5 Simple Tips to Improve Air Quality At Home
Most people think of their homes as a sanctuary from pollutants that might impact the air quality they breathe. But, the reality is, indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air.
Ventilation is one of the most important things to help improve indoor air quality. Keeping your windows open, running the exhaust fan while you cook and regular mopping can all contribute to cleaner indoor air.
1. Keep Your Windows Open
Open windows are an excellent way to bring in fresh air and help improve your home’s ventilation. However, keeping windows open for too long can lead to problems like pest infestations and high energy costs.
This is because heat always moves toward cold, and when your windows are open, the heat from inside your house will try to move outdoors, causing your home to become uninsulated and increase your energy costs. This is why it’s important to make sure your windows meet insulation standards and that you have adequate weather stripping on all of your doors and windows.
It’s also important to keep in mind that opening your windows can cause allergens like pollen to waft into your home, especially if you live in an area with a lot of industrial activity or wildfire smoke. Therefore, it’s best to only open your windows during the daytime when possible.
2. Keep Your Furnishings Clean
The pollutants that can contaminate indoor air are numerous, including lead (in house dust), formaldehyde from synthetic floor coverings and furniture, volatile chemicals from cleaning products and radon, a naturally radioactive gas that can leak into homes through fractures in the ground. These contaminants can be inhaled causing respiratory problems or skin problems.
As a result, the best way to improve air quality is to reduce these contaminants and to get proper ventilation. Opening your windows, especially during the early morning or late evening when traffic levels are lowest, is one of the most effective ways to achieve this. Regularly vacuuming high-traffic area carpets and sweeping or wiping furniture surfaces will also help to keep down allergens that can trigger reactions in sensitive individuals.
3. Keep Your Pets Clean
Pets make for wonderful companions and are a great morale booster, but they also cause a lot of issues with indoor air quality. This is because they shed fur, hair, and dander, and track in dirt from outside that can lead to poor IAQ.
Biological pollutants like mildew, bacteria, and mold can also pollute the air. If they
are allowed to build up, they can trigger allergies in both humans and pets.
Cleaning your pets regularly will help to clean the air in your home. This includes cleaning their litter boxes, kennels, and playpens as well as grooming them on a regular basis. It is also important to change your air filters frequently, as these will often clog with the fur and dander that your pets shed.
4. Keep Your Dust Mites Clean
Dust mites are tiny critters that thrive in warm, humid weather and feast on the microscopic flakes of our dead skin. They are one of the most common allergens and trigger a range of symptoms, from itchy eyes and runny nose to asthma attacks.
Regular vacuuming and dusting, particularly in hard to reach areas like blinds and furniture crevices, can significantly reduce allergy symptoms. Use certified high efficiency allergen-capturing filters in your air conditioner, and regularly clean them to reduce the amount of dust that gets blown around.
Wash blankets, sheets and pillowcases in hot water at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit once a week to kill and remove dust mites. Replace upholstered furniture with wood or synthetic materials, and remove fabric curtains in favor of window treatments that allow for more sunlight to shine into rooms.
5. Keep Your Plants Clean
During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air. This is the fundamental process that all living things need to survive.
It’s well known that houseplants can improve indoor air quality. But, it’s important to remember that your houseplants require regular cleaning, just like the rest of your home!
Over time, dust builds up on the leaves of your houseplants. This can trigger allergies and impede on the plant’s ability to perform photosynthesis.
To clean your plants, use a mixture of all-natural soap and water. Lather the mixture on a soft cloth and gently wipe each leaf. Be sure to clean the undersides of your plants as well! This will ensure that your plants get the light they need to perform photosynthesis.
6. Have in place a good protection plan
A home warranty protects the appliances in your home that get used on a daily basis from having to be repaired. In most cases, appliances over time will eventually start having issues and stop working. The normal wear and tear of your home appliances can be replaced under a home warranty. This will save you the headache of looking for someone to repair and basically takes the stress out of fixing anything broken. Older appliances may have built up dust or produce bacteria into the air if they aren’t serviced properly and maintained frequently. Sometimes people don’t even realize they purchased a home that included the seller’s home warranty which should be utilized when needed.
