Having good indoor air quality can make your home more comfortable. Issues like mold, dander, and allergens are all things that can affect your respiratory system and cause you discomfort. You may be wondering how to improve your air quality so you and your family can be safer and more comfortable. Here are several ways you can improve the quality of your indoor air and make your home healthier.
Change the Air Filters in Your Home
One of the main ways you can improve your indoor air quality is by changing your air filters. It may seem simple, but it is one of the best ways to make sure the air in your home is clean. Irritants and airborne allergens are trapped, and you can be sure they will not end up back in your home. Be sure to change your other air filters in your home. Change vacuum filters, dryer filters, and kitchen vents regularly to ensure optimum air quality. Having heating and cooling services clean your air ducts can also improve your indoor air quality. Dander, mold, and irritants can build up over time in your ducts and cause problems, and since this air recirculates inside, you should keep them as clean as possible.
Clean Your Home
Having a clean home can impact your air quality. By vacuuming, dusting, and changing your linens can make your air cleaner. Pet hair, mold, dust mites, and more can be present throughout your home, so having a regular cleaning schedule can only help. Your rugs and carpets also trap dust and allergens, so they act as a sort of filter. This fact is why keeping them clean can improve your air quality.
Decluttering your home can also cut down on surfaces where these irritants and allergens can linger. Vacuuming is a beneficial way to improve air quality. It reduces the allergens you may track into your home from outside. Mopping is good because it can pick up dust and allergens left behind by vacuuming. An easy way to further reduce indoor contamination is by keeping a mat outside and having people wipe their feet. It aids in making sure most pollutants are left outdoors and not brought in to contaminate your home. Also, asking your family and guests to leave their shoes and socks by the door can reduce allergens.
Where you keep your plants may also be something you want to consider. Sometimes plants can trigger allergies, so while they are attractive, you might want to think about keeping them outside. Plants can harbor mold and other allergens, especially in a small space. If you do keep plants indoors, make sure not to overwater them. It can encourage mold growth. Perhaps consider plants that do not require much watering.
Consider An Air Purifier or Dehumidifier
An air purifier can assist when cleaning or changing air filters doesn’t solve all of your problems. Place air purifiers in common areas of your home. They can help reduce allergens in your home by trapping them in their filters. Consider HEPA or ionic filters, as they work best. Air purifiers also need to have specific settings for them to be valuable. A high air-circulation rate and an efficient collector work best. You should also be aware of what pollutants you are trying to eliminate. A small filter near a strong source of irritants and pollutants will probably not work well. Keep in mind that air purifiers may not work against particularly strong or intense sources of pollution.
A humid home is also susceptible to mold and mildew, which can cause troublesome respiratory problems. The most humid times of the year vary depending on your location. Dehumidifiers should be placed in damp areas like bathrooms and basements to reduce the growth of mold. Also, keep a door or window cracked when taking a bath or running a dishwasher, as both of these things can lead to humidity. When checking for humid areas, check to make sure there are no leaking plumbing fixtures that can contribute to mold growth.
Do Your Best to Control Sources of Irritants
You can find irritant sources throughout your home. Kitchens can be a problem area because they have stoves. Improving the ventilation of your stove can help reduce allergens and pollutants from cooking. Also, check your home to see if asbestos or other insulation is present and properly maintained. Making sure you aren’t breathing in these fibers can help with your air quality. Check older homes for potentially dangerous irritants like lead paint. Radon is another source of irritation, so get a test for this periodically. If you discover radon, there are different ways you can reduce this gas to less irritating levels.
Smoking inside your home reduces your indoor air quality, so if you smoke, do so outside. Being aware of sources of pollution can help you have better indoor air quality. Investigate areas of your home that you suspect may be contributing to allergens or irritants.
Improve Your Ventilation
One way to help improve your indoor air quality is probably the simplest. Open a door or a window to increase ventilation and bring in outdoor air. If you have a newer air system, you can also set it to bring in outdoor air, thus improving your indoor air quality. Outdoor air can be beneficial because it cleanses your home of polluted indoor air and improves air circulation.
Closing your blinds to make your home shadier can also help by keeping your home cooler. Turning on ceiling fans or making sure to run exhaust fans can be beneficial when improving ventilation and air quality. When engaging in potentially polluting activities, like painting, welding, or home maintenance, be sure to have as much ventilation as possible. A natural way that brings in outdoor air is infiltration. It occurs when outdoor air comes into your home through cracks in doors, windows, and other openings. This natural ventilation happens in every home.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
While the scent of popular cleaning products may seem best, sometimes they are not the healthiest. Synthetic fragrances can be harmful and emit chemicals. To improve your indoor air quality, look for fragrance-free cleaning products or products that are not artificially scented. Cut down or eliminate aerosols such as deodorants, hair sprays, and air fresheners. A significant culprit is plug-in air fresheners, many of which emit potentially toxic chemicals. To keep your home smelling clean, perhaps use lemon slices or baking soda in your kitchen and bathrooms. Everyday cleaning products may include chemicals and synthetics you don’t want in your home. Consider natural alternatives for some of these.
All of these are ways to improve your indoor air quality and decrease the allergens and irritants in your home. Opening a door or window may work wonders on your indoor air, and you may start to feel healthier because of it. Taking off your shoes or cutting back on synthetic cleaners are also simple ways to keep your home comfortable. Keeping a clean, decluttered home will also help reduce surfaces allergens can attach themselves to, and you will have less to clean. By applying some of these tips, you and your family can have healthier, cleaner indoor air.
