Healthy Homes
From “Help Yourself to a Healthy Home” by
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
FACT:
Most people spend at least half of their
lives inside their homes. Children may
spend up to 90% of their time indoors!
Indoor Air
Quality
Why should I be concerned about
indoor air quality?
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Asthma and Allergies
Mold
Carbon Monoxide
Radon
Chemicals
Lead dust
What might cause my indoor air
quality to suffer?
Things people do or store in their homes:
• Tobacco Smoke
• Pets
• Hobbies and Home
projects
• Household projects
• New furniture, carpet
• Lead paint
How do I know I need to test my
home’s indoor air quality?
• Does anyone in your home have known
allergies or asthma diagnoses? Chronic
bronchitis? Lung disease?
• Do they notice coughing, burning eyes or
sneezing that happens most at home?
If YES:
Examine potential behaviors and hazards
that you can control to help lessen these
symptoms.
What have you observed in your
home?
• Do some areas smell damp or musty?
• Does it seem stuffy or stale?
• Does your bathroom or kitchen
lack exhaust fans? Are they used?
• Have you ever seen cockroaches
in your home?
If YES:
Your home may contain mold (we will
discuss later).
Use exhaust fans.
Clean up spills right away. A clean
home is a healthy home.
What do you allow in your home?
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Smoking?
Furry pets?
Hobbies or projects that create dust or odors?
Household products?
If YES:
Do not smoke in your home or car. NEVER
smoke near your children. Second hand
smoke is extremely unsafe for children
Furry pets out of bedrooms and living areas
prevent allergic irritation.
Open windows, use fans if someone uses
chemicals in the home or garage.
Follow all safety information on household
products.
What about home improvements?
• Are you considering new
furniture or carpet?
• Are there new building
materials in your home?
If YES:
Ask salesperson to unroll carpet and air it out for at
least one day before bringing it into your home.
Let new furniture and building materials air out for a
few days before bringing them inside.
Non-toxic or green products may cost more, but may
be safer in protecting your family.
When should I test for radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing, natural radioactive
gas that you can’t see, smell or taste.
• Do any of your neighbor’s
have problems with radon?
• Have you neglected to test
for radon?
If YES:
Test your home. Hardware or
home supply stores carry lowcost radon testing kits. If your
neighbors have a radon
problem, you may too.
When in Doubt, Check It Out!
Indoor Air Quality
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Air Quality Home Page—
www.epa.gov/iaq
• Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (800) 438-4318 M-F 8:00am to
5:00pm ET or email: iaqinfo@aol.com
• National Radon Information Hotline (800) SOS-RADON ((800) 767-7236)
• The National Consumer Federation’s Radon Website— www.radonfixit.org
• National Lead Information Center (800)424-LEAD ((800)424-5323
• National Hispanic Indoor Air Quality Hotline (800) SALUD-12 ((800)725-8312),
M-F 9:00am to 6:00pm ET
• American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA ((800)586-4872) –
www.lungusa.org
• Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes (406)994-3451—
www.healthyindoorair.org
• Home*A*Syst: An Environmental Risk Assessment Guide for the Home
(608)262-0024— www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
Asthma and
Allergies
What in my home can cause an
asthma attack?
Attacks are often triggered by things that people
are allergic to.
Common Asthma Triggers:
•Dander (skin flakes from cats, dogs,
• Mold
and other pets)
• Dust
• Pests such as roaches, rodents, or
• Carbon Monoxide
dust mites (tiny insects that live in
• Cleaning products
carpets, furniture, etc.)
• Hair spray or
• Cigarette smoke
Perfume
When might my home be a risk for
asthma attacks and allergies?
• Does someone in your family notice burning eyes,
coughing, or sneezing that happens most at home?
• Does your home have carpet that is not cleaned well or
not cleaned often?
• How often do you wash bedding?
• Do you keep pets inside?
• Has it been more than a year since you have had your
furnace, flues, and chimney inspected and cleaned?
• Is your home damp and musty?
• Does anyone smoke inside?
What actions can you take?
• Healthy Housekeeping
– Clean home often.
– Keep clutter down.
• Control Other Pests
– Seal food, clean crumbs and spills, empty garbage often,
wash dirty dishes right after eating, fix plumbing leaks, seal
cracks where pests can get in.
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Pets
Check Your Appliances
Smoke outside
Mold
When in Doubt, Check It Out!
Asthma and Allergies
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You local county Extension Office –look in your telephone book.
Your local or state health department –look in your telephone book.
American Lung Association, (800)LUNG-USA – www.lungusa.org
The Soap and Detergent Association, Cleaning to Control Allergies
and Asthma, (202)347-2900— www.cleaning101.com/house
Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes (406)994-3451—
www.healthyindoorair.org
The Allergy & Asthma Network: Mothers of Asthmatics (800)8784403— www.aanma.org
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) (800)929-4040—
www.foodallergy.org
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Asthma and Indoor
Environments— www.epa.gov/asthma
Mold and
Moisture
What is mold and why should I worry
about it?
