Eight Do’s and Don’ts to Surviving China’s Winter Indoors 2

The Don’ts:

(1) Don’t use a humidifier without cleaning it frequently

If you must use a humidifier, make sure that you clean it frequently with several drops of vinegar or a baking soda solution. Bacteria and mold can grow in the reservoirs and then become aerosolized and spread into the air you breathe.

(2) Don’t take long, hot showers without a chlorine filter

 No better way to warm up in winter than with a nice hot shower, right?  Chlorine, when absorbed through the skin or inhaled is thought to cause certain types of cancer as well as asthma. The higher the heat and length, the greater the vaporization and inhalation.  Although you can take quicker, colder showers, inexpensive shower filters (as little as 400 RMB) are a better choice.

(3) Do not use portable combustion heaters indoors

As the temperature drops, it’s tempting to use portable space heaters to keep warm.  Electric ones are fine (assuming there’s no fire hazard), but any running on butane, propane, gas or otherwise using some sort of combustion should never be used indoors.  These are silent, annual killers, and tragically, carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Even if you don’t have this in your home, be aware of your surroundings, as charcoal and coal are used to heat many Chinese stores and restaurants, exposing you to the same noxious fumes.

(4) Don’t allow condensation and wetness to form indoors

During the winter, the temperature difference between the outside and inside air leads to condensation forming. In the same way that your eyeglasses will fog up when you come indoors on a cold day, water will form on cold objects such as windows or the concrete walls commonly found in China. Dampness leads to mold and insect growth. The best way to avoid this is to reduce indoor air humidity, increase indoor air temperature, increase ventilation with fans where water condenses and wipe up around window frames.