Improving indoor air quality is a key factor of keeping a healthy home. Indoor allergens and irritants such as dust, pollen, and chemicals are often found in the air at home which can result in respiratory issues, allergy flare ups, and other illnesses. Here are a few tips to help keep your air clean.
Vacuum floors and carpets weekly. Keeping floors vacuumed reduces dust particles, chemicals and allergens in the air. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter reduces concentrations of lead and other toxins in your home. It is also important to use a vacuum leaner that has strong suction with rotating brushes. In high traffic areas, vacuum the same spot several times. Don’t forget to vacuum walls, carpet edges and upholstered furniture, where dust accumulates.
Take your shoes off & keep a floor mat at every door. Taking your shoes off whenever you come in from outside is crucial to keeping air clean, as our shoes can track dirt, pesticides, chemicals and pollutants into the home. Keeping a mat near the door helps to collect any dirt and pollutants from shoes and keeps them on the mat instead of on your floors.
Keep a healthy level of humidity. Mold and dust mites accumulate with moisture and are notorious for causing poor air quality. The proper home humidity level is around 30-50%, as this percentage helps keep allergens under control. Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner during summer months to maintain healthy humidity levels and to reduce moisture in indoor air. Additional ways to prevent excess humidity include not overwatering house plants, venting the clothes dryer to the outside, and fixing leaky plumbing to prevent mold. It is also important to use an exhaust fan or crack open a window when cooking, running the dishwasher, or bathing.
Let fresh air into your home. During warm and cold months, it is important to open a window from time to time to let fresh air in to renew the air in your home. Good airflow is essential for indoor air quality as it removes particle contaminants and replaces them with new, clean air.
Cut out aerosol sprays and synthetic fragrances. Aerosol sprays release harmful chemicals that can pollute your home and the environment. This includes hairspray, deodorant, and air fresheners. To preserve the air indoors, choose non-aerosol alternatives. Synthetic fragrances are also harmful to air quality as they emit many different chemicals into the air. Laundry products, scented cleaning chemicals and air fresheners should be replaced with fragrance-free or naturally scented products. You can also bring plants like ferns, spider plants, or aloe vera indoors as these plants act as living air purifiers by absorbing chemical pollutants in the air.