Many of us consider our homes to be a safe haven against the dangerous outside world. But did you know that according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies, the air inside the average home can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside? Considering we spend roughly 89 percent of our lives indoors, it’s important that the air we’re breathing inside is clean and safe.
7 Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
When it comes to keeping the air in your home fresh, making indoor air quality (IAQ) a priority is highly important. Thankfully, lessening air pollution and boosting your home’s indoor air quality is simpler than you may think. Here are seven easy ways you can get started.
1. Be a Clean Freak
Unless you’re one of those people who likes to clean (don’t we all wish we were like that?), consistently cleaning your home is an easy way to improve indoor air quality. By regularly dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and the like, you can reduce allergens and irritants and lessen air pollution as a whole. Be sure you don’t skip the baseboards, corners of walls and window coverings!
It’s also important to not counteract all of your hard work by cleaning your home with chemical-laden products. Some of these cleaners can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Instead, opt for all-natural cleaning products, which are fortunately much easier to find in your neighborhood grocery store than a couple of years ago. This list details some of the top rated all-natural cleaning products, or if you’re feeling crafty, this three-ingredient DIY natural all-purpose cleaner is inexpensive and effective!
2. Buy Doormats
Something as simple as adding doormats at entryways can significantly reduce the amount of pet fur flying around along with dirt and debris that others track in. Considering studies show that footwear is responsible for tracking in 85 percent of the dirt and moisture that enters a home, doormats can seriously help!
3. Stock Your Home With Houseplants
Did you know certain plants can remove pollutants from inside your home? Not to mention, houseplants are just plain beautiful and make us a little happier each time we see them.
In the late 1980s, NASA researchers studied the ability of houseplants to purify the air. Focusing on various plant’s ability to remove toxic agents, the studies found numerous plants were effective at reducing the amount of indoor air pollutants.
The plants in the infographic to the right have been proven to remove harmful pollutants like asbestos, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, nitrogen dioxide, pesticides, radon and more.
Better yet, many of these plants are drought resistant and require little to no attention, save for a light watering once every week or two.
4. Have Your Furry Friends Groomed Regularly
We all love our pets, but unfortunately, our furry friends can track in allergens, dirt and other debris on their paws and in their fur. To combat this, bathe and groom your pets frequently, and don’t forget to wash their bedding in warm water, too. For good measure, it’s best to keep pets off furniture and especially beds if possible.
5. Replace Your Air Filter Often
The air filter in your HVAC system plays a big role in how clean the air in your home is, which is why changing your air conditioning filter on a regular basis is so important. When the air filter is left unchanged, it will become clogged with dust and debris. Not only does this put extra stress on your air conditioning system, but it can impede airflow and essentially disperse dust and debris throughout your home. For good measure, be sure to change your air filter each month.
6. Invest in an Air Cleaner or Purifier
If you’re looking to boost your home’s indoor air quality and don’t mind investing a little bit of money, an air cleaner or purifier is a great option. Air cleaners and purifiers come in a variety of sizes for houses large or small. Carrier, for example, offers multiple air cleaner and purifier options — all of which are designed to keep the air flowing cleanly and efficiently throughout your home.
Related blog: The Top 5 Benefits of Home Air Purifiers
7. Schedule HVAC Maintenance With Sansone
When it comes to keeping the air in your home clean and healthy, your HVAC system is your home’s first line of defense. An efficient air conditioning system will be able to properly ventilate your home and filter out all of the nasty germ and allergens — but there’s a catch. To do so, you need to maintain your HVAC system properly, or else it won’t be able to efficiently keep your home’s air clean and healthy.
If you haven’t scheduled a maintenance appointment for your air conditioning system this year, call the professionals at Sansone. We offer quality maintenance services designed to keep your HVAC system functioning efficiently while keeping your air clean in the process. Give us a call today to learn more or schedule your appointment online.
Broward: (954) 800-2858
Palm Beach: (561) 701-8274
St. Lucie: (772) 879-5656