The thought of air pollution is usually accompanied by glimpses of factories spewing smoke and vehicles burning fuel. Over the years, there has been an increase in awareness regarding air pollution and its health concerns. But if you thought that you are at risk of being exposed to polluted air only when you step out of the comfort of your home, well, think again. Studies show that the air inside your home can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. In some rare cases, the pollutant levels could be almost 100 times that of the air outside. With the Covid-19 pandemic wreaking havoc, more and more people have been spending a majority of their time indoors. Increased exposure to poor indoor air quality can have a negative impact on your health. Fortunately, there are ways to improve the quality of air in your home. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that you breathe clean air in your home.

Let in Some Fresh Air

The most straightforward approach of making sure that the air inside your home remains fresh and clean is to let in some fresh air. Ventilation is the key. While running home heating and cooling systems, more often than not, the same air is recirculated over and over again. Whenever possible, you should open the doors and windows of the house to let in some fresh air. You could also run your air conditioner with the vent open. This approach to freshen up the air in your house is probably the cheapest one and simply opening your windows for a few minutes every day can make a big difference. Windows Bristol

Use an Air Filtration System 

Air cleaners can help filter out particulate matter and improve the air quality in your home. There are various types of air cleaning systems that can be used, however, they are broadly classified into two types: air filters and air purifiers. Air filters are used to filter out pollutants like particulate matter, pollen, mold, ash, dust mites, fungus, and some bacteria. This is achieved by forcing the air through filters which can also utilize activated carbon. Air Purifiers on the other hand sanitize the air using different compounds and elements to eliminate all traces of harmful airborne pathogens that can cause diseases. These devices vary in their prices and capacities, and you can easily access one that meets your requirements. Using air filters and purifiers can work wonders for the air quality of your home. Many of them also come equipped with sensors that give you feedback regarding the quality of air in your home.

Use Essential Oil Diffusers

Essential oil diffusers can help improve the quality of air in your house. Essential oils like tea tree oil have antibacterial properties that can help kill the bacteria in your household air. Other essential oils like lavender, clove, and eucalyptus oil help reduce dust mites in your house. You could also add essential oils to your cleaning solution. If you don’t have a diffuser, you could also use a simple room spray containing a mix of water and oil. Make sure that you mix the solution properly before use because oil and water do not mix. These room sprays can not only help in cleaning up the air in your house but also help remove any stale smell.

Service Your Air Conditioner

An air conditioner also acts as an air filter, albeit not as effective. Air conditioners are equipped with a filter in their intake which filters the air that enters the air conditioner before being cooled and subsequently being pumped in. However, with use, the filter gets clogged and must be cleaned. If not cleaned frequently, the airflow into the filter may reduce due to it being clogged and reduce the effectiveness of the air conditioner. Furthermore, changing the filter frequently can help improve its effectiveness and in turn help filter the air inside your house.

Minimize Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

Prevention is better than cure and the best way of improving the quality of air in your home is to nip the problem in the bud by minimizing the sources of pollution in your home. There are various sources of air pollution inside your home. Your gas stoves can be tuned to reduce the number of pollutants. Frequently cleaning your rugs and carpets and leaving your shoes at the door can help reduce the amount of dust and particulate matter. You should also use cooking oils with high smoke points as they generate lower amounts of smoke. This is the reason extra virgin olive oil must not be used for cooking and instead, you must opt for virgin olive oil. A wide variety of cleaning products that are commonly used in households can also negatively impact indoor air quality. Cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals must be avoided, and you should instead opt for eco-friendly cleaners. Furthermore, you should also try to air your dry-cleaning outside. Let them hang in the open before you bring them inside as the chemicals that are used can be irritants. Even the varnish in your wooden furniture could affect the quality of indoor air by emitting volatile organic compounds. So if you purchase new furniture, it is advisable to air it out.

Grow Some Houseplants

Houseplants can help filter out organic pollutants from your household air. Indoor plants can help reduce irritation in the eyes, ears, and throat and can help reduce the probability of developing a cough. Beyond helping improve air quality, some green plants in your home also help reduce stress and anxiety. Different indoor plants offer different benefits. Spider plants, Dracaena, Peace Lily, and Boston Fern are some plants that are commonly used to help improve indoor air quality.

Breathing in clean air is essential for our health. Given that we spend a majority of our time indoors, maintaining the air quality inside our homes is important. With the methods discussed here, you should be able to improve the quality of air in your home and be able to breathe clean air.

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