Staying well over the winter months is a challenge when your living conditions are less than salubrious (healthy). A cold, damp flat that lacks ventilation and is mouldy can contribute to respiratory diseases and become a haven for dust mites, which make medical conditions like asthma worse. The bottom line is: You can’t study when you’re sick.
Is your flat colder than you’d like? Damp, mouldy, ‘crying’ with window condensation? Uninsulated? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might benefit from a few handy tips from Regional Public Health:
Open the curtains during the day and close them before dark
Open windows 30 minutes a day to vent moisture
When bathing, close the bathroom door and open the window
Put lids on pots when cooking or boiling water
Use draught stoppers under doors
Avoid unflued gas heaters (they produce 1L of water per hour)
Use a squeegee to remove condensation
Clean mould with a spray of equal parts water and white vinegar
Use a timer with plug-in heaters
There is a ‘curtain bank’ that provides FREE curtains—if your flat is in need of an upgrade and you have a Community Services Card, apply here: ^https://sustaintrust.org.nz/pages/free-curtains
If you experience chronic illnesses during winter such as asthma, are in financial hardship, and have a Community Services Card, contact Well Homes for a free consultation about what you can do to improve your flat: ^http://www.rph.org.nz/public-health-topics/housing-well-homes/refer/
The new Residential Tenancies Act means that all rental properties (with accessible floor and ceiling space) must be insulated by July 2019, or the landlord risks a fine of up to $4000.
Check out the Sustainability Trust website for more information about insulation, ventilation and heating ^https://sustaintrust.org.nz/ if you need to chat to your landlord about meeting the Healthy Homes Standards.