Breath Healthy: 7 Simple Ways to Clean the Air in Your Home

The air in most homes is not very clean, and it’s not just that your home is having a “bad air day”. Homes commonly have air that is not very healthy and fresh.

The EPA says that the air in most homes contains around 2-5 times greater concentrations of harmful chemicals than outside air does, and this can be anywhere up to 100 times concentrated. This is not a good thing, considering that most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

Those who think that they can open a window and solve their problems may actually be making their home worse. The ventilation that a home is getting from opening the window may turn out to allow more chemicals into the home’s system.

So, you’re likely wondering how you can clean the air inside your home effectively and efficiently. Here are some key ways to do just that.

7 Ways to Clean Your Home’s Air

1.Test for radon

It doesn’t matter if your home is new or old, radon could still be an issue in your home. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that can increase your risk of lung cancer. As the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, radon is an invisible detriment to the health problem of people breathing it in home and office buildings. For those smoking in their homes, if you have high radon levels and smoke, your risk of lung cancer dramatically increases.

2.Get Greener Cleaners

Switch your household cleaners to products that are more natural and not packed with chemicals. The products that most stores sell are riddled with harmful chemicals, and using them in your home can drastically affect air quality. Instead, try using baking soda, tea tree oil, lavender, vinegar, or just soap and water. These things will clean effectively and not add anything harmful to the air in your home.

3.Houseplants

These are a great way to clean the air inside a home, because they act as natural filters. They will absorb anything in the air and give off fresh oxygen. However, it’s important to put the right plants into your home. Not all plants have the same filtration capabilities as others, so it’s a good idea to do some research before you buy.

4.Checking and changing your air filters.

You need to be sure you’re keeping an eye on your air filters as often as possible, and changing it when necessary. The flimsy fiberglass AC filters from your hardware store are not very efficient and don’t last long, so it’s a good idea to watch your system if you use these. It would be wise to change your home’s furnace filter to one with a MERV rating between 8-13. This will clean the air in your home effectively. Those who are forgetful about tasks like these should consider getting a subscription where filters are sent to their home every three months; this will solve the problem of forgetting to change the filter and letting it gather debris.

5.Himalayan pink salt lamps.

Many people swear up and down that these lamps clean the air in their homes. Though there’s no scientific evidence that these lamps will clean your home’s air as well as some other methods, they can help add to the ambiance and aesthetics of your home.

6.Soy or Beeswax Candles

For those who like burning candles, consider switching to soybean or beeswax candles. These candles do not emit paraffin like regular candles do, which is great for keeping the air in your home clean and fresh. You can still get your regular candle scents, just make sure they are soybean or beeswax candles. There have even been articles written on the way air quality is affected by candles, so be sure to keep this in mind if you like to burn them often.

7.Get rid of dust mites

Dust mites are a huge problem in regards to air quality, and there are ways to keep them to a minimum in your home. The main things you should be doing are washing your linens at least once per week, vacuum your mattress and furniture upholstery one per week, and try to keep the humidity in your home at 40% or less. Dust mites prefer humid environments, so drying out your home a little will be beneficial for the air quality.

These are just seven of the ways you can easily improve the air quality in your home. In addition to these things, you can keep your pets brushed and make sure their hair is properly disposed of, not run your car in a closed garage, and keep your home vacuumed. Doing all of these things combined will have a drastic effect on the air quality in your home.