Your home’s air can become stale, particularly if your house has inadequate ventilation or doesn’t have a properly functioning HVAC system. There are many causes of poor air quality. They include volatile organic compounds, mildew, carbon monoxide emissions, tobacco smoke, mold, dust, paint fumes, cleaning products, cooking, and others.
Stale air exposes your family to allergens which can lead to allergic reactions and respiratory complications in the long run. In addition, many people spend most of their time indoors. Therefore, it’s good to ensure your air quality is high, particularly during the cold months when many homeowners like keeping their windows and doors airtight to keep cold air out. Below are six proven ways to boost your home’s air quality.
Use an Air Purifier
An air purifier works throughout the year to enhance the air quality in your residence. It helps collect dust particles, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens that may otherwise accumulate on your air vents and indoor air.
The filter is the most important thing to consider when purchasing an air purification system. According to experts, air purifiers with high-efficiency filters can remove about 99.9 of common airborne particles. Also, ensure the system you choose can handle your entire space.
Keep Your Space Clean
Vacuuming your house at least once a week can help reduce allergens. When dusting your surface and around your items, utilize electrostatic or microfiber materials to hold the dust instead of moving the particles around. When choosing to floor, avoid wall-to-wall carpeting, if possible, particularly on your bedroom floors. Consider hardwood flooring since you can easily see dust particles and dirt when cleaning. Using washable rugs can also reduce allergens in your indoor environment.
Groom Your Pets More Often
Pets shed skin cells, known as dander, a common cause of air pollution in many homes. Your pets’ fur and paws can trap debris, dirt, and other allergens, polluting your indoor air. Grooming your pets more often can help prevent the spread of pollutants in your indoor environment. Also, brush your pets’ coats regularly and keep them off furniture, if possible. Lastly, remember to wash their bedding with soap and warm water.
Clean Your Ducts
HVAC equipment is part of your home’s front-line defense against air pollutants. To ensure your HVAC works properly, ensure it’s well-maintained by an experienced professional. That’s important, particularly before the onset of the cold weather, when the heating units run continuously.
Next, have your home’s ducts inspected. Your air ducts can accumulate dirt, dust particles, and debris, leading to poor air quality and limited airflow. Have the ductwork professionally cleaned to boost airflow and indoor air quality.
Clean Your Curtains and Bedding
Dust mites are common, and you can find them in different parts of your home, such as flooring, carpeting, upholstered furniture, bedding, and pillows. These allergens can make you and your family sneeze or cough. Besides, they can also aggravate symptoms in people with asthma and other respiratory issues.
To keep your residence clean, wash your bedding, pillows, curtains, and all other household items that attract contaminants and allergens. Encasing your mattress and pillows in allergen-proof covers can also help prevent these contaminants. After cleaning your bedding and curtains, vacuum your floor mats, rugs, and carpets at least twice a week.
Avoid Toxic Products
Some personal-care and commercial household cleaning products contain toxic chemicals that negatively impact air quality. The chemical residues from these products normally linger longer in your indoor air, especially during winter. And that’s due to the limited flow of clean air. In addition, industrial cleaners leave chemical deposits that significantly impact air quality. Besides, chemical deposits can also trigger allergies.
Use natural or homemade cleaners like vinegar, essential oils, lemon, and baking soda to clean. These natural cleaners are nontoxic, fresher, and healthier. If you have to utilize commercial cleaning agents, ensure your house has adequate ventilation during the cleaning process and afterward.
Partner With the Air Quality Experts!
Enhancing air quality offers many benefits, including better concentration, reduced odors, quality sleep, balanced humidity, improved comfort, and an allergen-free space. To enjoy all these benefits, wash your bedding, keep your living space clean, monitor humidity levels, groom pets frequently, clean your ducts, and use an air purifier.
If you’re experiencing air quality issues, contact our experts at Smedley Service. These professionals will inspect your residence, identify air pollution sources and recommend ways to enhance your Layton, UT, home’s air quality. Besides air quality, our company specializes in boilers, plumbing, heating, and cooling services. Contact us today for reliable air quality services.
