Airing things out
Fresh air is essential
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{No audio today: I am sparing you my congested voice!}
“Once insure that the air in a house is stagnant, and sickness is certain to follow.” ~ Florence Nightingale
“The Lady with the Lamp” had a funny, Victorian way of expressing herself. I don’t think anyone deliberately insures that the air in the house is stagnant, but yet it often happens that it is stagnant.
Especially when you have air conditioning, you might not realize how stale the air in your house is. The only way to find out is to be away for a while and then to pay close attention to the quality of the air when you first walk in.
The housewife makes sure things are aired. Let fresh air in when you can — very early morning is a good time if the weather is really hot.
Use a fan even with AC. Moving the air around makes it feel more comfortable and helps dry out damp to prevent mold.
Make sure your system pulls in fresh air and doesn’t just recirculate what’s inside. (This goes for your car too! Learn about your controls. If it’s so hot you have to use the “full auto” for a bit, be sure to change it back to pulling in outside air, or it will be no wonder that everyone gets headaches on rides.)
Pull the bedclothes back after rising for a bit, while the occupant performs morning ablutions. Open a window when you do make the bed and tidy up.
Be happy at home! As with everything here at the SFH, the best thing is for you to take my ideas, which come from my experience of escaping feminism to enjoy the gift of 46 years of marriage, seven children, and more than a score of grandchildren, and apply them to your situation with discernment, prudence, and confidence — and a sense of humor!
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As soon as the beds are made, after breakfast, I turn on the fans. It definitely has helped to prevent mold. It's also a nice quiet sound that helps create a peaceful atmosphere in the home. Hope you are feeling better soon!
The first day of fall (not literally, but the day you *feel* the fall coming), my mom would turn on the attic fan and make Brunswick stew. There was football on the TV. It is probably my most nostalgic ritual and she does not recall doing this habitually at all. It was as exciting of a day for me as Christmas (and somewhat unexpected as you never knew the exact day)