How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Home
Did you know that air pollution levels within the modern house can be two to five times higher than the levels outdoors. Combining that with the fact that the typical person can spend up to ninety percent of their time inside, is it any wonder that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new adage in the English language.
Unlike outdoor air, inside air is recycled again and again with pollutants like tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all adding towards asthma and allergies.
Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include giddiness, headaches, tickly throats, stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, nausea, lethargy and an lack of concentration. However, since several of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to to determine if indoor pollution is the cause or if it is down to some form of viral infection.
If you discover that the symptoms fade when you are in the open air, an effort should be made to discover indoor air sources that might be possible causes and try to eliminate them. Fortunately, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.
Make a great difference to indoor air quality in your home with the following 7 tips.
No Smoking Inside
Although this may sound obvious, you should in effect ban smoking inside your home or at least restrict it to one room. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, visit, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan fitted in the kitchen, make a point that it is switched on and endeavour to have smokers stand as close as possible to the fan so that the fumes get drawn out.
Let the Bad Air Out
Provided that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening your windows and doors every now and then. Doing so will also remove some of the pollutants that have built up within your home. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, make use of them on a regular basis. You should also routinely clean the vents in the extractors and make sure they operate properly.
Throw Away Those Chemical Cleaners
Take any one of those so called miracle kitchen cleaners from your cupboard and someplace on the label will be a warning as to how hazardous they are to your health. Furthermore, look at what they are made of and see if you can recognise the names of any of the substances in that bottle. In fact, I doubt you will even be able to say the name, let alone know what it is. Every time you use that product, fumes from whatever is in the bottle get released into the air for you to breathe in. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Personally, I have taken the enviromentally friendly approach to home cleaning. Baking soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for most cleaning jobs. They are not only cheaper but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your home.
Clean and Dust Your Home On A Regular Basis
Although it might appear obvious to some folks, regularly vacuuming your carpets and flooring can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is said (although I have no proof) that some 70% of all household dust is composed of dead skin, which we humans shed day in and day out. Dust mites successively feed upon this dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this together with their feces that causes allergic reactions in folks.
Pet Dander Triggers Allergies
For those families with a cat, dog or other pet, allergies such as asthma can be set off by their dander, which they shed all the time. If you think that you or a family member may be allergic to your family pet, action is needed. The ideal solution is to keep pets out of the home completely. If that is not a feasible option, you should restrict the number of rooms that the pets are allowed to enter and definitely keep them away from the bedroom.
Reduce Inside Air Humidity
If the clime where you live is either very humid or just plain damp (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels inside your home can increase. A consequence of excessive moisture is the growth of mildw which can trigger a mold allergy. For anybody with extreme allergic reactions, mold spores are as bad, if not worse, than dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment since they are able to remove excess dampness from the surrounding air, thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.
Invest in a Home Air Purifier
A home air purifier or room air cleaners do as their name indicates and clean the air of pollutants and allergens such as mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander. They are especially useful if you or a family member suffers from allergies or asthma since they can reduce airborne contaminants by a considerable amount. Indoor air purifiers have become very popular over recent years since they are able to clean the air in your house while making it a lot healthier to inhale. Nevertheless, there are various types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.