Keeping the air in your home clean is important for preventing odors and for warding off respiratory problems. Most homes have surprisingly poor air quality as a result of dust, mold and smoke building up and having nowhere to escape. Below are some tips on how you can purify the air in your home.
Ventilate your home
The first step should be encouraging ventilation. Fresh air needs to be allowed into your home and stale air needs to be let out. Opening two or more windows in your home and letting air flow through is a great way to ventilate a home. Of course, in winter you may not want to do this. This is where extractor fans can come in use. Domestic HVAC systems can meanwhile contain integrated ventilation to help circulate air.
Avoid smoking indoors
Smoking cigarettes indoors not only fills the air with toxins, but also stains everything with tar and nicotine and makes it smell. If you’re a smoker, try to get into the habit of smoking outdoors – or at the very least out of a window.
Grow houseplants
Houseplants are natural air purifiers. They help produce fresh oxygen, while absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Many plants also produce fragrant scents. Consider placing houseplants in various rooms around your home to help naturally freshen the air.
Eliminate mold
Spotted some mold in your home? Mold can quickly multiple in damp, warm and dark environments. The air will become full of spores – which will not only give off a musty smell, but also irritate your airways and put you at risk of developing aspergillosis. Consider using mold sprays to get rid of any visible mold in your home. For more serious mold cases, consider hiring a mold remediation company.
Use a dehumidifier
Mold thrives in humid environments. Investing in a dehumidifier can help to target the source and prevent future outbreaks. It can also make the air feel less stuffy. If you live somewhere that has quite humid air, consider looking into dehumidifiers. These come in various forms including compressor dehumidifiers and desiccant humidifiers.
Keep ducts and vents clean
For those that have a HVAC system in their home, it is essential to carry out periodic air duct cleaning. Your ducts could be full of dust and dirt that is being pumped around your home. Cleaning this out will make the air noticeably fresher. This will typically require hiring professionals who have duct cleaning tools.
Deep clean your carpets
Dirty carpets can also end up affecting air quality. Every time you walk over them, you could be kicking up dust and bacteria. While vacuuming can get rid of a lot of the major dirt and grime, carpets can often benefit from occasional deep cleans using a carpet cleaning machine. This involves soaking the carpet with detergent and water and then vacuuming up this dirty water. You can buy your own carpet cleaner for home use or you can hire a professional carpet cleaning service to clean your carpets for you.
