If you didn’t know yet, indoor air also harbors pollutants, and they can be more hazardous than those outdoors. Given that we spend most of our time indoors, we always breathe in these harmful particles, unless we’ve been diligently purifying the air in our homes or offices.
Indoor air pollution is attributed to construction materials, dust, smoke, pet dander, furniture, and even electronics. Malfunctioning appliances can also release pollutants, including carbon monoxide, which is extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.
To repel these nasty pollutants, we should practice maintaining the cleanliness in all areas of our home. Buying a home air purifier system from Salt Lake City, for example, is one way to improve air quality. Apart from that, we should do other things to truly prevent pollutant particles from spreading and affecting our health.
1. Open the Windows
Letting outdoor air in can help disperse indoor air pollutants. Every day, leave some windows open for at least five minutes, and your indoor air quality can already improve.
2. Leave Your Shoes Outside
The shoes we wear outdoors carry a lot of germs that we bring inside our homes if we don’t leave them by the doorstep. We also leave traces of dirt on our floors, so let’s get used to not wearing outdoor shoes inside the house.
3. Groom Your Pets Regularly
Pet dander or dead skin flakes of pets can trigger asthma symptoms or aggravate them. For those who already have asthma, pet dander can be found on furniture and in pretty much all areas where your pet always stays. Aside from grooming them regularly, brush or vacuum the floors and furniture. Choose a vacuum cleaner model with HEPA filters, as those do a better job at capturing ultra-fine particles.
4. Run the AC
An air conditioner works by pulling the air out of your home, cooling it, and then releasing them back. Make sure to regularly change your AC’s filters to keep them functioning optimally.
5. Remove Molds
Using both a humidifier and dehumidifier can keep moisture indoors at healthy levels and prevent the growth of molds. Bathroom, kitchens, and other dark and damp areas are the breeding ground of molds, so always keep those areas dry. If you see mold, remove them using non-toxic substances, or better yet, opt for home or natural remedies like baking soda and vinegar. Bleach, although effective, is a harsh substance that’s not the most eco-friendly.
6. Air Out New Furniture First
New furniture may look crisp and smell fresh, but they contain volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are potentially cancerous gases spread all over the air from products and processes. Thus, new sofas, for example, will emit VOCs, so air them out for at least a week before putting them indoors and using them. If you don’t have a place for it outside, you can simply leave a window open to disperse the VOCs.
7. Use An Air Purifier With HEPA Filters
HEPA filters can be found in air purifiers, so always opt for those. It’s also advisable to select models that don’t produce ozone, as it may become lung irritants and aggravate asthma symptoms. You would usually see in the packaging if a model has ozone or not.
You can also find UV air filters, which gets rid of biological impurities, including mold. But some bacteria are UV-resistant, so it would be more effective to use both a UV air filter and a regular air filter. In general, reusable air filters perform better at capturing larger particles like pollen and dust mites.
Other things to look for in an air purifier are its clean-air delivery rate (must be at least 300), size, and an Association of Home Appliance Mark (AHAM).
Following our awareness about indoor air pollution and the ways to combat them, let’s start practicing these preventive measures to be always certain that the air we breathe in every day is safe and healthy.
