source: tasteforlife.com

5 Ways You Can Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Air pollution is not just restricted to the surroundings outside our homes, but a great chunk of this pollution resides with us in the houses. It is not only the obnoxious smoke or pollutants whizzing up from factories that is risky but a number of contaminants emitted during our household chores up the ante and pose danger to our health.

So, how can you rein in the air pollution inside your home? Let us take a look at five easy ways by which you can improve the indoor quality of your house.

  1. Keep the humidity levels in control

Humidity becomes a breeding ground for dust mites and molds and therefore it becomes necessary to maintain a healthy humidity level. Ideally, humidity levels should be around 30%-50% which will keep the allergens at bay. The best way to keep the humidity levels to a healthy level is to use a dehumidifier and an air conditioner in summer.

This will reduce the moisture in the indoor air and will also scale down the pollen count of the air. You can also use an exhaust fan in places of cooking, using dishwasher, or bathing. Make sure you keep the vent of the clothes dryer outside and also empty the drips pans in the window air conditioner and dehumidifier.

source: odonnellbros.com
  1. Switch to organic bedding

 

Remember whenever you paint a room or buy a new piece of furniture, there is a pungent smell in your house. The smell is because of a nasty chemical that comes from a liquid additive, changes into a gaseous state, and permeates in the indoor air of your room.

This phenomenon is called off-gassing. Similarly, off-gassing also occurs as a result of formaldehyde used in furniture which remains in the air for many years. So, what is the way out? Use organic bedding as they will consume a large portion of the off-gassed chemicals.

source: overstock.com
  1. Check for Radon problems

Radon is a radioactive gas which is naturally found in the soils because of decaying uranium. This Radon gas moves up the ground and reaches your home through pores and opens. This colourless and odourless gas is responsible for causing lung cancer.

Even drafty and airtight homes can have radon problems and if you smoke in a radon-ridden house, then you have a risk of lung cancer. Therefore conduct frequent tests for Radon. These tests are easy and inexpensive and can even cure high levels of Radon.

  1. Use Green Cleansers

The cleansers you use to clean the windows or bathroom of your home are packed with toxic petrochemicals which invade your body through a number of ways, especially skin. You must have experienced fatigue, headache, or blurred vision after using a chlorine cleanser.

All of these symptoms may be due to the inhalation of toxic fumes of the cleanser. To get rid of this, you can use a green cleanser which are healthy products which use vinegar or baking soda instead of noxious chemicals.

Check out for these greener cleansers in the food stores which can also be used to clean up your drains, carpets, kitchens, etc.

source: cleanitsupply.com
  1. Unclog your drains

A clogged drain leads to some obvious problems and cleaning them is not an easy task. But instead of unclogging your drains with chemicals why not use the non-chemical method? Use a sink plunger to get rid of the clogged drains.

They are not costly and can be easily used for many years’ sans chemical products. They will cost you somewhere around $3-$10.

source: today.com

Bottom Line

Apart from these aforementioned steps, make sure you dust your home often and dispel the airborne chemicals. Wiping off surfaces of furniture is another way you can improve on the indoor air quality and maintain a wholesome ambiance in your home.