Whether you have asthma or allergies or are just trying to live healthier and reduce the risk of disease, it's a good idea to improve indoor air quality.  Let's explore 3 ways that we can improve the quality of the air we breathe indoors.

1. Clean the House

Dust and allergens over time tend to settle out of the air and land on surfaces.  When you then disturb those surfaces by walking across a carpet, sitting on a couch, or turning a fan on, the dust gets kicked up into the air.  Once airborne it makes its way into your sinuses and lungs where it can cause health problems.  Wiping down countertops with non-toxic cleaners, vacuuming floors, and washing sheets regularly can improve the quality of your air.

 

2.  Close the Windows

I know what you're thinking.  "But I love letting fresh air in!"  While letting a gentle breeze in through open windows may feel nice and seem like a good idea to let "fresh" air in, outdoor air can polluted than indoor air.  It's true that indoor sources can emit chemicals and dust mites in carpets and furniture make droppings that contribute to indoor allergens, but the many pollutants such as pollen, smoke, automobile emissions, factory emissions, smog, and mold spores actually come from outside the house.  Closing windows is a great way to keep those pollutants outside.  Open windows are also counter-productive to the house's HVAC system and can also lead to humidity and mold issues.

 

3.  Use a Quality Air Purifier

Using a high performance air purifier that can clean a lot of air and clean it well is important if you want to improve your indoor air quality.  Ideally you should use an air purifier that has a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), a HEPA filter, and is completely safe.  Some air purifiers, such as ones that use ozone, ionizers, UV lights can actually be harmful to your health.  Look for one that only uses HEPA and activated carbon.  These types of air purifiers remove many pollutants that can be harmful to your health such as pollen, mold, bacteria, and smoke.  A quality air purifier can be expensive but will perform many times more effectively than a low cost unit at improving your indoor air quality.