Winter time can make us a little stir crazy. The fact of the matter is that we spend more time indoors during the winter months. It’s can be chilly out, it gets dark earlier, and it’s not as green outside. When we spend more time indoors, we don’t get as much access to that sweet, fresh outdoor air. When we’re stuck indoors, it’s important to ensure that the air we’re breathing inside is clean.
Here are five easy ways to improve air quality in your home:
Clean Regularly
Life happens and things get messy. We track dirt inside, we use candles and scented sprays, we cook, we cough and sneeze, shed skin cells…all the things. Yep. You know what you have to do. Regular cleaning is necessary in order to cut down on contaminants within your home. Sweep and vacuum your floors. Dust your surfaces. Mop regularly. Wipe down counters and surfaces with disinfectant. Clean your couch and pillows. Wash your sheets often. Make sure window treatments aren’t collecting dust. Dirt, dander and other such pollutants are a large source of air contamination.
Invest In Plants
Air purifying machines are popular in homes now, but plants naturally have a similar effect on your environment. And they can do something that machines can’t: they create oxygen. Remember photosynthesis? Plants absorb pollutants and generate clean air for us. So from an interior design point of view, plants are always on-trend.
Circulate Air
Keep it moving. Free-flowing air prevents a lot of problems. It dissipates odors and fumes to reduce their harmfulness. It can stop particles and mold from building up. It even helps regulate temperature. Use your bathroom fans and ceiling fans year round. Use your air conditioning in the warmer months. It’s important to use your stove vents when cooking.
Check Air Ducts
If you change your air conditioning filter every month as you should, you can see that dirt and particles accumulate very quickly. However we don’t always consider that our air ducts could be collecting dust, dander, and mold, and distributing them throughout the house. It could be that your system needs to be cleaned or repaired.
Control Humidity
Mold is one of the greatest dangers to your indoor air. All mold needs is a wet, damp, or humid area in your home to start breeding and releasing toxic spores into the air. Breathing in mold can trigger asthma-like symptoms—or much worse. Use your dehumidifiers and keep on the lookout for leaks and other issues that could be allowing excess moisture into your home.
These are easy ways to improve air quality in your home. If you’re concerned you have a problem, you can invest in an air monitor or home-testing kit. If you detect the presence of mold in your environment, it’s best to call a remediation specialist who can identify any harmful species.