While it may feel pleasant to be huddled in your house during the colder months of the year, winter can increase problems for those who are allergic or have respiratory issues like asthma. The number of dust mites and other allergens moving about your home can be increased by stale indoor climate and propane or kerosene heaters. It may still be too cold to open the windows to let the musty air out in early spring, so while you wait for the weather to warm up, you should know some of the allergens that may be hiding in your surroundings and take the necessary steps to reduce them, thus improving the air quality.
Step 1: Open Your Windows
Even during the winter, try to keep your windows open as long as possible to let fresh air into the house. This will also minimize the humidity that dust mites live on. To remove cooking smells, keep the kitchen range hood filters clean and, if possible, use fans to disperse any air contaminants outside. Lastly, when utilizing chemical-based cleaning products, keep the room sufficiently aired.
Step 2: Clean Often
Because good interior hygiene can considerably reduce dust, a clean house can greatly improve your health. It goes without saying that vacuuming at least twice a week is the number one priority on your chores list. You may want to consider buying a robot vacuum since they come with HEPA filters, while they save you time and effort, allowing you to tend to other cleaning activities in the meantime. So, vacuum those carpets well, clean your bed and your pillows and remove clutter around the house, as these are the major allergen attractions. Also, don’t neglect to dust all shelves and furniture in the house. The proper way to do that is to dust first and vacuum afterward. The dust naturally falls down on the floor so it’s much more efficient to vacuum after completely dusting everything.
Step 3: Keep Your Plants Outside
Who doesn’t love flowers and plants? Unfortunately, according to recent research, they can gather and promote mold growth. Even plants that are considered “healthy” because they produce oxygen, can be triggers for allergic people if they’re kept inside. In the end, they seem to cause more issues than they’re supposed to solve. So, the wise choice is, if you have respiratory problems, to keep them out of the house.
Step 4: Change Filters
Another essential step you have to take is to change (or at least clean) the filters in your air-heating system (if there is one), or in your air conditioning. That’s because these filters can catch dust and other allergens and so prevent them from recirculating around your house. If you don’t know how to do this, you should consult a technical brochure. Also, keep in mind the benefits of air filters vs purifiers, as these brochures are written by professionals who know their craft well. If a brochure doesn’t provide adequate information for you, then the next best thing is to visit an authorized retailer, where you can get informed on the variety of filters and find the most suitable for your home.
Step 5: Buy An Air Purifier
Pollen and dust particles can be very small. Cleaning something you can’t see is nearly impossible. Maybe now is the time to invest in an air purifier. By pulling in bad air, filtering it, and letting it back into the room, this device eliminates almost all air pollutants. They also have an attractive futuristic design and LED lights that display when the air is clean or, in the opposite case, when is the right time to switch it on. Ionic purifiers are equally effective, especially if they are strategically placed around the house in areas that attract the most dust and pollutants. Their function is to emit negative ions that attach to contaminants, causing them to drop on the floor, where your vacuum can safely remove them.
Step 6: or A Dehumidifier (Or Both)
Another useful device (equally beneficial to your health) is a dehumidifier. You should consider buying one. Your personal efforts to keep humidity out of the house by keeping the windows open for example may prove inadequate. Nowadays, dehumidifiers also include an air-purifying function, so you end up buying two devices in one with no extra cost.
Step 7: Use Non-Toxic Paint
When it is time to have your house repainted, you should consult your contractor about the proper paint. You might be surprised at how harmful toxic paint can be to your health and that of your family. A few extra bucks for ecologic paint, free from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can cause symptoms like dizziness or respiratory problems, will optimize the quality of the air in your home while keeping it equally fresh and renewed.
Step 8: No Smoking In The House!
Smoking is bad for you – this is common knowledge by now. No wonder it was prohibited in public spaces 15 years ago. You might think that one cigarette once in a while can do no harm, but you should keep in mind that its toxic particles can stay in the air for many hours, and certainly all those cigarettes every day accumulate a great pollutant in your living area. But cigarettes are not the only culprit: incense sticks and candles also release toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Consider this the next time you think about filling your room with incense sticks to lighten the mood and help with your need for relaxation.
These are the most important steps you need to take if you want to keep your residence clean and free from allergens and air pollutants. Living in polluted cities is unhealthy enough in the first place. We don’t have to live in a polluted home.Taking these steps into account and reading statistics about air pollutants will eventually help you make up your mind about adopting new, eco-friendlier habits around the house. Besides, what’s more important in life than our health and the health of our loved ones?