Assorted house cleaning products, spray bottles and sponges
(DepositPhotos)

It’s more important than ever to clean and disinfect your home to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.

And, that means the first step for a lot of families is to reach for the cleaning products. The thing is – cleaning products can be a problem, as they emit all sorts of Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs.

With enough exposure, some of these compounds can cause a variety of health effects from headaches and nausea to even liver and kidney damage.

Young children, elderly, and people with asthma are usually more susceptible to the health effects VOCs can cause.

That means it’s important to always have plenty of fresh air flowing when you use cleaners, disinfectants and aerosol sprays with high levels of VOCs.

Use your bathroom ventilation fans and the kitchen range hood and the heating and cooling systems to help rid the house of airborne contaminates if you can.

If not, open the windows and clear the air that way. You can also choose Low or No-VOC cleaning products for use in your home, or you can make your own.

Next time you need an all-purpose cleaner just grab some white vinegar. Vinegar is great for cleaning a variety of surfaces and it does the job with a much lower impact on the air quality inside your home.

For more great healthy home tips, visit broan-nutone.com.

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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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