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The average person spends 65 percent of their entire life inside their home. Your home is your health. It’s that simple.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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Home/Work Study

Now more than ever, covid-19 has forced us to rethink homes as the "new offices." We launched this research study to inform solutions for healthier homes during remote work that enhance our health, productivity, and well-being.

Homes for Health Graphic
Outside
  • Ditch the pesticides and herbicides
  • Beware of air from attached garages
  • Secure the perimeter
  • Tighten up your envelope
  • Be resilient
Whole Home
  • Kick your shoes off at the door
  • Bring in fresh air
  • Install detectors for smoke and ‘the silent killer’
  • (Re)connect with nature and natural light indoors
  • Get the lead out (for homes built before 1980)
Bedroom
  • Train your brain and make this the sleeproom
  • Black out the room (and ‘blue-out’ your lights)
  • Treat the air (and yourself)
  • Keep your cool at night
  • Block out the noise
Bathroom
  • Control moisture by exhausting air outdoors
  • Limit the use of air fresheners
  • Detoxify cleaners and personal care products
  • Skip the antimicrobials
  • Prevent slips, trips and falls with handrails and non-slip mats
Living Room
  • Vacuum. Regularly. With HEPA.
  • Don’t smoke indoors (better yet, don’t smoke at all)
  • Stamp out the candles and incense
  • Choose furniture and carpets without harmful chemicals
  • Properly vent fireplaces and woodstoves
Kitchen
  • Cook with the exhaust hood on (and vented outdoors)
  • Keep a fire extinguisher within easy reach
  • Filter your drinking water where necessary
  • Control pests using IPM, not more pesticides
  • Choose glassware and cast iron or ceramic cookware
Basement
  • Measure and control radon
  • Do not disturb signs of asbestos
  • Dehumidify and inspect for signs of water issues
  • Choose a hard floor
  • Solve the solvent storage issue

Discover what you can do in each room of your home to improve its health.

Hover over a room to see our expert tips or click on the room for the in-depth guide.

Whole House Bathroom Living Room Bedrooms
Kitchen Basement Outside
36 Expert tips for a Healthy Home

Homes for Health Report

Homes for Health is a project borne out of hearing the question: “How do I make my home a healthy home?” Explore our 36 expert tips for a healthier home below.

Download The Homes For Health Report Téléchargez le Rapport Homes For Health

Relevant Research

Apr 22, 2020
Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity
By the time you reach 80, you will have spent 72 years of your life indoors. Like it or not, humans have become an indoor species. This means that the people who design, build and maintain our buildings can have a major impact on our health.
View Research
Nov 10, 2022
Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help
View Research
Nov 8, 2022
Organic Fluorine as an Indicator of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Dust from Buildings with Healthier versus Conventional Materials
View Research
Dec 3, 2019
Residential Environment and Undergraduate Student Health
An increase in available dorm space resulted in a decrease in upper respiratory infections for occupants.
View Research
View More Research

In The News

Mar 2, 2023
Harvard Public Health: Opinion: A Healthy Building Starts with Better Ventilation
Read More
Jan 23, 2023
Building HVAC Science: Building Science Collides with Health Science, the Dawn of a New Era
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Dec 21, 2022
Harvard Health Publishing: Want to stay healthy over the holidays?
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Dec 21, 2022
BBC: 3M manufacturing giant to stop making ‘forever chemicals’
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View More News