Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions.
Plants That Are Natural Air Filters
Plants are arguably the most natural air filters in existence. All varieties of plants draw carbon dioxide out of the air, convert it into food and then release pure oxygen.
Vinegar, and more specifically white vinegar, is a great tool to use when you want to purify air in the home. There are several ways that you can use vinegar to help naturally clean the air in your home.
Beeswax and soy candles usually burn cleaner than paraffin wax. Furthermore, beeswax candles can actually clean your air by releasing some negative ions that easily bind with toxins to help eliminate them from your indoor air.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the area.
Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms, diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult.
Liven up stale and stuffy air by simmering whole spices and citrus peels. To a large pot of water, add 1/4 cup whole cloves, 4 whole nutmegs, 6 cinnamon sticks, and the peel of 2 lemons or one orange.
How long does it take an air purifier to clean a room? This mainly depends on the setting of the air purifier, your current air quality, and the size of your room. It can take your air purifier 30 minutes to clean air in a small room. For larger rooms, it can take up to 2 to 3 hours.
Salt lamps are not a proven method for air purification, but they can improve mood and make it easier to sleep. Salt lamps have not been adequately tested. But their potential to improve your mood and the comfort of a your home environment can make them beneficial for you and your family.
Stale, uncirculated air can cause—or contribute to—a wide variety of health problems, such as fatigue, coughing, respiratory irritation, and headaches. While the cause of stuffy-house syndrome is clear, figuring out exactly what's hindering circulation can be a little trickier.
Poor indoor air quality can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, headache, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or other breathing problems or who have allergies may have severe reactions.
The most frequent constellation of building-associated complaints is called sick building syndrome. It consists of mucous membrane irritation of eyes, nose, and throat; headache; unusual tiredness or fatigue; and, less frequently, dry or itchy skin.
So, does a humidifier clean the air? No. Their function neither improves the quality of the air nor reduces the particles in it. Instead, humidifiers are devices that release water vapor or steam into the air to increase humidity levels in a room or throughout the home.
A diffuser may be the preferred aromatherapy method for an individual with a strict focus on essential oil benefits while a candle may be preferred by someone looking to add a decorative element to a room.
If you must use an actual candle, try beeswax or soy candles. These candles burn cleaner than regular paraffin wax. Beeswax candles clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air which bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
While candles can harm air quality when burned, air purifiers take in the surrounding air, filter out any nasty particles, and push out clean air into the indoor living space.
For an Instant Fix. Another way to quickly get that lemon scent filtering through your house is to simply cut a few lemons into quarters and put them in a pot of water. Let the water boil for a while, and as that citrus-infused steam is released into the air, everything will start to smell a little bit fresher.