Better air quality comes down to filtering the air, introducing fresh air, and managing humidity. Minor impacts of unhealthy indoor air quality include headaches; irritation of your ears, nose, and throat; and dizziness, among others—but more serious effects can include cancer and respiratory diseases. Filter the air, introduce fresh air, and manage humidity, experts say. Here are 12 ideas for improving indoor air quality, whether you or someone in your home has allergies or environmental conditions outdoors are causing poor air quality inside.
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Remove air pollutants
The first step is to remove anything from your home that is causing your indoor air quality to degrade. For example, if you have cleaning supplies, paint, or other chemicals in the house, simply move them to the garage and out of your main living area.
Bring in fresh air
Improving the air quality in your home can be as simple and quick as opening windows for ventilation.
Update your thermostat
Look for one with a circulate mode. Some of these thermostats will run your indoor fan for 20 minutes of every hour, while others may allow the fan to run continuously at a reduced speed for constant air flow.
Run bathroom exhaust fans all the time
This may sound extreme (and maybe a little annoying, as the sound can be grating), but it can help improve indoor air quality.
Maintain your dehumidifier
Take care to keep your dehumidifier clean and running throughout the humid season in your area.
Add humidity in winter
Whether it’s delivered via a portable or professionally installed system, humidity is the key to maintaining a healthy air environment (especially during winter months, when air is typically dry).
Buy a quality air filter
It makes sense that the higher quality the air filter, the more particles it will capture—but the catch is that smaller particles will make the filter clog faster, requiring more frequent replacement. It’s recommended to change your air filter every 30 days or so (or if you have a larger capacity filter, every six months). Keep replacement filters on hand so you have them when you need them.
Limit scented items
We hate to break it to you, but those scented candles, air fresheners, diffusers, etc. that you love can actually be contributing to poor air quality inside your home. Some contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—such as formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene—that can be hazardous to your health, causing headaches and irritation to your eyes, nose, and throat. Many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products contain VOCs, too.
Get houseplants
Indoor plants aren’t only a great way to add life and visual interest to any space—they may also help to increase oxygen inside your home and purify the air. They do this by helping to filter the pollutants that originate from inside your home, including those from woods, cleaning products, furniture, trash, carpets, natural gas, and more.
Examine your air ducts
Keeping air ducts clean is important for air quality inside your home. Some common signs that your air ducts need cleaning include visible dust build-up on the ducts or furniture, as well as an increase in allergy flare-ups.
Check cooking vents
Whether you have a hood or a microwave with a carbon filter above your range in the kitchen, ensure the vents are working and that you clean them (and the filters) regularly. This is especially important if you have a gas range, as carbon monoxide can be emitted into the air when burners are on.
Clean your floor coverings
Carpet and rugs add coziness to a home, but they’re also a top source for collecting pet dander, dirt, pollen, and more—particles that can be kicked up with every step. Make sure you clean them regularly to help minimize build-up. (Hint: Hive Helper recurring services can help!) You may also want to consider implementing a no-shoes household to further prevent build-up.