It is easy to think of the external environment regarding air pollution. However, research has shown that the air quality in your home can be three times worse, and according to statistics, indoor air pollution is a leading risk factor for premature death. Improving the air quality inside your home can help prevent several problems, like allergens and make breathing much easier. Fortunately, you can do a few things to freshen the air inside your home. Here are four ways to improve your indoor air quality.
- Keep your windows open
Keeping a clean airflow is the cheapest and most straightforward way to enhance your indoor air quality. Opening your windows may appear counterintuitive when you want to stay warm and save money on your central heating. However, it is essential to allow natural air inside while letting out the contaminants. This can also be useful to decrease the humidity dust mites require for survival. You may also take extra care to keep your rooms well-ventilated if you use chemical-laden cleaning or décor products.
- Choose secondhand furniture over new
Some furniture is made with toxic glues that may contain hazardous chemicals. Additionally, many fabrics, glues, and paints emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), gases that react with sunlight and atmospheric chemicals to produce particles in the air that can irritate and harm our lungs. Finishing products like lacquers and varnishes may also trigger allergens in some people. For this reason, it is vital to avoid furniture made from formaldehyde-treated wood combined with harmful glues. So even though a new sofa may be a luxury, it may release harmful chemicals into your living space.
- Keep your home clean
A dirty home can affect your physical health and potentially cause allergies, skin irritation, and breathing difficulties. A cluttered home can also lead to fatigue, headaches, irritability, and even the spread of infections. Allergens can also accumulate on your home floors, carpets, and rugs. Using a vacuum to filter harmful pollutants and clean your surfaces is advisable. Also, regularly mop your hardwood, vinyl, and tile floors. Regularly servicing your HVAC systems can keep your unit’s dirt or bacteria at bay. This is an excellent way to ensure you breathe dust and bacteria-free air. You can check sites like eggertcoolingandheating.com to hire experts who help keep your HVAC system functioning optimally.
- Avoid smoking indoors
Making your home a smoke-free zone is critical, especially when harmful particles from items like tobacco can remain in the air for up to five hours. This is one of the reasons why smoking in enclosed public areas was banned in some countries. Additionally, secondhand smoke can cause odor and increase your risk of developing health problems such as cancer, asthma, and so on. So if you or your guest has to smoke, it is important to take it outside.
Your home may feel cozy. However, you may be at risk since you cannot see air pollutants. Improving indoor air quality is crucial, especially when you spend more time at home than usual. The above tips should come in handy.