The air quality in your home is one of the biggest keys to supporting your family’s health. Clean, fresh air will help prevent illness and mitigate air pollutant-aggravated conditions such as seasonal allergies or asthma. Here are a few ways to improve the air quality in your home.
Screen Doors and Windows
One of the easiest ways to improve indoor air quality is by opening doors and windows for fresh air. This may be impractical if you have small children or pets (or if you live in an area with lots of insects) so one simple solution is to install window screens or screen doors as a protective measure over open doors or windows. Many attractive options are available, including patterned screen pieces or beautiful cedar screen door elements. Only open certain doors for a very short season? Temporary screens or magnetic screen curtains may do the trick as a short-term solution as well.
Air Filtration
To ensure your air is clean all day long, consider installing high-quality air filters on your existing ventilation system (one that filters particles down to 0.3 microns is recommended for removing the maximum number of particles from your air). For additional filtration, stand-alone air purifiers can help reduce levels of allergens and pollutants even further.
Indoor Plants
Houseplants are an excellent way to not only help purify your home’s air but also to add additional oxygen to it. In addition, plants can add a small amount of humidity to the air, making it a little easier to breathe during dry seasons. In addition to oxygenating your air, plants add an element of beauty and life to a space, making it feel cleaner and healthier overall. Plants such as dracaena, golden pothos, succulents, spider plants, bamboo, and snake plants are all great options for beginner houseplant owners.
Reduce Pollutants
Another excellent way to improve your indoor air quality is to reduce airborne toxins by switching to natural cleaning products, candles and home fragrances. While it might not seem like a big change, simply shifting to greener products will help decrease levels of volatile organic compounds and other chemicals in your home’s air. Not only will this change make your home’s air easier to breathe — it will also give Mother Earth a little bit of a breather as well.
Improving home air quality doesn’t have to be a mystery. By working to increase airflow, filter air and purify it, you and your family can enjoy a healthier, cleaner house environment.