Most people believe that the air outside the home is worse than the one circulating inside their abode. The truth of the matter is, the air you breathe inside your house is very much the same as the air outside. Even indoor air can be polluted. If you want to purify the air passing through your residence, here are some ways to improve the quality of indoor air.
Identify the main sources of indoor air pollution in your home. There are three major categories of pollutants—dangerous chemicals, allergens and irritants.- Consult your doctor about air pollution and ask for help in making a plan to manage the problem.
- Reduce the build-up of indoor pollutants by ventilating the house properly. Make sure to open your windows to let air in and use an exhaust fan to send exhaust air outside.
- Replace your old air conditioning and furnace filters. Opt for the pleated filters that have MERV rating of 6 and better.
- Do not be afraid to use air purifiers. These come in different shapes and sizes and can be used for single rooms or the entire house.
- Use ultraviolet lights to improve air quality. This is considered as the most cost-effective and cheapest way to kill up to 99% of bacteria dwelling in the air.
- Set a no-smoking zone inside the house. Tobacco smoke is dangerous to the health and it also contributes to the air pollution. If there are family members who smoke, ask them to do their thing outside at a distance which the smoke from the cigarette cannot enter the home.
- Exterminate the dust mites by washing your bed linens regularly, keeping the pets away from the furniture and using a dehumidifier or air-conditioner to decrease the indoor humidity level.
- Vacuum your carpets regularly to prevent allergens, dust your home to eliminate other harmful particles from proliferating and polluting the air inside your home.
- Install an air filtration system if you have enough resources to do so. This will help filter the air in the entire home especially if you use a centralized air purifying system.
- Before purchasing cleaning and air purifying products, make sure to read the labels very carefully.
- Make sure to use household chemicals in limited quantities only. Paints, wax, cosmetic and cleaning supplies contain harmful chemicals that can harm the respiratory system when inhaled. These also add up to the air pollution inside the house.
Take note of the aforementioned air purifying tips to help you enhance the quality of air that you breathe inside your home.