Air pollution in the home can be just as bad as outside or even worse. There are some things you can do to immediately start improving indoor air quality at home.
Change the AC Filters
Your air conditioning system is constantly working to give the home the right temperature all year round. When the air is cycling through, it’s also filtering some common air pollutants. The filters will eventually fill up and stop doing their job, which not only wears down the AC system but also can mean you have bad indoor air quality. Change the AC filters regularly or get an air conditioning service plan, which will include a filter change. This is especially important if you live in a city with high levels of pollution or are allergy-prone.
Check Other Air Filters
The AC filters aren’t the only things that are working to help keep the air clean in the home. If you want to improve the air quality you need to check filters in every household appliance. This can include kitchen vents, clothes dryers, and vacuum cleaners. These filters should be maintained and inspected regularly. You should replace these filters every few months.
Clean Air Ducts
Your air ducts help distribute the cold and hot air throughout your home and provide a comfortable climate. Ducts that aren’t maintained or installed properly can distribute contaminants from one room to another. Over time, dander, dust, and mold can accumulate in the ducts and reduce air quality. Hire a professional to check and clean the ducts in order to make sure you are circulating clean and fresh air in the home.
Keep Your Carpets Clean
Carpets and rugs do more than just increase your comfort in the home, they also are their own air filters and trap particles in the fibers. If you clean the rugs and carpets weekly, they will keep working for you and help improve the indoor air quality just by being there. Use floor mats at every door since people can track in all different kinds of chemicals on their shoes. Doormats reduce the number of pollutants that get into your home.
Use Your Cooking Vents
There are many different indoor air pollutants that come from your kitchen. Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, along with other harmful contaminants. It’s not just gas stoves either and electric ones can produce the same pollutants, just at lower levels. When you are cooking, be sure to open a window or turn on kitchen vents in order to filter out the air.
Work to Control Humidity in the Home
Moist and humid conditions breed mildew and mold and this can trigger respiratory issues, such as asthma or allergies. Depending on your location, hot summer weather can also bring humid conditions. Work to reduce the amount of moisture in the air and curb the growth of mold by using dehumidifiers. There are many different options that will help you not only create comfortable living conditions for your family but also maintain consistent humidity levels.
Use Indoor Plants to Freshen the Air
Plants are actually nature’s natural air filters. Working with a few indoor plants can do a lot to improve your indoor air quality and also enhance home décor. Small plants, such as lilies and ferns, as well as larger plants, such as palm trees, are some of the best options to filter out the air.
Make the Home a No-Smoking Zone
One of the most important aspects of indoor air quality is secondhand smoke from cigarettes. This smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and can increase the risk of a child developing cancer, SIDS, asthma, or respiratory infections. It can also cause problems for the smoker. To improve indoor air quality, make your home a no-smoking zone.
Don’t Use Synthetic Fragrances
Synthetic fragrances found in air fresheners and laundry products emit many different chemicals into the air. Many fragrances haven’t been tested to see if there are adverse health effects for humans, but some that have been tested do raise concern. Look for cleaners that don’t have any artificial fragrances. Let in the fresh air to not have toxic chemicals build up in the home, and use baking soda and sliced lemons in order to get your fresh clean scent.
