1% Thursday:  Watch out for Water

…watch out for water that’s where it shouldn’t be.

Water around the house that’s where it shouldn’t be is an excellent way to invite contaminants.  Little contaminants can add up to big headaches, pardon the expression.  I’m talking about mold, yeast, dust mites – all kinds of unfriendly things.

What about humidity?  If there’s high humidity in your house, consider getting a dehumidifier.  Or, make sure there’s airflow.  For example, if your bathroom is holding in the moisture, install a fan.  Put in a window.  And, simply try to get the moisture out of there as soon as possible by opening the door.

If you live in an area of high humidity, you may need to consider more drastic measures.  A local building expert might be able to give you some advice.

Watch for condensation on windows and fish tanks, and wipe it off.

Watch for mold!  Regularly clean your shower curtain.  Watch corners for growth.

Do you have a leaky pipe?  Tap/faucet?

Keep other things clean – refrigerator, carpets, mirrors, etc.

Try using paint that contains a mold-inhibitor.

What about problems outside?  Are gutters and downspouts keeping water away from the house, or are pools forming right next to it?  Is your compost heap close to the house?  Can you cover it?  Are there pools of water that are breeding mosquitoes and other pests?

Take a look at these things as you walk around your house this week.  Maybe you can fix one or two, and reduce those contaminants.

Thanks to What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Migraines by Mauskop and Fox for these suggestions.

What is 1% Thursday?

Every Thursday at Headache and Migraine News (weather permitting) we’ll talk about one measurable, practical thing we can do to make our lives just 1% better.  Usually it will be something very easy, sometimes it will be a challenge.  Let us know if you try it, or share an idea of your own – and maybe a year from now we’ll see that things have really changed for the better!