6 STEPS FOR CLEAN, HEALTHY AIR IN YOUR HOME

August 27, 2018 by Renee Tavoularis

Air is one of the essential elements we need to survive. In order to stay alive and well, we must breathe. Without air entering your lungs, you would lose consciousness, and eventually your brain would suffer irreversible damage before shutting down. Interestingly, this can happen in a matter of minutes. Since breathing is an activity we are constantly engaging in at all times, don’t you want to make sure the place you call home is providing you with clean air? 

“For breath is life, and if you breathe well you will live long on earth.”

~ Sanskrit Proverb

YOUR INDOOR AIR IS TOXIC! 

Did you know your indoor air can be significantly more toxic than the air outside? This is because the same stale air circulates throughout your living space over and over again. The air can be even more toxic if you have carpeting and/or use conventional cleaning products. Carpets and paint emit gasses called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are known to be toxic to every part and system of the human body. They are terribly unsanitary, requiring regular shampooing; which is usually done with toxic solvents and detergents. Conventional cleaning products also emit lots of chemical odors and gasses that pollute your indoor air. There are many more sources of indoor air pollution but those are the common ones.

HERE ARE 6 SOLUTIONS FOR CLEAN, HEALTHY AIR IN YOUR HOME 

1. OPEN DOORS AND WINDOWS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

This is the easiest thing you can do, plus it’s free! This will allow fresh air to enter, circulate, and replace your stale, toxic indoor air. However, if you live in a colder climate, that may not be a sustainable option. Which is what makes number 2 a great solution. 

2. PLACE AS MANY PLANTS THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME AS POSSIBLE

This is the most natural and sustainable way to improve the quality of your indoor air. It is also the most effective and economical solution as well. If you take care of the plants, they will be a onetime purchase and can sustain you by providing many years of fresh air. I love plants, but cannot have too many because I have two cats who love eating their leaves, and knocking them over all the time. So unfortunately, I tend to go with air purifiers instead. 

3. INVEST IN A HIGH QUALITY AIR PURIFIER

My personal favorites are the air purifiers that use a HEPA filter with a silver microbe feature on it, which removes bacteria and mold spores. It also removes pet dander, VOCs, odors, and many other indoor air contaminants. From my experience, it is highly effective because I can definitely notice a difference in my house - especially in the bedroom.

4. REPLACE YOUR WHOLE HOUSE HVAC FILTER WITH A HEPA RATED REPLACEMENT FILTER

This way your recycled air will be less toxic and will be easier to purify. By the way, HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. Basically, it is a medical facility grade filter with an extremely fine sifting capability. It is often used in hospitals, aircrafts, and other places where clean and healthy air is mandatory. 

5. MAKE YOUR OWN CLEANING PRODUCTS

The next book I write is going to be about green living, which will have a chapter dedicated to this. If making your own is not an option, you can switch to all natural cleaners. Any health foods store, farmer’s market, or local co-op will have many different brands of natural, non-toxic products to choose from. There is a lot of evidence stating that toxic cleaners can make you sick and make existing symptoms worse, so it is important to switch to all natural cleaning products. You may even want to consider making your own personal care products as well, since they will have direct contact with your skin and body.

6. CONSIDER REPLACING YOUR CARPET WITH HARDWOOD OR PERGO FLOORING

This is obviously a costly and more aggressive option, but you would notice the difference immediately. This is especially helpful for people who have asthma, since carpeting harbors dust, dander, and bacteria. 

Don’t let toxic indoor air make you sick. Ensuring you are breathing clean air in your living space can have an impact with many different health issues. It can even be just another element to add to the balanced and healthy living concept. With a couple simple adjustments and minor purchases, you can transform the indoor air you are breathing in no time.

Reprinted with the permission of foodmatters.com/articles