The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that your indoor air is more than likely compromised by a number of contaminants, going so far as to say it’s potentially more polluted than what’s found outside in large, industrialized cities.
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With that in mind, we’d like to offer you some common sense suggestions that range from relatively easy to rather elaborate. We’re not going to bore you with the obvious ones—like don’t smoke in your home if you don’t like the smell of the smoke—but we do have a handful of hints that can make a tangible difference in the air that’s in your home.
1. Fumes Be Gone
Do not store cleaners, paints, sealants and adhesives inside your home. Harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these everyday household items don’t belong inside.
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2. At Your Service
Have a licensed or professional HVAC technician perform regularly scheduled maintenance on your HVAC system. Not only can seasonal servicing of your system help its performance and longevity, but it can also address perennial cleanliness concerns, such as dirty coils and duct work.
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3. Break the Mold
Ventilated bathrooms may help sustain a mold-free and mildew-free environment. Long, hot showers feel great but, without proper ventilation, they also create ideal conditions for the mold. Better indoor ventilation is a cut and dry solution
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4. Another Mite Bites the Dust
Periodically replace bedding, carpets, curtains, etc. These microscopic pests love that old rug as much as you do. From time to time, they both have to go.
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5. Let It Breathe
Implement whole home ventilation year-round for better air quality. Again, out with the old and in with the new. This time it’s the stale air your need to part with. Proper ventilation goes a long way toward keeping your indoor air fresh and clean.
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This article was included in the
2017 Fall/Winter Good Life Magazine.
1 Indoor Air Pollutants and Toxic Materials. (2009, December 8). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/nceh/publications/books/housing/cha05.htm
2 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). (n.d.). Retrieved from EPA: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/residential-air-cleaners-second-edition-summary-available-information#summary