• Mold is alive. It grows on wet or damp surfaces.
• Often is grey or black, but can be white, orange,
or green
• Often smells musty
• Is also called mildew
• It produces spores, tiny specks that float through
the air. These can cause health problems when
you breath them in to your lungs.
• It is not healthy to live where mold is growing.
Where might I find mold in my home?
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In bathrooms, especially around the shower or tub
In wet or damp basements and crawl spaces
Around leaky sinks
In attics under leaking roofs
On wet clothes that are not dried quickly
Windows and walls where
condensation collects
• In closets
• Under wallpaper and carpet
• In your air conditioner
When might moisture become a risk
for mold?
Does anyone use a
humidifier?
Has any part of your home been flooded?
Experienced an overflow?
Can you see
moisture
anywhere
inside?
Does the air feel clammy
or humid?
Does any
part of your
home leak?
Do you see color
changes on floors
or walls that you
can’t wipe off?
Can you see mold
growing in your home?
What can I do about a possible
moisture problem?
• Repair or cover leaking roofs, walls, doors, or windows.
• Increase air flow in problem areas. Fans, air
conditioners and open doors can help.
• Keep surfaces dry by cleaning up spills quickly and
toweling off bathroom walls after showering or
bathing.
• Check the relative humidity with a kit from your
local hardware store. Humidifiers shouldn’t run
if humidity is higher than 50%.
• Throw away wet carpeting, cardboard boxes,
and insulation.
• Keep people with asthma and allergies away from
damp areas in your home.
When in Doubt, Check It Out!
Mold & Moisture
• Your county Extension Office –look in your telephone book
• Your local or state health department –look in your
telephone book
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) –
www.epa.gov/mold
• The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) –
www.cdc.gov/health/mold.html
• California Indoor Air Quality Program –www.caliaq/iaqsheet.htm
• The Health House – www.healthhouse.org
• Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes (406)994-3451 –
www.healthyindoorair.org
Carbon Monoxide
(CO)
What is Carbon Monoxide?
• A deadly gas that can make you sick or even
kill you.
• You can’t see, taste, feel, or smell carbon
monoxide.
• Children, unborn babies, older adults, and
people with asthma, heart and lung problems
are more likely to get hurt from breathing it.
• It harms even healthy people to breathe it in.
What are signs of CO poisoning?
Often confused with the flu.
Symptoms may include:
• Headache
• Sleepiness
• Nausea
• Chest tightness
• Vomiting
• Trouble breathing
• Dizziness
• Changes in senses of
• Confusion
sight, hearing, smell,
• Tiredness
touch and taste
• Weakness
What in my home might cause a
carbon monoxide risk?
Things to check:
• Appliance and furnace age
• Gas water heater
• Kitchen burners with yellow or orange flame
• Rusty vent pipes for furnace, boiler, water heater
• Fireplace smoke
• Gas fireplace
• Kerosene or gas heater
• Vent and combustion air openings
• Carbon monoxide detector
What can I do to minimize a risk?
• NEVER run engines or charcoal grills in garage or
inside!
• Have a professional check on old appliances and
furnace.
• Turn off appliance or furnace if it doesn’t seem to be
working right, starts sooting, or makes different noises
• Never block exhaust vents
• Never use kitchen stove or
oven to heat your home!
• NEVER warm up car in garage.
• Take care with weatherizing
projects.
What do I do if a CO alarm goes off in
my home?
• LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.
• Treat it as an emergency. Call 9-1-1 from a
phone outside your home
• See a doctor or nurse right away, especially if
someone shows signs of CO poisoning.
• Have your home checked by a qualified
heating or appliance contractor.
• Don’t go back home until all problems have
been found and fixed!
When in Doubt, Check It Out!
Carbon Monoxide
• Your county Extension office –look in your telephone
book
• Your local or state health department –look in your
telephone book
• The Consumer Products Safety Commission
(800)638-2772 –
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html
• The American Lung Association, (800)LUNG-USA –
www.lungusa.org/air/carbon_factsheet99.html
• Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes (406)9943451 – www.healthyindoorair.org
Lead
Why should I worry about lead?
• Lead poisoning can cause
– Learning and behavior problems
– Hearing damage
– Nervous system damaging, including the brain
• Children are likely candidates for lead poisoning.
• Calcium deficiencies can put children further at
risk for lead poisoning.
• 1 in 40 children has too much lead in their body.
Where does lead come from?
• Older homes
• Paint on windows
and windowsills
• Water pipes or the
solder used to join
pipes
• Household dust
• Soil outside the
home
How do I know if my house has
lead?
• Homes built before
1950 probably contain
some lead.
