When we imagine air pollution, it’s always outdoors. We never consider the classroom our children sit in each day or their bedroom at home. The truth is, the air indoors is often more polluted than anywhere outside. Indoor air is contaminated with lead, formaldehyde, fire-retardants, radon, and chemicals from air fresheners, cleaners, and fragrances.
Thankfully, there are active steps you can take to improve the quality of your indoor air. For instance, switching out your air filter monthly, cleaning regularly, and cutting down on air freshener use. Here are a few tips to improve indoor air quality:
Keep Your Floors Fresh
Sweep and mop your floors regularly, or invest in professional carpet cleaning, to reduce airborne contaminants. When disturbed, these contaminants that have settled to the floor will disperse into the air.
Source Control
Typically, airborne contaminants stem from a handful of sources in the household. If you can locate and control these sources, you’ll have an easier time cleaning and enjoy improved air quality.
Keep a Healthy Level of Humidity
To reduce the moisture levels in your home, consider a dehumidifier. Keeping your house cool and dry reduces mold, dust mites, and even cockroaches. Air conditioning is also useful, as it forces you to keep the windows closed on high-pollen days.
Natural Smells
Put down the can of air freshener. Instead, enjoy the natural smells of pure soap and water. Some even enjoy the scent of potpourri to liven up the room.
Ventilation Improvements
The simple task of cooking a daily meal can lead to odors, vapors, and irritants in the air. You may wish to consider ventilation improvements, such as an exhaust fan or whole-home ventilation system, separate from your heating and cooling system.
Keep Healthy Greenery
You’ve likely noticed more than a handful of fake plants in office environments or schools. At home, consider livening up the area with real greenery. Air purifying plants are both stylish and improve indoor air quality.
Change Your Filters
Once per month, depending on usage, you should swap out the air filter of your heating and cooling system to prevent dust particles and airborne contaminants.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Investing in an air purifier is smart move to improve indoor air quality. Today’s top air purifiers remove airborne pollutants, help combat asthma and allergies, and keep odors and chemicals under control.
As you can see, there are numerous steps you can take to improve indoor air quality. There’s never a better time to start than now!