How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution in Your Home

Although it may be hard to believe that air pollution levels within the modern home can be two to five times higher than the levels outside. Combine that with the fact that the typical person can spend upwards of ninety percent of their time indoors, is it any wonder that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new adage in the English language.

Unlike outside air, indoor air is recycled again and again with pollutants like tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all contributing towards allergy induced asthma and allergic reactions.

There are various symptoms connected with so called sick building syndrome including sinus congestion, watery or itchy eyes, head aches, sluggishness, lack of concentration and sickness.  Certain immediate effects are akin to those from common colds or other viral diseases, so it is often hard to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to inside air pollution.

If you discover that the symptoms fade when you outside, try to identify inside air sources which may be possible causes and attempt to eliminate them. Fortunately, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.

Here are seven tips for improving interior air quality in your home.

Ban Smoking Inside the House

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere within the house but if this is not possible, try to confine it to one place. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, visit, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan installed in the kitchen, make sure that it is turned on and try to have smokers stand as close as possible to the fan so that the fumes get drawn out.

Let the Bad Air Out

Assuming that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening up your windows and doors every now and then. Doing so will also do away with some of the pollutants that have built up within your house. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, use them regularly. You should also routinely clean the vent-hole in the extractors and make sure they operate correctly.

Use Natural House Cleaning Products

Pick Out any one of those so called wonder kitchen cleaners from your cupboard and someplace on the label will be a warning as to how hazardous they are to your health. Furthermore, look at what they are made of and see if you can recognise the names of any of the substances in that bottle. In fact, I doubt you will even be able to say the name, not to mention recognize what it is. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Not any longer though, as my natural cleaning products of choice are bicarbonate of soda, washing soda, vinegar and pure lemon juice. These are all non toxic, environmentally friendly and can tackle the majority of housecleaning chores, either individually or mixed with one another.

Clean and Dust Your House On A Regular Basis

Vacuuming your carpets and floors regularly will help to keep dust and airborne allergens at bay. Did you know that about 70% of dust within the home comprises of dead skin which we humans continually molt. Dust mites like to feed on this dead skin which in turn makes them grow. They then shed their own skin and that, combined with their faeces is what causes allergic reactions in some folks.

Pet Dander Triggers Allergic Reactions

If you have a family pet, they will shed dander that can trigger allergies and asthma. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member are allergic to pet dander. The ideal solution is to keep pets out of the house completely. If that is not a feasible option, you should restrict the number of rooms that the pets are allowed to go into and definitely keep them out of the bedroom.

Reduce Indoor Air Humidity

If the climate where you live is either very muggy or just plain damp (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels inside your home can increase. This excessive moisture or humidness is the ideal breeding ground for mold. For anyone with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. For that reason, a home dehumidifier can be vital. An air purifier dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air and into a water tank which you can then remove and pour away.

Invest in a Home Air Purifier

Home air purifiers or room air cleaners do as their name indicates and clean the air of pollutants and allergens like mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander.  They are particularly useful if you or a family member suffers from allergic reactions or asthma since they can reduce airborne contaminants by a substantial amount.  Indoor air purifiers have become very popular of late because they are able to clean the air in your home while making it a lot healthier to inhale. However, there are various types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.