According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, air pollutants are found in concentrations two to five times higher indoors than they are outdoors. With Americans spending about 90% of their time indoors, this can be detrimental to their health.
With the number of indoor pollutants, you might be looking for ways to improve air quality in your home. This could be as simple as a new filter or something more extensive like replacing your condo’s fan coil unit. This guide will explain some of the ways to do that. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Keep Your Floors Clean
Any debris you bring into your house on your clothes and shoes gets left behind on your floors or carpet. This debris will stay in your home’s atmosphere and start circulating through your vents.
Avoid that and keep the air in your home clean by sweeping your floors often. Try to sweep at the end of each day so you can go to sleep in a clean home.
If you have carpets consider using a high-efficiency vacuum to ensure it picks everything up.
2. Don’t Smoke Indoors
Smoking comes with a lot of risk factors for your health and the health of those you smoke around. Smoking indoors is an especially dangerous way to be exposed to secondhand smoke. It puts the smoker and everyone in the home at risk of developing respiratory conditions.
Smoking indoors will also create unhealthy air quality. If this is something you do stopping will change the air quality in your home immediately.
After you stop smoking indoors you should take the time to wash curtains and scrub the walls with a vinegar and baking soda solution.
3. Install an Air Purifier
Consider installing an air purifier if you don’t already have one. This will help improve air quality while you’re in your home.
An air purifier will reduce the pollen inside your home and avoid allergy triggers for you. An air purifier will also kill bacteria and viruses in the air and protect your health.
An air purifier will get rid of unwanted odors as well. While you might consider it an expensive purchase, the investment comes with many more benefits that are worth the cost.
4. Make Your Own Air Fresheners
The air quality forecast in your home might not be the greatest because of the products you use. While air fresheners work to eliminate odors and leave your home smelling fresh, they’re also made with harmful chemicals.
Many of the VOCs found in chemical air fresheners can lead to respiratory and dermatological problems. If you want your home to smell good while avoiding bad air quality you should consider using a natural air freshener.
Making your own air freshener is as simple as boiling a pot of water with some cinnamon sticks in it. You can also use a diffuser with the essential oil of your choice.
5. Open Your Windows
Opening the windows in your home is the easiest way to help purify the air. During cooler days with less humidity and pollen opening up your home will help filter out any pollutants and allow you to breathe fresh air.
When you decide to open your windows for the day make sure to turn off your air conditioner to avoid the system from overworking itself. The best time to open your windows is during the fall and spring when the weather isn’t too cold or hot.
6. Make Sure You Change Your AC Filter
Improve the air quality index in your home by changing your AC filter when needed. Air filters help filter out pollutants and purify the air that flows through your home.
After a certain amount of time the filter will need to be taken out and cleaned or replaced so it can keep doing its job, keeping your home’s air clean. Air filters should be changed every three months. If you have pets or do any construction in the home they should be changed more often.
7. Change Your HVAC System if Needed
Your HVAC system is the main player working to improve air quality in your home. This is why it’s so important to keep up with regular maintenance to make sure it’s working correctly.
Besides changing the filter, schedule an appointment with an HVAC technician to get your unit checked at least once a year. This ensures any issues are resolved so your AC can continue purifying your air.
If you have an old unit and need to get it replaced, check out the 3 best HVAC systems we can provide for your home.
8. Add Some Plants
Adding some greenery inside your home can improve air quality. Certain plants like the Snake Plant or Peace Lily are natural air purifiers. They remove carbon monoxide from the air in your home and release oxygen into the space around them.
These indoor plants are easy to care for with a little sunlight and water, you won’t have to work hard to keep them alive. House plants add beauty and can benefit your health too.
9. Clean Your Home Often
Score higher on the air quality map by dusting and cleaning more often. Cleaning regularly will rid your house of bacteria, reduce allergy symptoms, reduces stress, improves sleep, and improve the air quality in your home.
The accumulation of dust can create discomfort. When you have a weekly dusting and cleaning schedule in place you’ll avoid these issues and breathe fresher air when you come home.
10. Clean Your Air Ducts Too
It’s important to clean your air ducts as much as possible. These ducts are responsible for keeping the air through your home flowing. If you don’t give your air ducts the care they need you’ll be exposing yourself to dirt, dust, mold, and many other toxins and allergens.
Scheduling an air duct cleaning by a trained professional is the best way to get your air ducts clean and keep them that way. Make sure you’re also wiping down your air vents when doing your weekly cleaning.
11. Keep Your Shoes at the Door
Your current air quality might not be so great if you walk into your house with your shoes on. Everywhere you go your shoes will pick up germs and carry them around for the rest of the day.
If you get home and go into your bedroom with shoes on, then you’re bringing millions of germs with you. The dirt and debris you bring in contribute to the poor air quality in your home.
Consider having a pair of flip flops or slippers to switch into at the door. This will help avoid more dirt and debris from coming into your home and improve the air quality, too.
12. Use the Vent Fan When Cooking
Cooking can release toxins into the air as well. If you cook with a gas stove you run the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Cooking also releases a lot of odors that can stay in the air and create unpleasant smells.
Help keep the air clean by using the vent fan setting on your microwave when you start cooking. You could also keep the door open while cooking if you have a screen to let the air filter through.
13. Fix Leaks
Another way to improve on the air quality index map is by fixing any leaks in your home. How might this help improve air quality?
Leaks create moisture and moisture can encourage mold growth. Mold reduces the air quality in your home because it’s toxic to your health. Fixing any leaks you may have will get rid of your moisture issues and improve air quality.
14. Clean Your Bathroom Exhaust Fans
Cleaning the exhaust fans in your bathroom is another way to reduce moisture and improve air quality in your home. The exhaust fans are there to remove moisture and prevent mold growth.
If the exhaust fan accumulates too much dust then it won’t work properly to remove moisture from the air. Cleaning the area around the fan will eliminate dust and help it purify the air in your bathroom.
15. Keep Your Pets Clean
If you have pets you know that their fur can get everywhere. This releases a lot of allergens into the air and lowers the air quality in your home. Make sure that you’re keeping your pets clean by bathing them once a week or any time they spend most of the day outdoors.
Improve Your Home’s Air Quality With These Tips
If you’re looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home consider following some of the tips in the guide above. It’s important to keep your home clean and have a quality HVAC system in your home.
Did you find this article helpful? Make sure to check out some of the other home-related blogs on our site if you did.
