Indoor Air Quality: How to Improve it with these 5 Simple Steps

As individuals, we might not have control over outdoor air pollution levels. However, we can be in charge of improving the indoor air quality within our homes for healthier living conditions. Here are five simple steps on how to boost indoor air quality:

1. Control Sources of Pollution – There are three best practice strategies to improve indoor air quality in your home: controlling sources of pollution, ensuring adequate ventilation, and using supplemental air cleaning and filtration. Perhaps you’ve never thought about it before, but everyday household products such as furniture polish, detergents, pesticides, and even candles release chemicals into the air. The same applies to tobacco smoke, radon gas, molds, and mildew.

You can take specific steps to reduce or eliminate tobacco smoke by quitting smoking or designating a specific smoking area outside, away from windows and doors. Ensure that household products you use do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by checking labels or considering natural alternatives.

2. Ensuring Adequate Ventilation – Proper ventilation is crucial in removing airborne chemical pollutants that could accumulate in the home’s stagnant environment. Be sure to open windows when possible, install exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms, and service HVAC systems regularly.
3. Use Supplemental Air Cleaning and Filtration – Keep indoor humidity levels in check by ensuring that moisture is well controlled below 60% (ideally between 30-50%). Mold and mildew thrive in moist environments and expose occupants to harmful spores that impede respiratory health. Consider purchasing an air purifier with a HEPA filter for additional protection against PM2.5 particles and allergens.
4. Dust Frequently – Regular dusting helps remove surface dust mites and other allergens that settle on shelves and floors over time. Avoid using feather dusters as they only disperse particles around the room; instead, dampen cleaning cloths or use microfiber cloths to trap dust and allergens.
5. Choose Products Wisely – In addition to tobacco smoke and household products, other sources like wood-burning stoves emit particulate matter as they burn, which can exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma. Consider alternative options when possible.

Now that we’ve covered some simple steps on how to boost indoor air quality, let’s look into addressing indoor air pollution sources.

Identifying the specific pollutants responsible for diminished indoor air quality in your home is a crucial step in improving overall air quality. Pollution sources may vary depending on your location, home layout, and lifestyle habits. Here are some common source categories:

1. Biological Pollutants – These are typically natural materials that release potentially harmful particulate matter into the air, including pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. Biological pollutants require moisture to thrive; controlling humidity levels keeps bacterial growth at bay.
2. Particulate Matter – These comprise tiny particles invisible to the naked eye but pose significant health risks. The primary sources of particle matter indoors include cigarette smoke, kitchen emissions during cooking and burning of candles that release soot.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Common household products like paints, adhesives, and solvents contain VOCs that can put off-gas chemicals into the air.

Start by identifying each pollutant source before implementing targeted solutions. You can minimize biological pollutants by keeping your pets clean regularly or using an air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture pollutants effectively. Opt for cleaner alternatives when cooking – use an exhaust fan during frying or boiling your food.

Think of it as diagnosing the root cause of a problem before prescribing a cure.

Next comes a crucial step many overlooks: adequately sealing up your house’s foundation and windows and providing adequate insulation to reduce exposure to outdoor pollutants.

Having identified specific sources of pollution, it’s time to explore how to mitigate their impact effectively.

Air purifiers play a crucial role in enhancing indoor air quality. These systems remove particulate matter, bacteria, dust, industrial emissions, mold, odor, pet dander, pollen, viruses, and other contaminants from the air. However, not all air purifiers are equally effective, and developers must deploy the right model to address the specific pollution issue.

For instance, during peak wildfire season where smoke is a vital pollutant component within homes, using an air purifier with activated carbon filters alongside HEPA filters to capture even small particles emitted by smoke is instrumental in improving air quality.

The Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 and Rabbit Air A3 have excellent filtering capabilities and multiple fan speeds that allow for faster air circulation. The Aura Air is space-saving and features a triple filter system that removes pollutants while also acting as a carbon monoxide detector.

By identifying the common pollutants in your home or office environment, selecting an appropriate filtration system will ultimately enhance indoor air quality. By removing airborne pollutants like dust mites and allergens, it can significantly reduce instances of colds and flu-like illnesses that are often caused by airborne bacteria.

Now that we’ve looked at how deploying air purification systems can enhance indoor air quality, let’s dive into natural steps one can undertake to improve indoor environments further.

Sometimes nature is better than any artificial replacement. There are several natural ways through which you can improve the indoor air quality in your house or office space. Among the best simple steps include opening windows regularly to invite fresh outdoor airflow or installing houseplants (1-2 plants per 100 square feet) since they absorb toxins from the air.

Reducing clutter in our living spaces is another natural step towards enhancing indoor air quality because clutter can harbor dust and other allergens as well as reducing available airflow. Implementing no-shoe policies, using eco-friendly cleaning products that contain low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and choosing materials with lower chemical emissions such as furniture made of solid wood, metal, or glass above those made of vinyl and plastics.

For instance, essential oils have been used for centuries to purify the air. These oils provide numerous health benefits while also being a potent all-natural alternative for freshening up indoor environment spaces. Eucalyptus oil is known to tackle respiratory issues, while lemon oil’s antiviral and antifungal properties will clean-up bacterial particles in the air.