• Hardware stores sell
inexpensive kits to test
for lead.
What can I do to prevent lead
poisoning?
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Know when lead is dangerous.
Have a doctor test your child for lead.
Wash children’s hands and faces.
Don’t let children chew on windowsills.
Use warm water and paper towels to wipe down
home.
• Take care with remodeling.
• Feed your children a healthy diet.
• Work in a clean and lead-safe manner.
When In Doubt, Check It Out!
Lead
• For blood tests, call your family doctor or public health clinic.
• For testing of paint samples and drinking water, call your local or
state health department.
• For a packet of materials or questions about lead, call the
National Lead Information Center, (800)424-LEAD.
• For information on lead in drinking water, call the EPA Safe
Drinking Water Hotline, (800)426-4791 –
www.epa.gov/safewater
• Contact HUD about tenants’ rights and other housing issues,
(800)HUDS-FHA— www.hud.gov/lead
• For more information on Lead In and Around the Home, see
Home*A*Syst. (608)262-0024 – www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
• The Lead Safety page on Rebuilding Together Dayton’s website:
www.rtdayton.org
Drinking
Water
When might my water be unsafe?
• Do you have lead pipes?
– Lead pipes are dull grey and
scratch easily with a key.
• Do you have copper pipes?
– Copper pipes are reddish-brown
in color.
If YES: CLEAR THE PIPES.
Let cold water run for two or three
minutes if you have not used it in a
while.
Never use hot water from the tap for
cooking, drinking, or making formula.
What else can I do to help ensure the
safety of our drinking water?
• Water supply is local!
• Follow directions when using
poisons to kill weeds or bugs.
• Take care where you store
chemicals.
• DO NOT throw chemicals down the drain or in the
garbage. Follow directions for disposal.
• Give away or safely dispose of leftover chemicals.
When In Doubt, Check It Out!
Drinking Water
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Call your local water company
Call your local Cooperative Extension office
Call your local or state health department
Call EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800)4264791
• The Home*A*Syst handbook, (608)262-0024 –
www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
Hazardous
Household
Materials
What are some possibly hazardous
household products?
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Oil
Wood polish
Toilet cleaners
Drain cleaners
Shoe polish
Bug spray
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Bleach
Rat poison
Mothballs
Charcoal lighter fluid
Batteries
Mercury thermometers
Gas
Protect your children from
hazardous products:
Follow the directions.
Store safely.
Dispose of safely.
Can you cut down on the hazardous
products in your home?
• Buy only what you need, no extras.
• Keep garbage tidy, wash dishes
often to prevent or reduce pests.
• Don’t use hazardous materials if
you are pregnant and someone
else will do the job.
• Use baking soda for scrubbing.
• Use vinegar for cutting grease.
• Use a plunger to unclog, rather
than chemicals.
• Look for environmentally safe
(“green”) cleaning products.
Do you store hazardous materials
safely?
• Keep them away from
children! A secure, locked
place is best.
• Keep products from sparks,
heat, or fire.
• Store batteries and
flammable chemicals away
from direct sunlight.
• Never put hazardous materials in any
container other than the one they came in!
• Keep containers and packages dry.
How do you get rid of hazardous
materials?
• Pay attention to labels.
• NEVER burn or dump hazardous materials on
your property, or in a barrel or stove.
• Recycle used motor oil or antifreeze.
• Take leftovers to a community hazardous
waste collection point.
• NEVER mix hazardous materials together,
particularly not ammonia and chlorine bleach.
What else can I do to protect my
family’s health?
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Use products known to be safe when possible.
ALWAYS read and follow directions on labels!
Buy products in childproof containers.
Post the Poison Control Center telephone
number next to your phone.
– (800)222-1222 will connect you from anywhere
in the country.
• Find out about your community’s hazardous
waste collection points.
When In Doubt, Check It Out!
Hazardous Household Products
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Call your Poison Control Center, (800)222-1222
Call your Cooperative Extension office
Call your local or state health department
Contact the Consumer Products Safety Commission,
(800)638-2772 – www.cpsc.gov
• Contact Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes,
(406)994-3451 – www.healthyindoorair.org
• The Home*A*Syst handbook, (608)262-0024
– www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
• EPA’s Consumer Labeling Initiative
– www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/index.htm
Pesticides
When might pesticides become a
problem for my family?
• Breathing fumes or dust from
pesticide powders and sprays can
be harmful.
• Touching a floor where pesticide
was used can also be dangerous.
• Young children crawl and play on
lawns and floors.
• Young children put everything in
their mouths.
• Pesticides or poisons stored within
children’s reach are dangerous.
Why might my home have pests?
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Loose or torn screens
Broken windows
Dirty counters or floors
Spilled food in the home
A garage that pests can access
Food stored without covers
Leaky roof or plumbing
Dishes that go unwashed for long periods of
time
What can I do to minimize the need for
pesticides?
