Feature Image by Hutomo Abrianto
With the “new normal” and more time at home, the air quality of your house is more important than ever. According to research from Harvard Medical School, improving your home’s air quality can “help you avoid asthma flare-ups and allergy symptoms.”
You want the air to be free of toxins and the allergy-inducing dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores caused by stale indoor air. This is totally doable if you follow a few maintenance tips and put the energy into improving and maintaining your home’s air quality.
Here are a few tips for breathable air quality at home:
Clean your house regularly
Overall, a clean house will lead to a happier life. Not only will it lead to ease of mind while working from home, but also regularly cleaning your home reduces the chance of dust and dander build up. This means every part of your home, including vacuuming rugs (which are excellent dust traps), washing bedding, and cleaning drapes and curtains. Any area where dirt can accumulate needs a good cleaning regularly.
Consider buying indoor plants
Many indoor plants can help act as natural air filters and pull contaminants out of the air. Some great examples of this are snake plants, devil’s ivy, ferns, and peace lilies. Just be sure to take into account whether or not you have allergies. If you do, indoor plants may not be the best option as they can trigger allergies.
Change your air conditioning filter
As your AC system is circulating cool air to keep you happy and comfortable, it is also filtering out impure air pollutants. Eventually, this can wear down or even break your air conditioner. Regular filter changes will help you forego costly repairs and keep your air fresh and clean. In the same vein, be sure to check filters in other household appliances like your vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer, and kitchen vents as dust and bacteria can build up here too.
Check the air ducts
Air ducts are responsible for maintaining a comfortable living environment at the right temperature. Air ducts are the channels that distribute hot and cold air throughout your home. If they are not maintained or installed properly, then they can serve as highways for dust, dander, and mold. It’s important to examine your experts (or have a professional do it) to maintain fresh airflow.
Buy an air purifier
Thanks to the technology of ionic air purifiers you can actively remove irritants for asthma attacks and allergens from the air. They also remove the smoke from tobacco and cigarettes that causes lung disease. It may not remove them all, but it removes enough allergens, particles and build up to breathe easier.
Open your windows
Super simple, but one way to improve air quality is to allow fresh air in. Because of the lack of ventilation, inside air is more polluted than outside air. Opening a window allows fresh air to move throughout your home, blowing out any trapped pollutants.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
