Your home’s air quality plays an important role in your overall well-being. Clean, fresh air is essential for maintaining good health, especially when we spend significant time indoors. To improve indoor air quality, here are practical tips to help you achieve a healthier living environment.
Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Keep Your Home Clean
Regular cleaning is the foundation of good indoor air quality. Dust, allergens, and pollutants accumulate on surfaces. Vacuum carpets and rugs frequently, mop hard floors, and dust surfaces using microfiber cloths to trap particles and keep them from circulating throughout your home.
Control Humidity Levels
Maintaining proper humidity levels helps prevent mold, mildew, and dust mites. To control moisture, use a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as basements or bathrooms. In dry climates, use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.
Improve Indoor Air Quality by Ventilating the Home
Proper ventilation circulates fresh air throughout your home, reducing the concentration of indoor pollutants. Open windows whenever possible to let in fresh air, and use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture and odors.
Don’t Allow Smoking Indoors
Cigarette smoke is a major source of indoor air pollution. If you or your family members smoke, make it a rule to smoke outside. Secondhand smoke is detrimental to your health and can linger in your home for a long time, leading to stale odors and causing allergy-like symptoms.
Regularly Change HVAC Filters to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Your HVAC filter plays a vital role in trapping dust, pollen, and other airborne particles. Regularly change the filters to keep the system operating efficiently and effectively. Clean filters trap and remove contaminants from the air. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations to learn about the frequency of filter replacement.
Use Natural Cleaning Products
Many conventional cleaning products contain chemicals that negatively impact indoor air quality. Opt for natural, eco-friendly products free of harmful chemicals. Alternatively, make your own cleaning solutions using common ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
Add Indoor Plants
Indoor plants add beauty to your home and boost air quality. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen while filtering pollutants. Some great air-purifying plants include snake plants, Boston ferns, spider plants, and peace lilies.
Minimize VOCs to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals commonly found in household products such as paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, and furniture. Choose low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives when purchasing these products to reduce the release of harmful chemicals into the air.
Keep Pets Clean
Pets contribute to indoor air pollution by shedding fur and dander. Regularly groom your animals and keep their bedding clean to minimize allergens and improve air quality.
Test for Radon and Carbon Monoxide
Radon and carbon monoxide are odorless and invisible gases that can harm your health. Hire a professional or purchase a radon testing kit to test your home for this carcinogenic gas. Install carbon monoxide detectors in key areas to ensure early detection of CO indoors.
By implementing these tips, you create a healthier indoor environment for your family. Improving indoor air quality promotes better respiratory health and contributes to a more comfortable and enjoyable home.
Kline Home Inspection offers home inspection services to customers in central Kentucky. Contact us to schedule an appointment.