That Lemony Fresh Scent Might be a Bad Sign.

 [April 28, 2023] 
 
In the last couple of years, there has been an increased emphasis on keeping our surroundings clean. It’s not just your family doctor recommending it; even the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stressed the importance of washing hands and surfaces. 
 
Are you constantly cleaning?
 
Regardless of the time of year, we always buy cleaning supplies to keep our family, guests, and house clean and safe. With all our cleaning, knowing how to do it properly is essential. It’s not just about scrubbing hard and fast; there are specific techniques that ensure your cleaning efforts are effective. 
 
If you don’t know how or what to clean, the CDC has a list of guidelines for how to clean. Note: Don’t shake that dirty laundry. It’s essential to keep things clean. It keeps germs, bacteria, and viruses at bay and your family healthy and happy. But all that cleaning can have an unfortunate side effect besides dry hands. 
 
Side effects to cleaning.
 
Dangerous chemicals (VOCs) are released into the air when you spray disinfectant, wipe a surface with bleach, or even vacuum the carpet. The CDC lists some common symptoms these chemicals can cause, and they don’t sound pleasant. VOCs can cause burning eyes, skin irritations or rashes, nausea, headache, dizziness, and even fatigue. For respiratory issues like asthma, the symptoms can be worse.
 
 So, that lemony fresh smell you’re breathing in after wiping down the toilet may not be good to have linger.
 
We have an easy remedy.

But fear not. This problem is easily remedied by items already in your home.
 
Improve your air with a bathroom exhaust fan.


That bath fan you only turn on right as you’re about to step into the shower does more than remove humidity; it removes VOC’s. The exhaust fan will rid the space of harmful chemicals as well as mold spores, helping your indoor air quality.
 
 
 
Improve your air with a fresh air system.

If you have a new home that is built very tight, you should make sure you have means to bring in fresh air like a fresh air system – which is a system designed to bring in fresh, filtered air from outside and exhaust out dirty air - supply fan, or an open window.

Improve your air with your kitchen range hood.

The same applies to your kitchen range hood – assuming it vents to the outside and doesn’t recirculate. When frying up some bacon, searing a pork chop, or deep-frying chicken, you release tiny oil droplets and smoke into the air. It’s hard enough cleaning it off the stove; imagine that stuff coating your lungs. Turn your range hood on before cooking and leave it on for 20 minutes after. The same applies to cleaning. To clean up all that grease and bacteria from raw meat, you’re probably using some fairly powerful cleaning supplies. Turn that range hood on full blast before, during, and for 20 minutes after cleaning to ensure you’re not filling your lungs with harsh chemicals.
 
Keep cleaning. Ventilate your home. Stay healthy.