5 Easy Tips For Cleaner Indoor Air

Keeping your home’s air clean is essential for your health. The EPA states that indoor pollution is often 2-5 times higher than outdoor levels.

Adequate ventilation is one of the best ways to promote clean, healthy air. Opening your windows regularly (when it’s not too cold or the pollen count is high, of course) is one way to do this.

1. Open Your Windows

We tend to close up the windows and doors during chilly weather, which may save on energy bills but it is not good for indoor air quality. This stale, stuffy air can trap odors, dust and allergens inside our homes.

Opening a window can help kick pollutants to the curb. If your home has windows that are situated opposite one another, you can open them simultaneously to promote cross ventilation. This will allow clean air from the outdoors to flow in through one window, while dirty air flows out through the other.

It is also a good idea to keep an eye on local air quality ratings using a weather app. This will tell you when it is safe to open your windows. If the air is too polluted, it could cause a build up of harmful chemicals in your house.

2. Vacuum Regularly

It’s more than a way to clean your floors—vacuuming regularly also helps improve your air quality. Dirty unvacuumed carpets, rugs, and mattresses collect dust mites, allergens, pollen, pet dander and other pollutants that can trigger allergies and asthma. When you vacuum, these pollutants get sucked up into the vacuum cleaner and out of the air.

Vacuuming can also prevent mold from forming in damp areas of the house such as bathrooms and kitchens. Mold can cause respiratory problems, rashes and other health issues.

If you’re concerned about the amount of pollutants in your home, make sure to use recirculation mode on your HVAC systems, which reduces the amount of outdoor air coming into the house, and consider investing in an air purifier. These are the best ways to improve your home’s air quality and reduce harmful pollutants in your home.

3. Buy Indoor Plants

Incorporate a few indoor plants into your home to freshen the air. Plants increase humidity levels and release oxygen during photosynthesis, explains the Swanson website. They also help reduce toxins and pollutants by trapping dust, allergens and other harmful substances in their leaves.

Studies have shown that some plants help reduce specific pollutants, including formaldehyde, benzene, acetone and ammonia. These chemicals can come from wood floorboard resins, pressed wood products, furniture, exhaust fumes, fabric treatments and heating and cooking fuels.

However, a 2019 review of decades of research indicates that plants have a minimal impact on most pollutants. Plus, too many plants in a room can create problems like excessive moisture and mold. So, if you want your plants to clean the air, choose hardy houseplants that are easy to maintain.

4. Clean Your Carpets & Rugs

While rugs and carpets may add beauty and warmth to your home, they can also contribute to poor indoor air quality. Dirty rugs are not only a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, but they can also trap dust particles which can then recirculate in the home.

Regular cleaning and use of doormats will help to reduce the number of pollutants that reach your rugs. However, a carpet cleaner from Agara can remove the deeply embedded pollutants that vacuuming alone won’t.

Cleaner rugs can lead to improved breathing for everyone in the home, especially those with respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. It can also prevent unpleasant odors from being trapped in the rug fibers, while stain removal can extend the life of your carpets.

5. Change Your Filters

Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, so it’s essential to improve the air quality in our homes. Poor air quality can trigger allergies and other respiratory problems, or even lead to cancer or heart disease.

To start with, open your windows to let in fresh air and create circulation. Vacuum regularly to reduce dust, dander and other pollutants. Avoid using aerosol cleaners and instead clean surfaces with damp microfiber mops and cloths.

Replace your filters regularly — they’re one of the most important tools to help you breathe easier. Dirty filters prevent the HVAC system from operating effectively, causing it to circulate more dirt and dust into your living space. Stick to a schedule to change your filter, and make sure it’s a high-quality HEPA filter.