More of Our Interview with Jackie Craven

More of this Feature • Page 1    The Healthy Home The Healthy Home: Beautiful Interiors That Enhance the Environment and Your Well-Being Compare Prices

Q. Do the chemicals and cleaning products we bring into our homes cause more problems than they solve? What should we use in place these harsh cleaning products?
Jackie: "One of the easiest ways to assure that the fragrances in your home are fresh and appealing is to avoid using commercial cleaning products. Detergents, ammonia, glass cleaners, bleach, and cleansers create potent fumes that linger for weeks and months. Natural ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice will keep your home squeaky clean without polluting the environment. Also, many health food stores offer pure essential oils made from flowers, fruits, wood resins, and herbs. To fill your home with clean, inviting scents, add just a few drops of cedar, pine, or rosemary oil to water and use a mister to spritz the air."

Q. Dust is an ongoing problem for most homeowners. What are some ways we can improve the air quality and cleanliness of our homes?
Jackie: "Start by simplifying. Your home will be easier to keep clean if you can remove clutter and knickknacks. Limit collections to just a few prized items, and display dust- collectors in cabinets with glass doors. Instead of bulky curtains and complicated window blinds, choose easy- clean window coverings such as roller shades. Replace upholstered furnishings with wooden chairs and, as much as possible, avoid wall-to-wall carpeting. If you feel you must have carpeting to insulate a chilly floor, make sure the room is vacuumed often using a cleaner with a HEPA filter. You can also install small, freestanding air filters to help remove impurities. Most importantly, make sure your home is well-ventilated; simply cracking open a window will do wonders to improve the quality of the air you breathe."

Q. We spend many hours a week sleeping. What products do you recommend to make our sleeping areas healthier?
Jackie: "You don’t need an elaborate or fussy room to achieve a deeply relaxing slumber. In fact, you're likely to sleep more peacefully in surroundings that are not overly complicated. Make sure that bedding is firm enough to support your spine without creating uncomfortable pressure points. When beds are shared, consider using mattresses that can be adjusted to individual needs. Decorate sleeping areas with an eye toward simplicity, choosing details that evoke joyful memories. Clear away papers and other reminders of work and responsibilities, but do place a notebook and a beautiful pen within easy reach. If you wake in the night, quickly jot down ideas or dreams before they fade: dreams can be very important for your psychological health."

Q. What are some small things we each can do to create spaces within our homes that provide serenity?
Jackie: "No home is too small to house a meditation room. A corner of the bedroom, bathing area, or even a room in the cellar can become a serene sanctuary as long as it is lovingly prepared. Remove televisions, telephones, and other reminders of daily concerns. Then, purify the space with a ritual cleansing. Sweeping and dusting do more than remove dirt; the rhythmic activity will also help clear your mind. Painting the walls a soothing color such as blue or green will help establish a relaxing atmosphere. Once your meditation area is prepared, bring in a blossoming gardenia, a treasured work of art, or a sacred symbol. Sprinkle the air with lilac, lavender, and other mood-enhancing fragrances. Mask outside noises with wind chimes. Your home sanctuary can help you and other members of the household pause, reconsider priorities, and rediscover the things that are truly important."

Q. What are the top three problems in an unhealthy home and what are some solutions?
Jackie: "There are many paths to a healthy home. No two people are affected to the same extent by allergens and synthetic chemicals, and each of us will respond differently to sensory details such as color, light, temperature, and aroma. The most important thing you can do right now is take a careful inventory of your home and discover the things that sap at your energy. Some families focus on air purity, taking steps to remove materials that contain allergy-aggravating chemicals. Other families boost their sense of well-being by enhancing the lighting, adding full-spectrum fixtures for mood-enhancing illumination. Simply reducing clutter and creating efficient, orderly storage spaces can make an enormous difference in how you feel physically and emotionally."

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