The Benefits of Hands-Free Products – Design Milk

You cant stop coughing. Your body aches. You have no energy. With wintry weather upon us, its that time of year again but with a hellish update. Is this a cold or flu? Or is it Covid? You start scrolling through your favorite online health sources for the answer.

You dont want to spread your germs around the house either way; being sick is a serious bummer, but as any single parent can tell you, having to be a caregiver when youre miserably sick is a bigger bummer, and being sick during long-anticipated time off from work might be the biggest bummer of all.

Powerful, ozone-free air purifiers can help with improving your homes indoor air quality and not infecting other household members. So can reducing the number of shared surfaces in your home and there are so many of them since cold and flu viruses can live on plastic, metal and other common household materials for hours and days between wipe downs.

Hands-free faucets can reduce germ spread in shared bathrooms. \ Brizo; Photographer: Gary Sparks Photography, Inc. \ Wellness by Design (Tiller Press), J. Gold

Easy Hands-Free Replacements

There are many home products you can replace with hands-free models. Some are simple, do-it-yourself projects for someone with handy person skills. Others are more involved and would better fit into a wellness design remodel. Since youre probably not motivated to have a slew of tradespeople in your home right now, here are a few DIY-friendly, hands-free projects you can tackle (or ask your partner to tackle if he or she lives in your household or pod).

Sensor vent fans reduce mold, mildew and germ spread by operating without touch. \ Broan-NuTone, LLC \ New Bathroom Idea Book (Taunton Press), J. Gold

Smart technology switches the vent hood on at the right time and level to defeat cooking odors and smoke. \ Photo: Signature Kitchen Suite

Appliances and Fixtures

While many appliances are replaced only during remodels, dishwashers and freestanding appliances are often done on their own.

Smart shower systems add convenience and hands-free operation to your daily routine. \ Photo: Moen Incorporated

Smart Home Technology

Voice control has become a strong trend in the smart home technology sphere, and it can be extremely helpful in several ways. Reducing infection through eliminating surface contacts is definitely one of them. Creating security, convenience and accessibility are additional benefits, particularly for those with physical challenges.

Circadian lighting systems take hands-free technology to the next level by supporting healthy sleep cycles. \ Service Tech, Inc./CEDIA member company \ Wellness by Design (Tiller Press), J. Gold

Final Thoughts

There are many other design elements that can be replaced with hands-free versions, like cabinetry that opens with touch latches or electronic mechanisms instead of knobs, grooves or pulls. There are also entry door systems being developed for residential use that will operate without keys or germy touchpads. These all have the potential to enhance wellness, though you should always research their pros and cons before being swayed by the sexiness of any smart home systems.

Author: Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach, wellness design consultant and the author of three books on design and remodeling. The latest, Wellness by Design: A Room-by-Room Guide to Optimizing Your Home for Health, Fitness and Happiness, (Tiller Press) published September 1.

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The Benefits of Hands-Free Products - Design Milk