Having a safe and healthy home is important, especially if you are choosing to reduce your environmental impact.  However, living small can pose a unique set of challenges to your health. Here are some tips for healthy living in compact houses.

The Air You Breathe

If you are living in a tiny space, the impact on the outside world may be small, but the inside air quality may suffer. During warmer months, opening a window for a few hours a day can allow fresh air to circulate throughout your home. In the winter, cold temperatures can make this difficult. However, using an air purifying system such as a HEPA filter in your A/C units can help. You can also purify the air throughout your home by diffusing essential oils. 

A Clean Home is a Happy Home

Keeping your home clean is another great way to ensure that your living space is safe and healthy. Dust and other allergens such as mold can cause your home to become unsafe for anyone with respiratory problems. By making vacuuming carpets, dusting furniture, and wiping down surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen a regular part of your routine, you can keep allergens from becoming a problem in your small space.

Keep a Close Eye on Chemicals

If you live in a small space such as a manufactured home, it is especially important to pay attention to the type of chemicals that you are using to clean with. Many types of all-purpose cleaners require sufficient ventilation when you use them. If it is summertime, and you can open a window, this is not as much of a concern, but if your home has limited ventilation or it is a particularly cold day, those chemicals can linger in the air. One way to avoid this is to use natural cleaners such as vinegar, peroxide, and baking soda. Vegetable oil soap is also a good, safe alternative to some of the harsh chemicals on the market.

Opt for Outdoor Pets 

Pets can be great companions, especially if you live alone. However, keeping a pet indoors only compounds air quality issues in small living spaces. It is also not really fair to the pet to be cooped up in a tiny space all day with limited access to the outdoors. By making sure that your pets live outdoors, you can avoid having pet dander in your home, and they can avoid being confined to a small area all day.

By following these simple steps, you can be confident that your small environmental footprint is not trampling over your own health.

For details on pet terms and local air quality, reach out to a mobile home park, like Country West Mobile Home Park.