Air quality in the home is more important than you may think. When we think of pollution, we automatically assume this pollution is outdoors in the form of factory exhaust, car fumes, or chemicals dumping into our rivers and oceans. However there is also a form of pollution indoors.
Dirt, dust, and mold can float freely through the air and into your lungs. This is obviously harmful to your health, and if you don’t believe it read this article on the effects of breathing in mold.
So, what steps can you take to alleviate indoor air quality problems? There are certain guidelines that you can follow to ensure the quality of air within your home is constantly fresh and clean. Take these guidelines to note.
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5 Natural Ways To Clean Indoor Air
#1 Decorate With Live Houseplants
Certain species of houseplants have been proven to be exceptionally effective at filtering the air inside of your home. They remove VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and to the carbon dioxide that we exhale with each breath into fresh oxygen.
Here are 16 of the best “air filtering” houseplant species:
- Parlor palm
- English ivy
- Spider plant
- Chinese evergreen
- Bamboo palm or reed palm
- Heartleaf philodendron
- Selloum philodendron
- Elephant ear philodendron
- Red-edged dracaena
- Cornstalk dracaena
- Janet Craig dracaena
- Warneck dracaena
- Weeping fig
- Gerbera daisy or Barberton daisy
- Pot mum or florist’s chrysanthemum
- Rubber plant
#2 Keep Floors Clean and Doors Shut
Pollen, hair, pet dander, and dust bugs can stick into the carpet if not cleaned regularly. A vacuum does the trick in cleaning this up, but not just any vacuum. Specifically vacuums with strong suction and rotating brushes. Vacuum the same spot multiple times to ensure each and every speck of dust is cleaned and removed.
HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter, and these particular types of filters remove any particulates over 3 micrometers that pass through the filter. Especially if any of your family suffers from allergies, HEPA filters can best capture the amount of allergens on your floor. Don’t think carpets are the only floor type that allergens collect. Hardwood floors are also landing places for dust, dirt, hair, and other harmful particles.
Shut doors so that additional particles don’t have a pathway to travel into the house. Especially during the summertime when the screen door is the only thing separating your house from the outside world, particles are able to pass through the screen and into your home.
Small spaces between the door edge and doorframe are other access points for these particles. Close your doors and prevent this free flow of particles.
#3 Improve Circulation and Ventilation
Keeping air circulating throughout the house is an important aspect of improving air quality within the home. This is because many pollutants are water-soluble. An air conditioner removes water from the atmosphere and pollutants are removed along with this. In addition, equip an A/C unit with a HEPA filter and you’ve got a clean and cool air, perfect for summertime.
Keeping windows tightly shut will disallow additional particles from entering the household. Often we think that opening a window will improve circulation, and while this is partially true, this cool breeze from outside brings with it gas emissions from vehicles and industrial pollution from nearby businesses and factories.
#4 Eliminate Secondhand Smoke
Tobacco smoke is a threat to everyone. Not only does tobacco smoke irritate any guests you may have visiting that do not smoke, but tobacco smoke is a significant factor in development of lung cancer, emphysema, and other harmful conditions/diseases.
The best way to neutralize tobacco smoke is to never allow smoking within your home in the first place and if it is a problem for one of your guests have them smoke outside.
#5 Clean Your Pets and Maintain Their “Areas”
If you’ve ever walked into a cat owner’s house, you know that the indoor air quality of homes like these is poor. Whether it the smell of the cat box, a carpet with imbedded urine, or the smell of animals in general, the air feels musty and thick. Dog owners’ homes are similar. Beyond tracking in dirt or mud on paws, pets shed on carpets and couches and regularly shed dander while in the house. Keep pets outside, in the garage, or at very least out of the bedroom or common rooms as much as possible.
Air quality is an important aspect of a clean home. Follow each of these steps when taking strides to improve indoor air quality, ensure are air filters are replaced regularly, and you will have a house that is full of clean, healthy air.
Keith Benton is an advocate of the environment and a proponent of green living. He truly believes that the more we stay in touch with our environment the healthier we’ll be. He spends his days as a tradesman but enjoys writing about and sharing what he learns with others.