Five Steps to a Healthy Home

There are numerous ways to create a healthy home for your family. If you're looking to take a quick and inexpensive inventory of some important healthy home factors, you can start with these six suggestions

1. Check for pests. One of the easiest ways to create a healthy home is to check for unwanted pests, such as bed bugs, mice, cockroaches, insects, etc. If you spot evidence of any of these unwanted visitors, be sure to thoroughly clean surrounding areas and take the proper steps to prevent them from further entry (i.e. mousetraps, insect spray, etc.).
    

2. Clean up mold. Mold can be a common occurrence wherever water or moisture accumulate. Check your shower, bathroom, basement and even under your sink for evidence of mold and mildew. If you find any, you may need to re-grout or caulk leaky areas, run dehumidifiers, and ensure that areas prone to moisture are kept clean and dry.
    

3. Improve air quality. While you should periodically clean out your air ducts, many people don't make this a top priority in their homes. Increasing indoor dust allergies are a good sign that your air ducts should be cleaned and a new air filter may need to be installed. Also, don't forget to clean your vents, heating registers and even your air conditioners regularly to ensure that you're enjoying fresh, clean air all the time.
    

4. Purify your water. Whether it's the water you drink and cook with or the water you use to wash dishes, bathe and even brush your teeth, it's important to make sure your home's water supply is clean. To do this, install water filters in your kitchen and bathroom sink faucets. You can also install a filter in your fridge's water dispenser in order to make filtered ice as well as clean drinking water. Also, remember to change these water filters regularly.
    

5. Remove lead paint. Lead paint can be a dangerous material to have in your home, especially if you have small children who love to bite and chew on everything. To find out if your home contains lead, there are home test kits available, but they may not always be 100 percent accurate. For the best results, hire a professional who will not only test for the presence of lead paint, but can also safely and properly remove it.
    

Use a personal loan to pay for your home improvements

Creating a healthy home doesn't have to be an expensive or arduous task. Simply follow the suggestions above to find small ways to begin the process. From eliminating pests and removing mold, to ensuring clean air and purifying water, you can make great strides.

However, if you are willing to spend some money to make these renovations, consider taking out a CIBC personal loan or a CIBC Home Power Plan^®, both of which can be secured against the equity in your home to help finance these home renovations. There's no better place to start creating a safe and healthy home than by following the five suggestions above.