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Your healthy homestarts here.The key to good health isn’t entirely in your own hands, but there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure the air, water and surfaces in your home contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Working with wellness experts at WebMD, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you identify opportunities to improve the health of your home. And for more insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Thank you to these partners for supporting healthy homes.

For more home health insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Fresh Air. Indoors.Idylis™ Air Filtration Systems help improve air quality to make your home a healthier, more comfortable place to live. They blend seamlessly into your environment while quietly and effectively eliminating allergens and airborne particles such as dust, pet dander and pollen.

Idylis products feature:

• HEPA fi ltration that removes 99.97% of airborne particles • Quiet operation for a clean you feel but don’t hear• Convenient fi lter change indicator• Simple electronic controls with an exclusive night light feature• Carbon pre-fi lter that removes odor and larger particles• Three certifi ed asthma and allergy friendly™ models are

available from Idylis.

Shop and compare the features of the entire Idylis lineup today at IdylisHome.com.

SEARCHDIY Home Health

For more information on healthy homes go to WebMD.com

WebMD does not endorse any specifi c product, service, or treatment.

Houseplants work as nature’s air fi lters—they add oxygen and humidity to, and absorb carbon dioxide from, the environment. Learn more about which plants are best for your home at O2foryou.org.

A great way to control dust, which can aggravate allergies, is to vacuum your home twice a week with a HEPA fi lter vacuum cleaner. Bissell offers a wide range of vacuum cleaners that feature HEPA fi lters.

Choose a low-VOC paint to help reduce the amount of chemicals emitted, resulting in a healthier home improvement

project—and a healthier environment. Olympic Premium Interior paints,

available exclusively at Lowe’s, feature a zero VOC formula that dries with no lingering odor.

You can help keep your home allergen-free with an air purifi er. There are two basic kinds of air purifi ers: tabletop and whole-room units. The family of Idylis™ air purifi ers, available exclusively at Lowe’s, offers solutions for every size room in your home.

Change fi lters at suggested intervals to keep indoor air free of contaminants and allergens. 3M’s Filtrete products for forced-air heating and cooling systems help clean the air at home.

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Since 90% of your time is spent indoors, controlling air contaminants is one way you can rest assured that you’re improving your home environment.

Air of Confi dence

TIME FOR CHANGEGot plant or pet allergies? A HEPA (high effi ciency particulate air) fi lter in an air purifi er or vacuum can capture 99.97% of tiny particles in the air. It works well for dust, pet dander, mold spores and pollen.

ROUTINE JOBTo reduce the amount of allergens in the air, replace or clean heating and cooling system fi lters regularly. Clean fi lters also help your systems run more effi ciently.

DUST’S MIGHTOne in fi ve Americans suffer from allergies. About 20 million people in the U.S. have an allergy to dust mites. These tiny insects can cause sneezing, itching and congestion and may be the most common cause of year-round allergies and asthma.

INSIDE STORY Air pollution can be up to 10 times worse inside your home than outside. Fumes from paint, cleaning products and solvents can all add to indoor pollution, even when you can’t smell them.

POWER PLANTSDid you know that houseplants can do more than enhance the beauty of your surroundings? A NASA study found that indoor plants absorb harmful pollutants from the air, including benzene and formaldehyde.

For more home health insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Limescale can clog water pipes and can leave surfaces with a stubborn

fi lm. It can even dry out your skin. A water softener,

like those available from Whirlpool, can extend the life of

washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters

Before installing a water softener, check local plumbing codes to ensure installation is compliant.

Under-sink fi lters from Filtrete and Whirlpool are designed to remove sediment and rust particles from entering your drinking water.

To stay hydrated and ensure the water you’re drinking is safe when you’re on the go, reach for bottled water, such as Nestlé.

Brands vary by market. Deposit may be required.

WaterWisdom

Drinking water is critical to your overall well-being. But tap and well water can contain a startling number of contaminants. And while some of these will only affect taste, others could pose a threat to your health.

TEST CASECheck your water with a do-it-yourself testing kit or through a state testing lab to see if there are contaminants in your water. Then compare water fi lters to see which one is right for your needs. To keep fi ltered water clean, change your fi lter as recommended. Using a worn-out fi lter can actually increase the contaminants in drinking water.

BOTTLED UPLead in drinking water is responsible for 40% to 60% of lead exposure in infants. Protect them by using bottled or fi ltered water to mix formula.

Filtering your water and keeping it free of lead has never been easier, thanks to the variety of purifi cation products available, including faucet-mount devices and pitchers from Brita and PUR.

GET THE LEAD OUTLead is dangerous to kids and can enter drinking water through corroded lead pipes. Replace them or get a water treatment system.

For more home health insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Keeping up with dust seems impossible—especially on your fl oors. Using a Swiffer or other microfi ber mop is an easy way to keep dust and pet dander at bay.

Germs hide everywhere in your home. Sanitize all your surfaces, especially overlooked places like doorknobs, telephones, sinks and trash cans, with Lysol Disinfectant Spray to kill 99.9% of illness-causing bacteria and viruses.

Tackle the tough grime, stains and mold in your bathroom with Kaboom Shower, Tub and Tile Cleaner, powered by OxiClean.

Your counter may look clean, but contaminants might be lurking. Keep countertops healthy by cleaning them daily with a microfi ber cloth and an all-purpose spray cleaner, such as Simple Green Naturals

Multi-Surface Care.

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Surface Level

You wipe your countertops, scrub your bathroom sink, and dust shelves and fl oors regularly. But are those surfaces healthy? Even a clean-looking surface can harbor germs and bacteria.

GONE, NOT FORGOTTENCold and fl u germs can live up to 24 hours on hard surfaces such as doorknobs, faucets and toys.

