The quality of the air we breathe has a huge impact on our health. As we spend many hours within our homes, especially over winter, it’s important that we take measures to ensure this air is as clean and healthy as possible. We will discuss some simple measures you can take first and work our way up to a few of the more complex options.
1. Use exhaust fan when cooking and showering
Make it a habit to always run the exhaust fan when cooking and showering.
Using the exhaust fan when cooking will help vent any emissions released during the cooking process out of your home. No matter what type of cook top you have, it’s best to vent the fumes outdoors, but this is especially important to do if you have a gas or propane stove. The use of these types of stoves release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and other toxic pollutants into air.
Using the exhaust fan while showering will help prevent excess moisture from accumulating on the bathroom surfaces while you shower or bathe. Not only will this help extend the life of your drywall, which is easily damaged by excess levels of moisture, it will also help prevent the growth of mold and mildews.
2. Regularly dust
Dust can aggravate allergies and cause illnesses, so it’s best to try to minimize the amount of dust accumulating within your house. Skip the aerosol can of dusting spray (you don’t really need it) because aerosol sprays themselves create air pollution that is dangerous to human health. I would also recommend getting a reusable duster that you can regularly wash.
3. Let fresh air in
When the weather allows, open up the doors and windows to let some fresh air in. Allowing outdoor air into the house flushes out contaminated air that may have accumulated within your home and replenishes the house with new, clean air.
4. Grow house plants
Not only are plants able to clean the air of carbon dioxide, but some studies have found them capable of also removing unhealthy gasses, such as formaldehyde, a common volatile organic compound (VOCs) found in the home. Use this as a good excuse to bring a few plants home and learn how to care for them as they help take care of you.
5. Keep rugs and carpet clean
The fibers on rugs and carpets act as traps for pollutants, dust, and dander. Which can make it quite difficult to keep large areas of carpet free of pollutants and allergens. One of the best things you can do to reduce these issues is to opt for hard surfaces over carpet where you can, but in areas where rugs and carpets are necessary, make sure to keep rugs and carpets clean.
If you have a pet, this means you will likely have to vacuum daily. If you don’t have a pet, you may be able to get away with vacuuming once a week. In addition to vacuuming, rugs and carpets should be cleaned once a year with a non-toxic cleaner.
6. Keep pets groomed
For those with pets who despise vacuuming and were dismayed by tip number 5, increasing your pet's grooming should provide some relief. Regular brushing and bathing will help to cut down on the amount of dander, hair, and dirt your friend adds to your home, and in turn the amount of vacuuming that is needed.
7. Opt for natural air fresheners
Care should be taken in purchasing commercial air fresheners as several have been found to contain chemicals harmful to humans. Pet owners should be even more careful in their selection of air fresheners as pets are sensitive to many of the plants and oils that are safe for humans and commonly used in commercial air freshener formulations. A safer option would be to use natural air fresheners such as dried herbal potpourri or an orange and cinnamon simmer pot.
You may find that after you start implementing these tips and improving your air quality, you don’t need an air freshener. After all, it’s called an air freshener and you should have naturally fresh air in your home.
8. Routinely change filters
Filters collect dust and debris, keeping them from affecting your ductwork and systems. These filters can get completely clogged with dust if they are not regularly cleaned or replaced. When these blockages occur, the energy efficiency of the equipment is greatly reduced leading to higher utility bills and overworked systems. It also means that further polluting particles will not be able to pass through and be trapped by the filters and will remain instead as pollutants in your home’s atmosphere. Below are the recommended cleaning and replacement timelines for a few of the most common home filters:
HVAC filter-every 3 months
Kitchen Exhaust Filter- every 3-4 months
Vacuum Filters- Clean if you can every few months, replace every year
9. Purchase products with low VOCs
Many of the furnishings and cleaning products we use within our home release volatile organic compounds or VOCs into the air. These VOCs can cause a variety of adverse health effects from eye, nose, and throat irritation to cancer so minimizing exposure to them in our homes is essential.
In order to avoid VOCs it is first helpful to understand what type of items in your home might produce these toxins. A few of the household items that commonly produce VOCs are:
Paints, stains, strippers, and glues
Cleaners and room deodorizers
New furniture
New carpets
Pesticides
Gas and other fuels
When purchasing these items look for low VOC formulas. New furniture and carpet tends to shed the most VOCs when they are new, so consider letting them air out for a while before bringing them indoors or increasing ventilation in your home for a while after bringing them indoors for the first time if you are unable to find a low VOC alternative.
10. Purchase an air purifier
If you suffer from allergies or the outside air is frequently polluted where you live, you may want to consider investing in an additional air purifier for your home. Many models can be plugged into a wall outlet, but there are also models that can be hardwired into the home.
11. Switch to electric forms of cooking and heating your home.
As I mentioned earlier when discussing the benefits of using the exhaust fan when cooking, gas stoves produce emissions that are harmful to both your health and the environment. While running the exhaust fan while cooking will remove a large portion of the pollutants caused by these types of stoves, it will not remove all of them. When it's time to replace your stove, you may want to consider switching to an electric stove as these cause significantly less air pollution within your home.
12. Increase the amount of ventilation to your home.
The concentration of indoor air pollutants in your home can be decreased by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Modifications can be made to your home’s air intake system to increase the flow rate. Keep in mind that increasing ventilation rates will also increase energy demands as the more air you bring into your home, the more air that will need to be conditioned. Depending on how/when your home was designed, however, you may experience a huge improvement in the quality of your home’s air by increasing the rate of ventilation which would make undertaking this project worthwhile.
To better understand your current rate of ventilation and your options for increasing mechanical or natural ventilation based on the configuration of your home you’ll want to reach out to an air and ventilation professional in your area.
There you have it- 12 tips for improving the air quality within your home! I hope they will help you breathe a little easier.
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