Air pollution is an unpleasant aspect of modern life, especially without a dosing pot. Many people are aware of air pollution outside but don’t consider indoor air pollution. Harmful pollutants from outside, poor ventilation and uncontrolled humidity can destroy your indoor air quality. Poor air quality can put your health at risk, especially if you suffer from respiratory conditions like asthma.
Luckily, you can eliminate many situations that cause indoor air pollution with a little household maintenance. Here are some of the things that you can do to improve air quality.
Clean Up Regularly
When dirt and dust pile up in your home, they attract dust mites and many other harmful pathogens. Your shoes will also bring in dirt and pollutants from outside. Place a mat at the door to wipe the dirt off your shoes, or get everyone to take off their shoes before entering the house.
Clean the floors with a vacuum to get rid of dust, and use a wet mop to clear the leftover dirt. You will also need to dust the walls, chairs and appliances. Your HVAC systems should also be serviced and cleaned regularly.
Control Humidity
Uncontrolled humidity encourages the spread of mold, viruses and dust mites, which can trigger allergies, asthma and other illnesses. Heating systems and damp environments form one of the biggest causes of high humidity. The problem is prevalent around winter when most people shut themselves indoors.
Ideally, humidity levels should be around 30 to 50 percent. Opening the windows to let in the fresh air can help to lower the humidity. You should also fix all the leaks in the plumbing. Dry your clothing in a dryer or hang it to dry outside. You might want to get a dehumidifier if you have tried everything here and still have a problem with humidity in your home.
Get an Air Purifier
Even when you stick to the highest levels of hygiene, the air around your home is never free from contamination. You will still have traces of airborne bacteria, mold and viruses. The particles can cause allergies and respiratory infections. Air purifiers help to rid your home of the harmful particles by trapping them and keeping them from recirculating in your home.
Air purifiers are also effective in controlling dust mites. If you live in an enclosed environment like an apartment block, you may want to consider getting an air purifier. You may also want to get an air purifier when you have a baby at home, or you live in a heavily polluted environment.
Maintain Proper Ventilation
Good air quality requires proper air circulation around the house. Letting in fresh air from outside will remove the stale air and reduce humidity on the inside. One simple way of ventilating would be to open the doors and windows. Choose a time of day when pollution levels are at their lowest, like mornings and evenings.
If you are afraid of letting in more dirt and toxic substances, you can try trickle ventilation. This allows a small amount of air to come in from outside through a vent. The vents are fitted with filters that clean impurities from the air. The installation can be done as a standalone unit or made part of the door and window frames.