Purifying Indoor Air: Strategies To Breathe Cleaner At Home

Keeping the air quality high in your home, car, and workplace is important for your health. Indoor air quality tends to be worse in the winter months when there is often no flow of fresh air from the outside, meaning allergens stay trapped inside. To improve indoor air quality, you can increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors, use air purifiers, and take measures to reduce pollutants, such as banning smoking, minimizing carpeting, and storing chemicals safely.

Ventilate your home by opening windows and doors

Ventilating your home by opening windows and doors is an easy and effective way to improve indoor air quality. Stagnant air, particularly in the colder months, can increase the amount of allergy-inducing particles such as dust mites, pet dander, and mould spores. Opening windows and doors increases the ventilation rate, allowing fresh air to enter and diluting the concentration of indoor pollutants.

It is important to be mindful of the weather and your local environment when ventilating your home. Opening windows and doors is most effective when the weather is mild and dry, and the pollen count is low. In extreme temperatures, high humidity, or high pollen count conditions, alternative methods such as air conditioners and air purifiers may be more suitable.

Additionally, consider the sources of indoor air pollution in your home. If you are engaging in activities that generate high levels of pollutants, such as painting, cooking, or using harsh cleaning products, ensure proper ventilation during and after the activity. Operate exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to remove contaminants directly from these rooms and increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.

You can also improve ventilation by understanding how air moves within your home. The layout and structure of your home can influence airflow, and an air quality monitor can help identify areas with poor ventilation. Place fans or open windows in areas where stale air tends to accumulate, and consider using window or attic fans to further enhance ventilation.

By opening windows and doors and utilising ventilation systems, you can effectively improve the air quality in your home and reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants.

Ban smoking indoors

The case for banning smoking indoors is clear and supported by health organisations like the American Lung Association and the CDC. Smoking indoors exposes non-smokers to secondhand smoke, which is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in non-smokers. It is also linked to respiratory health issues.

The only way to fully protect non-smokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in indoor spaces. This is supported by a study by the National Academy of Medicine, which showed that smoke-free policies are effective at reducing health risks for non-smokers. Smoke-free laws have a high level of public support and compliance, and communities that implement them see a reduction in tobacco consumption and hospital heart attack admissions.

Smoke-free indoor air laws have been gaining traction, with 28 states and the District of Columbia having passed comprehensive smoke-free laws. However, progress has stalled, with zero states approving comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws in the past 11 years. The American Lung Association advocates for all 50 states to pass laws prohibiting smoking in all public places and workplaces, including restaurants, bars, and casinos.

To ensure a smoke-free environment indoors, it is important to communicate no-smoking rules clearly by posting signs and notifying individuals who are smoking. This is especially important in shared indoor spaces like homes and vehicles, where non-smokers can be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom

Exhaust fans are a great way to improve indoor air quality and reduce air pollution. They are particularly useful in the kitchen and bathroom, where they can tackle common sources of indoor pollution. Kitchens and bathrooms are often high-moisture areas, and exhaust fans help manage this by removing damp air and bringing in drier air from outside. This is important not just for comfort but also to prevent the growth of mould and mildew, and to avoid damage to the building, such as warped wood, peeling paint, and corroded metal.

Exhaust fans also play a role in removing contaminants and pollutants that tend to build up in these areas. In the kitchen, fans can be used to remove cooking fumes, while in the bathroom, they can get rid of steam and other contaminants. This is especially important during activities that generate high levels of pollutants, such as cooking, painting, or using chemicals. By using exhaust fans, you can increase the ventilation rate and improve the overall air quality in your home.

There are two main types of exhaust fans: ducted and non-ducted. Ducted exhaust fans remove moisture and pollutants by sucking them through the fan and blowing them outside. This is a very effective way to get rid of contaminants and improve indoor air quality. Non-ducted exhaust fans, on the other hand, filter the air through charcoal before releasing it back into the living space. While this type of fan may not be as powerful as ducted fans, it can still help to improve air circulation and reduce pollutants to some extent.

When choosing an exhaust fan, it's important to consider the specific needs of your space. Exhaust fans come in various types and sizes, such as ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, or inline fans. Selecting the right fan for your kitchen or bathroom will ensure effective pollution control. Additionally, smart controls can be added to exhaust fans to boost their performance. These controls can automatically adjust the fan speed based on the level of pollution in the air, keeping the air clean and healthy with minimal effort.

Minimize carpeting and use hard-surface flooring

Carpeting can trap pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, mould spores, and other dirt and dust. Carpets may also act as a "sink" for the adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from other sources, such as during the application of paint and other finish coatings, and re-emit them later. VOCs are gases, such as formaldehyde, which are released from building materials and finishes. They can also be found in some new carpets, carpet pads, and the adhesives used to install them.

To minimize the potential for VOCs to be adsorbed and re-emitted, it is recommended to sequence the installation of soft surfaces, such as carpets, as late as possible and/or remove or cover all soft surfaces and use direct ventilation until the coating dries. It is also important to note that carpets, especially high-pile varieties and those older than 10 years, typically have higher levels of pollutants and allergens. If a large area is covered in carpet, it may be very difficult to remove indoor air pollutants and allergens.

Hard-surface flooring is a better alternative to carpets when it comes to minimizing indoor air pollution. Hard-surface flooring can be easily cleaned and maintained with low-VOC cleaners and finishes. It can also be installed with low-VOC adhesives and coatings to minimize indoor air pollution load and health risks. Look for hard-surface flooring that has been tested for VOC emissions under a program like FloorScore, which certifies hard-surface flooring for compliance with indoor air emissions of VOCs criteria.

In addition to minimizing carpeting and choosing hard-surface flooring, there are other ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Adequate ventilation is key to promoting healthy indoor air, so opening windows and operating fans can help increase the outdoor ventilation rate and encourage a good exchange of indoor and outdoor air. It is also important to ban smoking, bathe pets and wash their bedding often, and use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to remove contaminants directly from the room.

Store chemicals safely and use natural cleaning products

The air inside your home can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside. One of the ways to reduce indoor air pollution is to store chemicals safely and use natural cleaning products.

Store Chemicals Safely

Keep solvents, glues, and pesticides away from living areas. Some chemicals, such as chlorine, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, chloramine, and sodium hydroxide, are corrosive and reactive irritants that can damage tissues when inhaled. If you have pesticides or other toxic wastes, contact your town to learn about their proper disposal. If you need a pest control operator, seek out an organic alternative. Similarly, for gardening, provide your own organic products or seek an organic lawn care company.

Use Natural Cleaning Products

In recent years, there has been a rise in demand for natural household cleaning products, which do not contain synthetic chemicals and are better for the environment. Researchers have found that "green products", which contain only biodegradable ingredients, are less harmful than conventional products. However, there is no standard definition of "green" cleaning products, and they may still contain aroma chemicals. Therefore, it is important to read labels and assess the ingredients before purchasing. Look for products that are naturally derived, non-toxic, and biodegradable, and made using sustainable manufacturing practices. Some brands to consider include Dirty Labs, Seventh Generation, Truce, and Dr. Bronner’s.

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