We love the outdoors, but mostly, we still spend most of our time indoors. According to a study made by Neil E. Klepeis, et al., people stay indoors approximately 90 percent of the time. The outdoors is full of air pollutants, which can be detrimental to our health. But the inside of our homes, offices, commercial establishments, and any indoor areas may also contain allergens that can adversely affect health?
Allergens, such as dust, pollen, pet dander, dust mites and mold spores trigger allergic reactions, such as asthma symptoms and other respiratory problems. Improving the air quality of your home or offices can help keep your family safe from the health hazards that these allergens pose.
According to Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Medical School, some steps you can take to improve the air quality indoors include the following:
Maintain Cleanliness Indoors
Regularly cleaning the interiors can reduce the accumulation of dust, molds and animal dander, among other types of allergens. Remove any item that may collect dust or at least clean or wash them once on a regular basis. These include stuffed toys, children’s toys, unused magazines and books, knickknacks and any other clutter. Vacuum regularly with a machine that has a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Clean tabletops, kitchen sinks, windows and other indoor surfaces with a damp cloth as well.
Spend a Little on Cleaning Services
Cleaning can take up a lot of our valuable time. Sadly, even if we do have the spare time to make a thorough clean-up, there still may be other areas that we are not able to cover. To ensure that every nook and cranny is taken care of, it may be best to hire a deep cleaning service from time to time.
Cleaning professionals can mop, vacuum, and thoroughly clean every area of the house. They may even be able to provide a comprehensive air duct cleaning service, which can help reduce the number of irritants circulating in the air. Ducts can trap dust and other allergens. If uncleaned for a long time, these particles may be circulated indoors.
Change Filters
The filters of your HVAC systems filter outside pathogens, dust, mites, pet dander, and other particles from entering and circulating inside your homes. When it becomes too dirty, though, its efficiency may be reduced. Therefore, it is highly recommended to change your filters once in a while.
Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can freshen up indoor air. They help remove certain types of air pollutants that may cause neurological problems and respiratory infections. These machines, especially those with HEPA technology, can help remove around 97 percent of harmful airborne particles inside your home. They may even help remove and minimize the effect of Radon, an odorless but harmful gas that can cause lung cancer.
Air purifiers also neutralize odors that may be caused by chemicals, such as benzene, gasoline and formaldehyde. Unpleasant odors coming from these chemicals can affect a person’s cognitive functions and may cause breathlessness and nausea.
HEPA air purifiers are especially recommended for people who are having sleep problems due to low-quality indoor air.
Clean Curtains
Curtains can add to the aesthetics of any home. However, they also serve as an air filter, attracting dust and trapping them. Not cleaning your curtains and even your blinds on a regular basis may lead to the accumulation of dust and other particles within the home. It is highly recommended to have them washed and cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis to keep indoor air clean.
Vacuuming them may help; however, it is still better to have them washed and cleaned with soap and water to totally eliminate any dust and other allergens that may have attached themselves to the curtains. For blinds, cleaning them with a clean damp cloth may help.
Keep Plants Outdoors
Plants are lovely additions to any house decors. They are also said to have beneficial effects when kept indoors. However, they are also magnets for dust, molds, and other allergens. As such, it is better to keep them outside of your abode.
Your beddings, pillows, pieces of furniture, ceiling lights, and many other fixtures can also accumulate dust. Take time to have these cleaned on a regular basis to ensure the overall quality of your indoor air. Change beddings, pillows, and furniture covers at least once a week to keep dusts and molds from setting in. Remember to also vacuum on a daily basis if necessary.
Keeping the interior of your home dust and allergen-free can highly improve your quality of life. If you need to invest on devices or cleaning services for your convenience, do so without having a second thought. You and your family will benefit greatly from having clean interiors in the long run.