We are well aware of how dangerous air pollution can be from vehicle emissions, industrial exhaust gases and the burning of fossil fuels. But believe it or not, the EPA reports that indoor air quality is 2 to 5 times worse than what it is outdoors. And this is a big deal since most people spend 90% of their time indoors.
Common Causes Of Indoor Air Pollution
Indoor air pollution is mostly caused by carbon monoxide emissions from gas stoves and central heating systems, asbestos, mold, radon, tobacco smoke as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) then released from common household items like paint, air fresheners, disinfectants, pesticides, wood preservatives, carpeting, and adhesives.
The EPA also reports that indoor air pollution leads to the trapping of pollutants and allergens, which prevent the outside air from diluting the emissions caused by those pollutants. What’s more, is that high humidity levels in temperature can also aggravate the intensity of those pollutants.
How Indoor Air Pollution Can Affect Our Health
Some of the common short-term effects of indoor air pollution include irritation and dryness of the skin, throat, nose, and eyes, headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, allergies and hypersensitivity, coughing, sneezing, and dizziness. Some can experience more severe symptoms, especially those who suffer from allergies or asthma.
This article contains some of the best solutions on how to clean the air in your home. Just follow the steps provided below and experience a healthier indoor lifestyle:
Tips On How To Purify Indoor Air Quality
Start Ventilating Your House
One of the simplest and most affordable ways on how to purify air and flush out those harmful pollutants is through proper ventilation. You can start by opening up the doors and windows of your house to invite fresh air from the outside to the inside. Opening up your doors and windows for even five minutes is enough to get rid of most of the pollutants that have accumulated inside your house. Although, this might not be a wise course of action if you happen to live in a crowded location where the outside air may be quite unpleasant and possibly even toxic. In that case, The best time to open up your doors and windows early in the morning or late in the evening when there’s hardly any traffic.
Another great way to invite outside air in your house is through a trickle ventilator. These devices use a filter that will effectively clear the indoor air of any impurities. The best place to install these ventilators is usually the cooking or kitchen area since cooking appliances and other methods serve as a common source of indoor air pollutants.
Introduce Healthy Houseplants
A study from the American Society for Horticultural Science states that keeping indoor house plants can drastically improve indoor air quality. Similarly as to how one goes outside to get some fresh air in order to relieve themselves of stress, indoor house plants are constantly battling and eradicating those nasty toxins 24/7 by filtering the air inside your house.
You need to place these plants in several areas around your house to get the best benefit of their air-purifying skills. Spider plants are especially effective at reducing formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and carbon monoxide.
Regularly Clean Your AC Filter
While air conditioners are generally useful in cleaning the air at home, they have their limits especially when their filters end up becoming dirty. These filters are responsible for cleaning the air inside our houses by removing pollens and other impurities. That’s why it’s pivotal to clean them up regularly to ensure their effectiveness in the long run.
One of the telling signs that your AC filter needs cleaning is when it buzzes audibly. If you need professional help when this happens, please visit this source.
Get Essential Oil Diffusers
Another effective strategy on how to clean air at home is by burning essential oils. Besides purifying indoor air, essential oil products like tea tree oil consist of antibacterial properties that can be applied topically on our skin to treat small cuts or even added to homemade household cleaners.
Other types of essential oils such as rosemary, clove, and eucalyptus have been documented to lower the number of dust mites in our house as well. To get the best benefit, we recommend using pure high-quality essential oils as their scent not only purifies the air inside your house but also offers a slew of other health benefits.
Get Rid Of Mold
Being exposed to mold results in several health issues like sore throat, wheezing, watery eyes, skin rashes, and headaches. mold usually grows into tight corners or spaces you can barely reach with your fingers. That’s why the best way to eliminate mold is to manage your house’s humidity levels especially in places like washrooms and the kitchen. What you need to do is immediately turn your bathroom’s exhaust fan on once you’re done bathing to remove humidity from your room.
Install A Carbon Monoxide Detector
Poisoning from carbon monoxide leads to over 400 deaths annually and results in thousands becoming sick or seeking medical attention after being exposed to the odorless gas.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide might resemble the flu at first, but the biggest sign that you need to look for is whether more than one family member is ill – including your pets – and if you feel better after getting outside the house.
If this is the case, then you need to install a carbon monoxide detector, especially in your bedrooms or places where you usually hang out. other sources of this silent but deadly gas come from appliances that run on fuel. Therefore, you need to have a certified technician inspect all those appliances at least once every year.
Buy Beeswax Candles
Instead of using paraffin candles that release harmful contaminants as they burn, we suggest buying beeswax candles instead. They are a natural compound that is known for releasing negative ions, which according to science are known to purify the air. And since dirt, dust, pollen, and other contaminants carry a positive charge, the negative ions from a beeswax candle will suck those positively charged particles into the candle or have them fall to the ground before they make it to one’s nostrils or lungs.