When In Doubt, Check It Out!
Pesticides
• EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, (703)305-5017 –
www.epa.gov/pesticides
You can order these publications:
Help! It’s a Roach: A Roach Prevention Activity Book
Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and Pesticide Safety
10 Tips to Protect Your Family From Pesticide and Lead Poisoning
Pesticides and Child Safety
Pesticides and Food: What You and Your Family Need to Know
• National Pesticide Information Center, (800)858-7378 – www.npic.orst.edu
• Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Information Service Hotline,
(888)SAFE-FOOD ((888)723-33663), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday
• The Home*A*Syst handbook, (608)262-0024 – www.uwex.edu/homeasyst
• For more information on non-toxic pest control contact the Bio-Integral
Resource Center, (510)524-2567 – www.birc.org
Home Safety
Your chances of getting hurt at home are much higher
than at work or school.
What might be a safety risk in my
home?
• Slips, Trips, Falls
– Clutter in hallways,
stairs
– Stairs in poor shape
• Fires and Burns
– Lack of smoke alarms
– Unsafe use of space
heaters
– Lack of fire safety
awareness with
children
• Choking
– Not watching children at
meal or play time
– Toys that are not
appropriate for a child’s
age
• Water
– No fence around a pool
– Not watching children in
a bathtub
• Poisons
– Cleaning supplies can be
poisonous to eat or drink
How can I prevent slips, trips, and
falls?
• Keep floor clear of tripping
hazards.
• Clean up spills right away.
• Use non-skid mats on rugs.
• Repair cracked or worn stairs.
• Take care carrying large or
heavy loads.
• Keep home well-lit.
• Teach children not to run
indoors or jump down stairs.
• Don’t use chairs or tables as makeshift ladders.
How can I prevent fires and burns?
• Smoke alarms on every floor
• DO NOT let children play with
matches, lighters, stoves or
heaters. Store in a safe place.
• Teach children to prevent
fires
• Plan and practice a fire
escape
route
• Keep space heaters out of
busy areas and away from curtains, bedding, etc.
How can I prevent choking and
suffocation?
• Hot dogs, nuts, popcorn, and hard candy can
easily get stuck in a child’s throat.
• DO NOT let young children eat them
• Drinks can make babies choke when they are
lying down.
• Make sure babies drink sitting up
• Balloons, coins, marbles, and buttons can be
choking hazards on the ground.
• Pick up these items from floors
• Cars and old appliances can suffocate children if
they get trapped.
• DO NOT let children play in or around these things.
How can I take care to prevent
drowning?
• Always watch children around pools. Make sure
they walk around pool decks.
• Have a fence at least 5 feet high around all pools,
hot tubs, and spas.
• Take toys from pools
• Life jackets on docks,
beaches, rivers
• Never leave children
alone in the bathtub!
– Children can drown in
just a few inches of water.
How can I poison-proof my home?
Keep in mind that all rooms in
the home can hold hazardous
materials.
Kitchen and Bathroom
• Hazards may include: drain openers,
detergents, oven cleaners, medicine chest
items
• Safety latches
• Keeping hazardous products out of reach
• Keep children away while using these products
Bedroom and Living Room
• Bedroom hazards may include medicine,
medications, perfumes, makeup, cigarettes
• Living room hazards may include liquor,
cigarettes, furniture polish, lamp oil, some
plants
Garage, Basement, and Laundry Room
• Some of the most hazardous
• Hazards may include: bleach, antifreeze,
gasoline, car polishes, car batteries, paints,
paint removers, mothballs, bug spray, road
salt, and more
• Safest to keep children out completely
If someone gets poisoned:
Call Poison Control Center IMMEDIATELY
(800) 222-1222
– Keep this number by all your phones
• Make sure you know:
→Product brand name
→Type of product
→Contents as listed on label
→About how much was consumed
→How contact was made (mouth, skin, etc.)
→How long contact was made
→The person’s age and weight
→How you tried to help the person, if you did
What else can I do to promote safety?
• CPR and first aid classes for adults and older
children.
• Keep children from equipment such as lawn
tractors.
• Safety gear. Wear it yourself as a good example.
• Store guns safely—unloaded and locked up.
• Children under 12 in backseat of car.
• Car seats for children under 40 pounds.
When In Doubt, Check It Out!
Home Safety
• Your county Extension Office
• Your local or state health department
• For information on product recalls: The Consumer Products
Safety Commission, (800)638-2772 – www.cpsc.gov
• National SAFE KIDS Campaign, (202)662-0600 –
www.safekids.org, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Ste. 1000,
Washington, DC 20004
• The American Red Cross – www.redcross.org
• National Safety Council, (800)621-7619 – www.nsc.org
Maintaining a Healthy
Home
Starts
with YOU!