Especially in summer we like to leave the curtains closed during the day, right? However, this is not a good idea. We'll explain why.
Sure, there are many reasons why you should keep the curtains closed during the day. Maybe 35 degrees are raging outside and you want to lock out the heat. Or you want to protect yourself from the annoying glances of your neighbors. Maybe you were on night duty and just need a dark room to sleep. All of these reasons are legitimate, and every now and then it's perfectly okay to draw the curtains during the day. But if this becomes a habit, it can have serious health consequences, scientists at the University of Oregon have found.
Sunlight is a good disinfectant
Interesting: The researchers led by study leader Ashkaan Fahimipour have proven that light inhibits bacteria – namely sunlight. How did they come up with it? They created environments that had the characteristics of a typical room – for example in terms of brightness, reflection and humidity – and then tested how incidence of light affected the growth of bacteria. The scientists concluded that only 6.8 percent of bacteria could multiply in a room exposed to UV light, but a full 12 percent when it was dark.
So, curtains up!
Very clear thing. Those who do not let light into the room offer bacteria a good climate to multiply. Fatal, because in the worst case, the consequences can be respiratory diseases. If you think about how much time you spend at home, it pays to ensure a good indoor climate.
What else can I do for good indoor air?
Of course, opening the curtains is not the only way to improve the air in your home. It is also important to ventilate the room regularly (preferably ventilate it quickly!), Conscientious cleaning and certain plants that improve the room climate, such as bow hemp or the green lily. If you are unsure whether the humidity in the apartment is right, you can set up a suitable measuring device. Here we explain which humidity is optimal in rooms.