Most people spend much of their time indoors at home. While this is where many of us feel safe and secure, our sanctuary, it's been suggested that the inside of our homes could have a lower air quality than that of the outside. Compared to efforts to reduce outdoor air pollutants, indoor air quality is often neglected.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
While the outdoor air quality efforts are a worldwide effort, the situation in your home is primarily based on your lifestyle. Identifying the sources of the issue is the first step in rectifying it. Here are some common indoor air pollutants:
Pet dander
Pet hair and dander are virtually impossible to eliminate entirely. Microscopic pet dander tends to stay in the air for extended periods, ultimately sticking to furnishings and household items.
The recommended method for battling this pollutant is regular vacuuming and using an air purifying system.
Natural gas
Natural gas stoves can release nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and more harmful agents, creating adverse health effects. Studies indicate that children living in homes with these emissions are roughly "at a higher risk of developing respiratory conditions." Click here for activities to avoid when air quality is poor.
Cleaning solutions
Most people believe they are improving the state of their household atmosphere by cleaning, eliminating dust, and on. The problem is that the solutions many people use in their efforts can actually lead to pollution because they emit VOCs—volatile organic compounds.
Exposure to these can lead to headaches, nausea, irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and in extreme cases, cancer. The recommendation is to prioritize looking for non-toxic solutions for cleaning your home.
Smoking
A primary contributor to poor air quality is tobacco smoke/secondhand smoke which leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. This smoke contains over "7,000 chemicals noted to be harmful to a person's health, including 70 carcinogens."
It is one of the most avoidable indoor pollutants. By stopping, smokers can improve the air quality in their homes and their general health.
Here are a few steps to improving the air quality in your home for a healthier living space.
Proper ventilation
Adequate indoor ventilation contributes to good air quality. Fresh outdoor air circulates to remove pollutants. The home should be ventilated by opening windows and doors daily and using fans for areas prone to moisture.
If the outdoor air quality index is above 150, doors and windows should remain closed since the outdoor air is unhealthy at this stage. Visit https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality for clean air tips for your home.
Natural cleaning solutions
Some cleaning solutions contribute tremendously to the pollutants in the home, emitting VOC pollutants and creating more harm than good. Implementing natural cleaning solutions as often as possible, whether cleaning surfaces or doing laundry, is a primary component of good health.
Also, free up space in the house by clearing clutter you're not using. This will eliminate dust buildup and allow you to breathe clean, fresh air.
Smoke outdoors
Professionals always encourage smokers to break the habit altogether for optimum lung health. While stopping can be challenging, it's essential not only for the health repercussions but also for the damage it does to the home, particularly the air quality.
If you have trouble stopping the habit, the best you can do to clean up the inside environment is to smoke outdoors to keep the home fresh and clean. The habits note to be one of the most avoidable and dreadful pollutants in the house responsible for poor air quality.
If you live with a smoker, try setting some boundaries to avoid others' exposure to secondhand smoke in the house. Passive or secondhand smoke is as harmful to people as if they were smoking themself.
Grow houseplants
Houseplants can improve a home's indoor air quality. The plant's absorb carbon dioxide and remove VOCs- volatile organic compounds from the air. Many plants are ideal for purifying the air including the following.
- Scarlet Star Bromeliad
Barberton Daisy
Golden Pothos
English Ivy
Peace Lily
Mother-in-Law's Tongue or Snake Plant
Chrysanthemum
Aloe Vera
Weeping Fig
Broad Lady Palm
It won't be sufficient to rely solely on the plants to purify the air entirely, eliminate hazardous particles, or help with healthier household living. Using houseplants for air purification along with a purifying system can achieve optimal results.
Air purifier
Air purifiers clear the air quality thereby improving the health of those living in the home. They not only purify the air but can also capture bacteria, viruses, and other harsh chemicals. Quality, reliable air purifiers like Zeptive allow fresh air in your house or business.
Temperature and humidity control
Humidity and temperature can have a considerable impact on a home's indoor air quality, which in turn impacts general health. The ideal room temperature varies based on the person and the climate but is roughly 68 degrees F.
As far as humidity, the EPA indicates that the ideal humidity should range between 30-50% and not exceed 60%. When the humidity and temperature exceed their ideal levels, chemical reactions lead to high ozone production along with other hazardous compounds.
When the air is too dry or the temperature is too low, it can become stale and contain a higher concentration of indoor pollutants, including pollen, dander, dust, and mold.
The priority is to keep the temperature and humidity balance to avoid adverse effects. You can monitor the air quality with an IAQ monitor that alerts you when levels exceed healthy limits.
Final Thought
For adequate air quality, homeowners need to follow proper healthy living guidelines, including ventilation, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, and houseplants, and they should use a monitor to test the air quality levels.
Ideally, smokers will either stop the habit or choose to go outside to keep the home fresh and clear of secondhand smoke.
It's suggested that the home's indoor air quality is worse than the outdoors. However, we have greater control over making the environment in our homes clean and fresh. Healthier breathing in the house means incorporating some of the tactics mentioned here in combination with a quality, reliable air purifier.
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