When you hear about poor air quality, the last place that might come to mind is your home. Unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that your indoor air quality can be up to three times worse than anything you face outside. That information is concerning because people spend a lot of time inside. Additionally, if the air in your home isn’t clean, you run the risk of developing respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and cancer. To help you clean up your indoor air quality, here are 10 completely natural ways that you should look into.
While cleaning is important for improving indoor air quality, the experts recommend choosing the right cleaning chemicals. Some chemicals can be toxic and have the potential to make you sick. If you can, it’s a good idea to opt for natural cleaners when shopping. Of course, making your own is also an option. Vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide can do wonders.
Your shoes can bring dirt, debris, and microorganisms into your home that are harmful. The best thing to do is to keep the shoes you’ve worn outside close to the door and slip into shoes or slippers that are only worn inside. Don’t forget to clean your shoes as well as the area where they’re being stored.
Indoor plants are very effective air purifiers. They can convert harmful chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde into well-needed oxygen. However, you need to get the right ones. Some of the plants you can look into include snake plants, spider plants, and weeping fig plants. Of course, you need to make sure you can take care of these plants so choose the ones that fit your home and habits well.
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Dirt and dust will collect on your home over time – especially if you have rugs and carpets. If you don’t clean regularly, the collected grime can make you sick. That’s why the experts recommend dusting and vacuuming consistently. If you have fans, they gave to be cleaned as well.
If the time of year allows, opening your windows to let some fresh air in can do wonders for indoor air quality. Even if it’s chilly, just five minutes a day can make a difference. When the sun is out, consider using window treatments that can reduce the heat while still letting in a light breeze.
In case you aren’t in a position to keep your windows open, using your ceiling fans can help to circulate air through the house.
Fans are also a great way to help out your ventilation system if you have one. As with everything else in the house, make sure to keep the fans clean so they don’t spread dust.
For persons who have a ventilation system, it’s imperative to change the air filters on time. It’s easy to forget about them because you can’t see how much grime they’re collecting but a dirty air filter can spread pollutants and microorganisms through the house.
It’s also recommended that you use a HEPA filter or an activated charcoal one that has been shown to absorb contaminants well.
New furniture is often treated with certain chemicals that are meant to preserve them in a variety of ways. These chemicals can be filled with volatile organic compounds that will easily spread through the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, they can also affect your air quality. It’s best to leave them in an open area so the VOCs can disperse before bringing them into the house.
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Many people burn candles so they can benefit from calming or refreshing aromas. Some candles, however, can add toxins to the environment based on their ingredients. Instead of candles, you can try pure essential oils.
Another source of contaminants in the home is your pet. Pet dander and hair can collect in carpets, ventilation systems, and furniture and then affect your health.
To avoid all of that, it’s a good idea to groom your pets regularly. You should also brush them outside of the house and clean up their hair quickly.
Depending on what you have to deal with, cleaning up your air quality can take a while but every positive step counts. As the air quality in your environment improves, don’t be surprised if you start breathing better. The good news about these changes is that you might even be able to try out a few of them at work too.
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