Last Updated on June 29, 2021 by Sarah
Want some tips on how to improve air quality at home?
The air quality in your home can actually affect how healthy it is. In fact, poor air quality can lead to a range of issues – from allergies to skin problems. So taking simple steps to improve the air quality in your home environment can actually make it a healthier place to live, as it reduces allergens and toxins that could, over time, lead to health problems.
Keeping your home clean, in general, is a good way to help keep the air quality in good shape. However, there are some further steps you can take to improve air quality that are easy to implement and don’t need to cost the earth.
Here are actionable 7 tips on how to improve air quality in the home.
1 – Use An Air Conditioner Filter
When air is moving through your home, filtering out any toxins, allergens or tiny particles helps to create a healthier environment. Using an air conditioning unit can be helpful here, as they contain a dust filter in the indoor unit, which helps to trap dust as it circulates through.
It’s important to keep the filter in good shape, so it works efficiently. So if it seems to be getting dirty quicker than you think it should, consider getting an emergency AC repair service to take a look.
2 – Use An Oven Hood & Extractor Fan
If you have an oven hood and extractor fan fitted, this is an easy way to help improve the air quality at home. We all have to cook, but this creates steam, grease and odours, which all end up in our air supply.
However, using your oven hood and extractor fan will help remove airborne grease, combustion products, fumes, smoke, heat and steam from the air.
3 – Vacuum Regularly
Let’s face it, not many of us love vacuuming! But it’s actually a great way to help improve your air quality at home, as it pulls loads of tiny dust particles and allergens out of your carpet
If you can, choose a vacuum with a HEPA filer, as a HEPA filter will capture tiny particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter, which means it can gobble up virtually all allergens.
4 – Choose Indoor Plants Wisely
Some indoor plants, such as spider plants, are are often promoted as having air purifying qualities. However, it’s important to be cautious with indoor plants, as some could actually make your air quality worse by polluting it with allergens. Theses can foster the growth of mould, which leaves you with a new problem to deal with.
So if you’re not sure, it’s best to leave the plants outdoors when your aim is to boost air quality. Alternatively, choose one of these air purifying plants as recommended by NASA.
5 – Consider An Air Purifier
Investing in an air purifier is another way to create better air quality in your home.
For example, if you’re allergic to your family pet or perhaps have a dust mite allergy, an air purifier could improve things for you, by capturing allergens and irritants that could be causing you problems.
Another idea is to use a dehumidifier in areas of your home that are damper and where mould might grow. Damp and mould are notoriously bad for air quality, as mould fragments and spores can get into the air. Inhaling these can lead to congestion and health problems.
Or in some rooms, you might prefer a humidifier if it’s too dry.
6 – Open Windows
This may sound obvious, but it’s surprising how many people don’t open windows regularly.
Allowing fresh air in from the outdoors is a simple and free way to improve air quality indoors. It keeps fresh air circulating and provides good ventilation, helping germs and allergens to escape.
It’s particularly helpful to open a window in the kitchen or bathroom or to use extraction fans to remove toxins from the air. Of course, if you suffer from hayfever, you might need to be more careful about opening windows during the spring and summer months.
7 – Reduce Aerosols & Chemical Products
With the explosion in health products over the last 10 years or so, it’s now much easier to choose deodorants and cleaning products that don’t use aerosols or harsh chemicals.
Switching to a roll on deodorant (try to avoid ones with aluminium in the ingredients) is simple and affordable or you could even try making your own.
Many brands also now offer environmentally friendly cleaning products that are much safer for the environment and health, as they don’t include so many of the harsh ingredients and artificial fragrances that are detrimental to air quality.
Conclusion
So there you have it. How to improve air quality at home in 7 simple steps.
Even if you don’t want to stretch to an air conditioner or humidifier right now, simple actions such as opening windows, being mindful of plants you have indoors and reducing aerosols and chemical products in the home, can all have a lasting, positive impact on air quality.
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