Air pollution is no joke, but what you probably don’t know is that the air indoors is just as bad, if not worse, than the air outdoors. Polluted air always finds its way into our homes; in fact, indoor air might be more contaminated if your home is not well ventilated. Pollution affects one’s health more than you can imagine, especially older people and children. However, you don’t have to fret because there are easy ways to purify the air in your home so you can rest assured that you and your loved ones are breathing in fresh, clean air.
Ventilate Your Home
This one is simple and cheap. All you have to do is open your windows for a few minutes every morning to keep contaminated air at bay. Make it a habit to open your window every morning when you wake up.
On the flip side, if it’s too warm, you can always turn on your air conditioner. HVAC systems not only reduce heat but also purify the air. They contain filters that remove dust and allergens and produce fresh air. With that said, don’t forget to clean the system’s filters regularly. If you have unit ACs, you can clean the filters yourself by extracting them and rinsing them with lukewarm water in your backyard or in a bathtub. If you have a central HVAC system, it’s best to contact a professional to take care of that for you.
Keep Your Home Clean
When you go outside, there are many things that can get stuck on your shoes like dirt or bacteria. Simply take your shoes off before you walk inside your house, and this will keep your floors and air clean.
Further, you should always pay attention to allergic reactions, as they may be indicative of impure indoor air. Do you sometimes feel like your throat or nose are irritated? This could be due to dust mites that linger in your bedsheets, cushions, and clothes. You should always keep all your fabrics clean to keep the air dirt and allergen-free.
Invest in a Good Humidifier
Humidifiers increase humidity levels by steaming liquid – a process that increases the humidity and moisture levels in the air. There are many types of humidifiers out there, so make sure to find the right one for you by comparing them and deciding on one that works best for your needs. If you already live somewhere humid, you can still use one and keep it running at a low setting. This is especially ideal if you have smokers in your household. All in all, humidifiers also help with dry skin and chapped lips that are caused by the cold weather.
Decorate Your House With Plants
We all know from science class how useful plants are and what they do for the environment. What you probably don’t know is that some indoor plants can reduce many dangerous gas levels in the air. To keep your indoor air naturally clean and, decorate your home with beautiful plants for a better aesthetic and for finer air quality in your home.
Candles, Salt Lamps, and Essential Oils
Beeswax candles are natural air purifiers. They emit negative ions like electric purifiers which clean the air from germs, dust, and mold. By keeping a couple in every room, they nicely decorate the area and also keep the air fresh. You can also incorporate sale lamps. They have a very unique look, and they release a warm, pink glow. Aside from spicing up a dull aesthetic, they also ionize the air by reducing positive ions, which are bad for our health, and release negative ions, making the air healthier to breathe in. Negative ions will also make you feel more alert.
If you want to go the extra mile, essential oils can go a long way. You may already use essential oils for your hair or skin, but do you know that they also help reduce the dust mites and bacteria in your house? If you use homemade cleaners then it would be a good idea to add essential oils to them.
Be Careful With New Furnitures
Glue, paint, and fabric emit chemicals called VOC. These chemicals are very dangerous and can cause headaches, nausea, and can even damage your liver and kidneys. It’s always a good idea to air new furniture somewhere outdoors before you move them inside the house. If you don’t have a place outdoors to put your furniture in, then you should keep your windows open for most of the day for a few months. You should also avoid furniture made of particleboard.
Choose Your Paint Carefully
Like furniture, paints also contain dangerous chemicals that cause irritation, especially if you have allergies, and can also affect the air quality. If you are thinking about decorating your house, then you should consider safe paints. You should always check the labels to make sure that the product you’re buying is free from harmful volatile fumes.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Dust is highly inflammatory and can cause great discomfort and irritation. Always make sure you deep clean your home regularly to keep dust at bay. However, make sure that cleaning solves the problem and doesn’t become a part of it. Use natural products like lemon juice, vinegar, or baking soda, instead of industrial cleaning products that contain chemicals that can lower the air quality in your home.
Countless diseases are caused by pollution; you can never be too careful. To avoid breathing in allergens and to keep the air fresh, make sure that the air that you follow our simple guide. If you follow these steps, you’ll notice a massive difference the next time you take a deep breath.