Regulating moisture levels is one of the sure-shot ways to ensure high indoor air quality. This may seem like a no-brainer. However, it remains one of the most neglected aspects when mitigating indoor air pollution. The optimal range for relative humidity in your home should be between 30-50%. Anything above this level can set the stage for mold and mildew growth, causing respiratory tract infections.

Think of regulating humidity, like selecting the right temperature for your body. Just as you wouldn’t want to be in an environment that’s too hot or chilly, you don’t want to be in a place with an inappropriate moisture level.

To regulate the humidity levels effectively, install a hygrometer within your home. These affordable gadgets can help keep tabs on the humidity level and let you know if you need to take action, such as installing dehumidifiers or humidifiers.

Moreover, addressing the source of excess moisture can help reduce related health hazards like asthma, allergies and thus improve your well-being overall.

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of regulating humidity levels, let’s explore how leveraging greenery can help boost your air quality.

Houseplants are often termed as “the lungs” of our homes, as they absorb impurities present within the air we breathe out and release pure oxygen into its surroundings. Some plants even address specific pollutants such as formaldehyde and trichlorethylene, which can be found in household items like furniture or cleaning materials.

For instance, peace lilies are highly effective at removing airborne toxins while also emitting pleasant floral scents. English ivy is another great plant option known for its filtering capabilities.

However, ensure that you do not overwater your plants since standing water could increase mold growth and worsen indoor air quality issues. Moreover, make sure that you select plants that are safe for your furry friends. While some plants may be effective at filtering air impurities, they could also be toxic to pets.

For instance, aloe vera, while useful in addressing benzene and formaldehyde pollutants in the air, could cause serious digestive issues for cats or dogs.

Last but not least, don’t rely solely on plant life as a fix-all solution, since it’s only a part of the larger mechanism to improve indoor air quality. Make sure you incorporate all the other crucial steps like ventilation, filtration and keeping humidity levels in check.

Indoor air pollution is a major concern, given that most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. One of the best ways to improve indoor air quality is by focusing on ventilation and filtration. Adequate ventilation ensures that clean air is flowing in while stale or contaminated air is flowing out, while filtration helps remove pollutants from the air. Here are some tips on how to improve indoor air quality using these two strategies.

Proper ventilation can help maintain good indoor air quality by reducing the concentration of pollutants in the air. Stale air can contain high levels of dust, toxic fumes, mold spores, and allergens that are detrimental to our health. It’s essential to ventilate your home regularly, even in colder months when we tend to keep windows closed.

One effective way to ensure proper ventilation is by installing exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens as these are areas where moisture and odors accumulate easily. Bathroom fans should be used every time someone takes a shower, while kitchen exhaust hoods should operate when cooking on stovetops.

Opening windows and doors also improves ventilation. Ensure that there aren’t any outdoor sources of pollution (like busy roads) that might compromise the quality of incoming air. If you live near an industrial area or have undesirable levels of outdoor pollution, running a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom can help reduce exposure to outside pollutants.

Install a carbon monoxide detector in sleeping areas if you have any unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as wood-burning stoves, furnaces or fireplaces or gas stoves or water heaters.

It’s important to note that opening windows isn’t advisable during high humidity periods like summer afternoons, which may bring about poor indoor air quality due to increased moisture levels facilitating the growth of mold and mildew.

Here are some ventilation best practices:

Air pollution is one of the leading environmental risk factors that affect human health. It is estimated that poor indoor air quality causes over four million deaths annually across the globe. However, improving your indoor air quality can have a significant positive impact on your health and well-being.

Reducing the concentration of airborne pollutants in your living space can lead to significant health benefits. Breathing clean air promotes cardiovascular health, reduces respiratory issues, enhances cognitive function, boosts immunity, and greatly reduces the incidence of allergies and asthma. Clean air can also help reduce fatigue and prevent headaches.

Have you ever experienced an unexplained cough or headache at home? Poor indoor air quality could be causing it. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), for instance, are commonly found in cleaning products, solvents, paints, and wood preservatives; long-term exposure increases the risk of liver and brain damage. Some other sources of indoor air pollution include tobacco smoke, gas stoves and appliances, mold, pollen, pet dander and dust mites.

The table below illustrates some common indoor pollutants and their sources:

Think of it this way: just as we carefully consider what we eat for our physical health, we should also pay attention to the air we breathe inside our homes.

While scientific studies have continued to strengthen the link between air pollution and serious illnesses like heart disease, cancer, and stroke, some people argue that it’s impossible to limit or remove pollutants entirely from our indoor air. They argue that maintaining an acceptable level of indoor air quality requires a substantial financial investment in high-tech filtration systems and ventilation facilities. However, while these technologies are helpful, there are also simple steps we can take to reduce indoor air pollution, such as cleaning regularly, opening windows, and choosing natural air fresheners.

A number of resources exist to help you understand how best to improve the air you breathe, from certified professionals who can lead in-home assessments, to online tools that can help determine whether a particular product or practice might be good for improving your indoor environment. Elevate your home’s well-being with Central Aire! Ensure clean and healthy indoor air quality for you and your family. Trust us to safeguard your home. Contact us today for expert solutions at (318)747-4965. Breathe easier, live healthier!