12 Ways to Improve Your Home Air Quality and Reduce Pollution

With cities increasing in size and levels of pollution on the rise, it's no wonder that people are starting to worry about what effect this is having on their health. For those living in busy areas, you may think that staying inside your house is the safest option, but this option might not be quite as safe as you think.

Have you ever considered how much of this pollution is present inside of your home?

As well as fossil fuel pollution, there are also other household pollutants to consider, for example, mold and mildew, dust mites, pet dander, and pollutants present in your kitchen from appliances such as your kitchen stove. Some of these are allergens that may irritate your lungs, and some may also have links to more serious diseases.

Even those living in less industrial areas have to think about what pollutants may be present in their homes.

Luckily, there are many easy steps that you can take to improve your home's indoor air quality and prevent those pollutants from entering in the first place!

Change your AC Filter

Your air conditioning system is working hard to filter the air inside your home, so give it a helping hand and make sure you change its filter once in a while. It is possible to do this by yourself, but if you are unsure, there are plenty of professionals who can take care of this for you.

It is also possible to take out an A/C Service Plan, which will ensure that your air conditioning system is regularly checked and maintained to a good working condition.

Use Kitchen Ventilation

Your kitchen can be host to many harmful pollutants that may leak from your appliances, such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. To stop these from having a negative impact on your health, it is important that you remove them from the air.

Having good kitchen ventilation for when you are cooking, such as an extractor fan that pumps the air outside, is a great way to improve your home's indoor air quality.

Invest in Household Plants

Not only do they look great as part of your home decor, but plants are also a natural way to filter the air inside your house. As well as removing CO2 and replacing it with oxygen, scientists have also found that they remove other harmful gases, such as benzene and formaldehyde. These gases are known to aggravate the lungs of people with asthma but also have links to more serious conditions such as cancer.

Clean your Ventilation Ducts

The ducts that distribute clean air to each room in your house can get clogged up with dust and dirt, and in some cases, there may even be a build-up of mold in there. It's a good idea to get these ducts cleaned to ensure the air isn't picking up pollutants on its way through. By hiring a professional, you can feel safe in the knowledge that your ducts aren't contributing to your air pollution.

Clean Carpets, Rugs, and Upholstery.

As well as keeping your home feeling comfortable and cozy, your carpets, rugs, and upholstery also do a good job at filtering your air by trapping particles within their fibers. It's therefore important that you give them a good clean once in a while to remove these particles, allowing them to continue to do their work. It's also a very satisfying feeling when your house is feeling clean and fresh.

Check your household appliance filters.

The filters on your hairdryer, vacuum and clothes dryer, and all filters that can get clogged with dust and other particles and redistribute them into your air. By checking and cleaning them regularly, you can stop this dust from flowing back into your air supply. Cleaning these filters also improves the performance of your appliances.

Use Dehumidifiers.

High humidity in your home can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew, a major allergen that can be harmful to your lungs if breathed in. You can pick up cheap dehumidifiers in many stores, and placing a few of these around your home can seriously reduce the amount of moisture in your air and cut down on the growth of mold.

Take off your shoes at the door.

Taking your shoes off at the door is one of the simplest ways to keep your home clean and to stop outdoor pollutants from being trailed through your house. Shoes are in contact with the floor throughout the day, which is where lots of pollutants from the air come to rest. On top of this, you have all the other dirt and grime that can be picked up by your shoes - you don't really want to be trailing dog poo or people's spit through your homes now, do you?

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Vacuuming your house is a great way to remove the dust particles that land upon your floors. However, if possible, it is better to use a vacuum that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate absorbing) filter that traps very small particles, stopping them from leaving the vacuum and recirculating into the air.

Mop

Whilst hoovering picks up a lot of dust from your hard floors; mopping is a really great way to safeguard against missed dust and dirt. The mop head traps the remaining particles within its fibers and can be superior at removing dust from cracks between tiles.

Use more natural products.

Scented cleaning products, scented candles, and other fragranced products such as plug-in air fresheners can all leave your house smelling great, but they may be releasing toxic chemicals into your homes. Search for products that have no added fragrance or natural scents and also avoid products that come in aerosol cans, such as deodorants, air fresheners, and furniture polish.

Test for Radon.

Radon is a radioactive substance that can leak up from the ground and through the foundations of your house. It comes from the decay of uranium in the soil and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

As it is both colorless and odorless, it is important to get tested because you cannot otherwise tell that it is present. Testing is easy and cheap, and if Radon is found to be present, then there are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the levels in your home without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts

I hope after reading this article, you now see how easy it is to take simple steps to improve your home's indoor air quality. Not only is it beneficial for the environment to cut down on these pollutants, but by removing them, you are also positively affecting your own health and wellbeing.

 Author’s Bio

James Watson is a part of the Content and Marketing team at Eliteheatingandac.com.