When you think about air pollution, you don’t usually conjure images of what’s inside your home.

But since we spend so much time indoors, keeping the air quality clean in your home is vital for your health. Unfortunately, we’re the ones responsible for bringing these air pollutants inside ourselves.

Air pollutants can be introduced inside your home in several ways. Some can be carried in by the breeze, while others can be carried unknowingly by you.

In this post, we’ll talk about improving the air quality and reducing the pollution in your home.

Use Purifying Plants

A natural way to purify your home is to introduce purifying plants. Plants can soak air pollutants slowly, and their impact is significant. Buying indoor plants can do wonders in improving the air quality in your home while enhancing its aesthetics.

If you’re considering getting one, consider getting peace lilies, ferns, spider plants, and devil’s ivy, as they are one of the best plants in removing chemicals such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde in the air.

Clean Regularly

In the same way, you should also make cleaning a habit. According to Maid Sailors, regularly cleaning your home helps minimize dirt, dander, and other indoor particles that can make you sick or cause allergies.

Here are some tips:

  • Dust, sweep vacuum: Floors and surfaces should be cleaned by regular dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming. If you have pets, the dander can collect quickly. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter will gather and decrease debris in rugs, carpets, and floors.
  • Store shoes carefully: Bringing dirt inside the house may cause air pollutants in carpets and rugs. Place shoes on a rack as they contain dirt.
  • Wash linens, and sheets: Dead skin cells, dust mites, etc., can stay in your sheets. Washing curtains, linen, and other fabric throughout the space keeps it clean and debris-free.
  • Remove old food: Make sure that you get rid of old food that’s past its prime. The mold that may grow in your fridge or cabinet affects the air in your kitchen or home.

Opt for Safer Paints and Cleaners

Make sure you choose paints low in VOC and odorless paints.

Paint brands claiming they’re non-toxic should place ingredients lists on their cans or be happy to provide them when asked. They shouldn’t contain plastic since it creates a barrier on the walls trapping the air, which leads to mold.

Also, avoid phytochemicals like formaldehyde, acrylics, ammonia and oil, and synthetic dyes. Go for water-based paints rather than oil paints but also check that it doesn’t mean that they’re just watered down.

Although government regulations can ensure that paints have enough VOCs to be considered safe, some have fewer levels than others, so you need to be aware of this.

Open the Windows

While this tip may sound quite obvious, opening the windows and letting in fresh air plays a huge role in maintaining good air quality inside your home. It can push away pollutants and bring out the “bad” air.

Opening windows during winter might sound counterintuitive, especially if you’re trying to stay warm and save money on central heating. However, letting the oxygen in and reducing the humidity prevents dust mites from thriving. Also, make sure to keep all rooms well ventilated, especially when you’re using chemical-heavy cleaning materials as well.

Check Filters and Ducts Regularly

Keep in mind that your AC filter isn’t the only one that’s working when it comes to keeping a clean air environment in your home.

To improve the air quality, make sure that you check the filters of your other home appliances. It includes your clothes dryer, vacuum cleaner, and kitchen vents. All of these should be inspected regularly and maintained regularly.

Ideally, clean or replace these most common household filters every few months if possible.

Use Exhaust Fans

Exhaust fans in your kitchen get rid of the cooking fumes, and in bathrooms, it removes steam.

To get rid of the level of air pollen on days where it’s not possible to open windows, you can run your window air conditioner on a fan setting with clean air.

Test Your Home for Radon

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that forms naturally due to decaying radioactive matter.

This gas can leak inside your home through cracks in the foundation. Prolonged exposure to this can eventually lead to lung cancer. So, make sure that your home is tested regularly to keep it safe for you and your family to live in for years to come.

Control Humidity in Your Home

Increased humidity can cause asthma and other allergies. Depending on where you’re located, the summer months can lead to humid conditions.

Ensure to decrease the amount of moisture in the air to avoid mold growth in dehumidifiers. There are also several dehumidifying options that you can choose from to maintain to make the humidity levels in your home consistent and create comfortable living conditions in the long run.

Over to You

So there you have it. Keeping the indoor air quality of your home is essential. It’s also one way to improve our health in this pandemic, especially now that we face a virus preying on weak immune systems.

With some preventive measures and some basic knowledge, you can take actionable steps to improve the air quality inside your home today.