Many people think of their homes as sanctuaries from pollutants that impact air quality. However, these indoor pollutants can be just as dangerous as those found outdoors.
Taking steps to improve your home’s air quality can help keep you healthy and safe, especially if you have respiratory or heart conditions. Here are five simple ways to do so.
1. Open Your Windows
With wildfire smoke and COVID-19 causing poor air quality, you may be tempted to open your windows to bring in fresh air. However, that isn’t a viable option for everyone, especially those living in low-income communities.
Indoor air pollutants can cause a variety of health problems, both short- and long term. These pollutants can contribute to respiratory issues, exacerbate allergies, and even lead to chronic inflammation.
Allergens, such as dander from pets and droppings from rodents and cockroaches, can also impact the quality of your home’s air. Other sources of allergens include paint and drywall dust, chemical cleaners, and mold and mildew. Many of these contaminants are odorless, and they can affect your breathing even if you don’t notice anything. It is important to use a three-pronged approach to improving your indoor air quality: filtering, ventilation and humidity management.
2. Vacuum Regularly
If you suffer from inhalant allergies such as hay fever, your runny nose, itchy watery eyes and coughing symptoms could be due to high levels of bacteria or pollen in the air. Molds, secondhand smoke and volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde (a
chemicals found in glues used on composite wood furniture) can also contaminate your indoor environment.
Regular vacuuming can minimize these pollutants by removing particulate matter and allergens from carpets and floors, reducing their potential for inhalation. Additionally, using a vacuum cleaner that is vented to the outside helps to keep the air inside your home clean by bringing in fresh outdoor air.
Other helpful tips include avoiding spilt milk or other food residues, plugging drains promptly and choosing nontoxic cleaning products rather than standard household chemicals that can contain harmful contaminants such as formaldehyde. Baking soda can also be effective for absorbing and eliminating stubborn odors.
3. Turn On Your Kitchen Vents
Ventilation moves air into, out of and through a room. It reduces toxic emissions and stale odors. It also brings fresh, outdoor air into your home. This will decrease virus
particles that may be trapped inside your house.
All types of cooking emit air pollutants such as steam, grease and smoke. These can degrade indoor air quality and leave greasy streaks on counters and appliances. It is important to use a range hood that is externally vented or a downdraft ventilation fan. A household appliance warranty can cover a hood or appliance that needs to be replaced to keep your home safe and the air quality good.
Newer homes are tighter for energy efficiency, but this can trap stale air and increase the concentration of indoor chemicals, toxins, and viruses. Keeping windows open, vacuuming regularly, and turning on kitchen fans and bathroom exhaust fans when using them will help to improve your indoor air quality.
4. Keep Your Rugs and Carpets Clean
People who suffer from allergies or respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable to poor indoor air quality. Preventing harmful contaminants from entering the home includes eliminating or reducing tobacco smoking, avoiding idling cars and lawnmowers in garages attached to the house, storing products such as paint, wood strippers and hobby supplies that contain organic solvents outside or in a well ventilated room, and running bathroom exhaust fans while showering.
Another important step to take is testing for radon, a colorless and odorless gas that comes from the breakdown of naturally occurring uranium in the ground and can lead to lung cancer. Regular cleaning and vacuuming can also help prevent allergens such as dust mites, pet dander and mold from circulating in the air. Choosing machine-washable bedding and regularly washing your sheets can further minimize allergy triggers.
5. Control Humidity
Humid environments encourage the growth of microorganisms like mold, mildew and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions for some people. These microorganisms also can aggravate breathing problems for those with asthma or chronic respiratory diseases.
Using exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens helps eliminate excess humidity. Be sure to run them during and slightly after showering, washing dishes or cooking. Keeping your air conditioning system working effectively also helps limit humidity.
Opening a window to let in fresh, dry air is another simple way to help control humidity levels. Adding houseplants that hold moisture, such as palms and philodendrons, can also improve humidity levels.
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