A new year comes with new resolutions and new goals for many. So, why not include breathing in good quality air to your goals this year? What we breathe makes a great impact on our health. We usually think of air pollution as something that is on the outside. Smog, Ozone depletion, or haze in the air aren’t the only forms of air pollution. Your indoor air quality is something that also affects your health.
The Truth
The disturbing reality is that the air inside our homes can be much more polluted than the air outside. Our homes are likely to be polluted by lead, formaldehyde, fire-retardants, radon, and volatile chemicals from fragrances used in cleaners. Some pollutants are tracked inside, while others come through new furniture, carpet cleaners, or wall paints. The mixture of these might even include microscopic dust mites, mold, and pet dander. FYI – you don’t have to be a pet owner to have pet dander in your house. You simply can’t get away from it because people with pets have already set it out in the environment.
Children, asthmatic people, and the elderly are more sensitive to the indoor pollutants. But, with time and repeated exposure, anyone can be affected.
Why give importance to the indoor air quality now?
Indoor allergens and irritants have become a popular concern as we’re spending more and more time indoors. Also, modern homes are airtight, making it nearly impossible for these irritants to escape. Compared to four decades ago, we’re at greater risk from the exposure.
What should you be doing to improve your Indoor Air Quality?
You can take simple steps to ensure the improvement of indoor air quality. You can have professionals with their Indoor Air Quality service do it for you. Along with that, you can follow these steps to keep your breathing healthy:
Fresh Floors
- Use vacuums with strong suction to suck up the dust particles and reduce lead concentration. This way you’ll also get rid of fire-retardant chemicals, and allergens (pollen, pet dander, dust mites). To get better results, vacuum at least 2 or more times every week.
- Next, move on to a mop. With mopping, the dust left behind by the vacuum gets picked up. A plain water mop can do the trick too. You don’t need to add soap and cleaners all the time.
- Once all the cleaning is done, keep it that way. Use large mat floors at the doors, to avoid people from tracking in chemicals and dirt through their shoes. With big enough mats, even the ones who don’t wipe their shoes on the mat will leave most of the dirt on it.
Humidity Level
Dust mites and mold love moisture! Keep the humidity level of your home around 30% to 50%. This will keep dust mites, mold, and the allergens under control. A dehumidifier will do wonders for you. If you can’t use the dehumidifier, here are a few ways to dehumidify:
- Use an exhaust fan or open the windows when cooking or using the dishwasher or shower.
- Avoid watering houseplants too much
- Fix leaky plumbing ASAP
Make Your Home A No Smoking Area
Around 4,000 chemicals are present in cigarette smoke. It’s one of the most common issues of indoor air quality. Both the smoker and the people around them are affected by it. Secondhand smoke causes children to develop the ear and respiratory infections, asthma, and cancer. For smokers, it causes cancer, breathing problems, heart attacks, and stroke. So, work out the best method for yourself and your children to make your home a smoke-free zone.
Radon Test
New or old, homes can have a radon problem at any time. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that raises the risk of lung cancer. It’s a radioactive gas. The natural decay of Uranium in almost all soils causes it. It travels from the ground to your home. Radon testing is an easy and inexpensive process. You can get even high radon levels reduced to an acceptable level.
Natural Fragrances for Home
Synthetic fragrances are usually derived from petroleum products. They emit dozens of chemicals in the air, and some aren’t even tested. Here’s what you should do:
- Use naturally scented or fragrance-free laundry products.
- Use mild cleaners – without artificial fragrances.
- Don’t use aerosol sprays.
- Let fresh air in.
- Use plants. Add ferns, spider plants or Aloe Vera plant indoors. You can also add air-filtering plants like Peace Lily, Snake Plant, & English Ivy.
We should take these precautionary steps no matter what. To breathe healthily, you need to be cautious. Green Home Solution offers a fast, effective and affordable Indoor Air Quality Control service. Once the professionals do their thing, you can work on these steps to keep up with the “good air.”