your home nearly always does you some good psychologically, people feel better with a fresh clean home. The health benefits are not only mental. By ridding your home of the gases and germs that collate over the years your health will improve. It might be in your skin, or your chest, or how well you sleep at night but I can guarantee that stripping back and starting again with the safest products we have, you and your family will stay healthier for longer- as it should be.
If you need advice on paints, or are ready to make your home healthier, contact us, we all want to do our bit to make the world a healthier place to be right now.
The painters wife xxx
01236 424 804
