Building a Healthy House

Construction Materials and Finishing

• Avoid very substances found in construction materials industry: petrochemicals, toxic finishes, adhesives and phenols. If a reform and need to use them, it is best to keep allergic environment until the smell disappears. 
• Avoid using Cellulose fiber glass insulation rock wool. These substances are used in fillers, insulation or furniture, should be very well protected and isolated from the environment. 
• To prevent reactions of finishes and materials of securities – avoid common allergenic materials such as wool, products that exude gaseous formaldehyde, finishes that are underneath the carpet, paint solvents, textured surfaces. 
• Toxins usually grow in places of deposit – it is important to ensure good ventilation of the following locations (e.g. spans under stairs, garages, quaternions deposits) 
• Hard Floor and seamless, prevents the growth of bacteria; Dry, ceramic Floor joins with grout in resin, prevents the grout peel off after some time, opening the cracks between the pieces of pottery. Must be checked the right type of grout in relation to the product that will be placed on the floor. 
• Vinyl floors high-density and monolithic are acceptable. If you can, avoid using toxic glues, tying them with material itself. 
• Avoid rugs and carpets, because in addition to accumulate dust, mites are large reservoirs. Prefer cold ceramic, marble flooring, carpeting, plastic resins, rubbers or in wood, provided that covered with resin to close your pores (Sinteko or polyurethane) 
• Walls can be coated with papers washable or cleanable painted with acrylic paints and ink anti-mold, and non-toxic hypoallergenic 
• Roofs should be smooth, not accumulate dust. Avoid the adornments, mouldings, and ceiling ornaments attached, which can accumulate dust and are out of sight. 
• Bulbs not protected and radiant heat – also char dust – a common irritant; 
• Mold, mildew, dust mites are very allergenic agents – commonly removed when the relative humidity is below 50%; 
• Windows should allow free circulation of air. Always let the morning sun that makes it healthier environment with its ultra violet rays. Never close a window with mobile. The Windows are designed according to the area of the compartment. If they are boarded up this area will be reduced and the ability to aerate the environment decreased.

Furniture and Decorative Elements

• House of allergic must be clear, airy and with few mobile. 
• Furniture made with washable materials, which can be easily cleaned: clear varnished woods with seal water-based polyurethane varnish or show dirt more easily than the dark woods. 
• Phenolic Laminates (Formica or another manufacturer similar), automotive paintings or synthetic enamel paintings create a surface washable in Madeira. 
• Corrugated paper Tables and domes of lamp plastic often exude gases; 
• Heads in laminates are usually glued products chemically offensive 
• Furniture for TV, VCR and other electronic devices should be ventilated to an external area to eliminate dust and odors charred. 
• Sofas and armchairs: sofas, leather lined with plastic (natural or synthetic-ecological) or vinyl are ideal. There are rubberized fabrics that also apply to the farragoes. Modern models of straight lines and smooth surface are better than the very turned, that have details that accumulate dust and hamper cleaning. Do not use caption's because never accumulate dust. 
• Bookshelves: choosing models with glass doors or with closed compartments for guards little used books and objects that accumulate dust and mould. 
• In-room safe, avoid the beds of type "chest" which has drawers underneath, with shelves or bunk type. If possible, the room should not have opened or shelves shelving on the walls, to reduce the accumulation of dust. 
• Always use the beds to top with the wall, never leaning against. 
• If possible, the allergy should not sleep on mattresses on the floor and nor should save them underneath the beds during the day 
• Do not use big cushion. If there is no other choice, make zippered liners that are easily removed and washed periodically. The pads as well as upholstery can be made from synthetic leathers or rubberized fabrics 
• Curtains can be replaced by blinds PVC or aluminum washable (painted or not). However, if needed, give preference to short and models with lightweight fabrics that can be washed in the machine. Today the decoration emphasizes curtains more straight, with few folds and little volume of tissue. These curtains do not require professional knowledge to be removed and washed. Do not use bands, chales or any decorative features that use tissues bent 
• Beware of very chandeliers decorated that accumulate dust in its recesses.

Air-Cooled and Fans



There are no problems in the use of these appliances, provided that they comply with the small care:

• The air can be cleaned with a filter system without coal and air conditioning system with ventilation that allows at least 1 Exchange of air every minute.

For a healthy home, still must be considered in relation to the decoration

• Avoid stuffed toys or excess toys in room. In the case of the child have a favorite toy, plush, wash it regularly and place it in the freezer for a few hours. Toys must be kept indoors and washed periodically. There are market soft toys for babies, made with material anti allergic and easily washable. 
• Exchange Wool blankets for duvets, cotton-lined in fabric. Avoid accumulation of pillows or decorative objects on top of beds. 
• Avoid papers, magazines, books, etc. by room or loose objects underneath beds. 
• Avoid plants and tanks inside the room. If the room is devassado, one can use blinds or curtains short and lightweight with tissues, enabling washing every fifteen days. In cold areas, rather than carpeting, prefer the use of small rugs that can be washed easily. 
• Avoid passing or dry clothes in the bedroom. 
• Avoid incense, scented sprays or "will" in the bedroom. 
• A very effective measure against mites is encamp mattresses and pillows with covers special anti allergic with waterproof, protection against dust mites or sieve them with nap or vinyl. Over them using the pillowcase, and sheets. Whenever possible, put mattresses to sunbathe or pass the vacuum cleaner. Traverse old must be changed, because after some time, they become nests of mites. Give preference to models made with foam encompassing, avoiding those with painas or feathers (even the so-called "anti allergenic") 
• Wash linen, pillow covers and covered once a week, if possible with hot water exceeding 50 ° c, to act on the mites. In the end, should be passed yet deployed the hot iron. 
• Avoid Wool blankets and swap with duvets. In places very cold, the wool blanket can be used "bagged", i.e. stitching two sheets together to encamp them, closing with a zipper. 
• Skins anti-ácaros should be washed periodically, obeying the manufacturer's specifications. 
• Winter clothing or those rarely used: wash before use and after the winter, keeping them wrapped in plastic bag.

Authorship of the text:
Architect Cybele Barros