COUNTER INTELLIGENCEDo fumes bother you when you clean? Consider household cleaners with plant-based ingredients and no fragrances. They clean just as well as conventional cleaners but will be easier on your nose and lungs.

BREAKING THE MOLDIndoor mold can trigger allergies and asthma year-round—and mold thrives in warm, moist environments. When leaks or spills occur indoors, act quickly. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried within 24 to 48 hours, in most cases mold will not grow.

THEME SONGWhat’s the number one way to prevent colds in kids? Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or long enough to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

MOISTURE RISERA healthy moisture level for your home is between 30% and 50% humidity. These levels will discourage the growth of dust mites and harmful mold.

Instead of a sponge, use disinfecting wipes like Clorox GreenWorks Natural Cleaning Wipes daily. They’re convenient and effective and they eliminate up to 99.9% of common germs that can make your family sick.

WIPE OUTA dirty sponge can spread billions of bacteria all over your bathroom and kitchen surfaces. Replace your sponge every few weeks, even if it still looks new.

For more home health insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Radon is a natural radioactive gas, which comes from the soil, that you can’t see, smell or taste. But you can protect your family by testing for radon levels with an easy-to-use kit from Kidde.

Formaldehyde found in some insulation brands can irritate your nose, eyes and throat. Ensure indoor-air quality is safe with Johns Manville Formaldehyde-free™ fi ber glass insulation.

A very small percentage of insects are actually pests. You should treat pests only when

absolutely necessary,

and with a listed organic insecticide or

a biological control, such as Bayer Advanced Home Pest Plus Germ Killer.

Double the yield of topsoil naturally with Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Garden Soil, featuring a premium blend of peat moss, compost and natural fertilizers.

PEST FRIENDSExcessive chemicals, overwatering and soil compaction can actually hurt your lawn and garden by killing organisms that keep the soil healthy.

DETECTIVE STORYOdorless, colorless carbon monoxide is responsible for more than 220 accidental poisoning deaths in the U.S. each year. To stay safe, have your heating system checked yearly and install a carbon monoxide detector outside on each fl oor and near sleeping areas.

Inside Out

Small steps—taken indoors and out—can add up to big gains for your family’s health and safety.

GAS MASKExposure to radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Any home—new or old, with or without a basement—can have high levels of radon. Test your home with a do-it-yourself kit labeled “meets EPA requirements.”

GOOD DIRTNatural, organic, or “slow release” fertilizers and plant foods help your lawn and plants grow strong, healthy root systems. They also minimize the amount of contaminants that run off into streams and ground water.

Inspect and update smoke and carbon monoxide detectors regularly. Install a Kidde or First Alert smoke alarm in every room (available on Lowes.com), including basements and fi nished attics, hallways outside of sleeping areas and tops and bottoms of stairways. And be sure to install a carbon monoxide detector with an electrochemical sensor on every fl oor—at least 15 feet away from cooking or heating appliances.

For more home health insights and exclusive product offers, visit Lowes.com/HealthyHome.

Healthy Home Checklist

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For spring cleaning, your monthly maintenance or on an as-needed basis, think Lowe’s for

everyday low prices on the products you need to keep your home clean and healthy.

QUARTERLY

❍ Change air fi lters, HEPA vacuum fi lters, HEPA air purifi er fi lters and range-hood fi lters based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

❍ Check water fi lters on faucets, pitchers and in the refrigera-tor. Change if necessary.

❍ Scrub solid-surface fl oors with microfi ber fl oor mop and liquid.

❍ Replace odor-eliminating products in the refrigerator.

❍ Clean and dust computer keyboard, indoor plants, base-boards and under and behind furniture.

❍ Apply insect and pest controls safely indoors and outside.

ANNUALLY

❍ Test your home for radon with a do-it-yourself kit.

❍ Replace batteries and test sensors in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

❍ Wash all windows and screens inside and out.

❍ Steam clean all carpets and large area rugs.

❍ Clear drains in dishwasher, sinks, showers and tubs, and replace your shower liner.

AS NEEDED

❍ Pressure wash siding, deck and outdoor furniture as needed (avg. 18 months).

❍ Have furnace or HVAC system and ducts serviced (avg. 24 months).

HEALTHY HOME TOOLKIT❍ Easy-To-Grab Organizer❍ Cleaning Liquids❍ Disinfecting Wipes❍ HEPA Vacuum❍ Microfi ber Cloths and Floor Mop❍ Scrubber Sponges and Scrub Brush❍ Replacement Filters

WEEKLY

❍ Vacuum or dust fl oors, sofas, chairs, drapes and other areas dust collects. Use a damp cloth or mop as necessary.

❍ Zap wet sponges in the microwave for two minutes or run them in the dishwasher to kill germs.

❍ Disinfect door handles and knobs, toilets and levers, sinks and faucets, countertops, phones, remote controls and kid toys with an alcohol or disinfecting wipe.

❍ Wash towels and bed linens in hot water to control dust mites and other allergens.

❍ Shake out doormats and area rugs, and wash those that get wet or dirty often.

❍ Clean humidifi ers and dehumidifi ers and empty drip pans.

❍ Wash your pet and pet bed to control dander and dust mites.

MONTHLY

❍ Check air fi lters throughout the house.

❍ Wash shower curtains and liners.

❍ Dust blinds and lighting fi xtures.

❍ Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

❍ Thoroughly clean and disinfect the refrigerator and trash cans.

❍ Open all windows for 4 hours to let fresh air in.

❍ Scrub toilets, showers and tubs thoroughly and check for leaks and loose caulking. Clean bathroom exhaust fan.

If you happen to fi nd a lower price on an identical stock item at any local retail competitor, and provide confi rmation of that price, we’ll match it and beat their price by an additional 10%.

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