You may consider your home the safest and cosiest place ever, especially when you carefully choose all the furniture and items entering your sanctuary. But is it as safe as you think it is?
Outdoor air pollution is one of the things that we seriously tackle when it comes to our health, but indoor air pollution can be as dangerous. It may not be that noticeable, but many of our day-to-day tasks make our indoor air toxic. But don't fret. While we can't control the pollution outside, we can regulate the quality of the air we breathe inside our homes.
Why Does Your Air Quality Matter?
Indoor air pollutants like smoke, grease, or harsh-smelling chemicals are not just irritating; they are also harmful. Many indoor air pollutants are even too small to be noticed and filtered by our body's protective system. These daily chemicals that we are exposed to can greatly affect our lung health and cause more harm when ignored.
With all the silent factors that affect our health, it's crucial to reduce our risk of exposure to air pollutants inside our homes. Thankfully, some simple changes in our lifestyle and a few additional precautions can help us improve the condition of our indoor air quality.
What are the Causes of Indoor Air Pollution?
Indoor air pollution can be caused by many unnoticeable factors, like smoke from cooking, candle lighting, air fresheners, pesticides, dust mites, pet dander, mould build-ups, and more. These air pollutants are often trapped indoors, which can damage the lungs or cause allergy symptoms.
Assess Your Indoor Air Pollutants
Before looking for ways to eliminate indoor air pollutants, consider your daily routine to see if it is contributing to the problem. Do you cook often? If yes, do you allow enough ventilation in your kitchen? Do you have pets? Do you change your bedding often? Do you use scented candles or air fresheners? Do you have flowers or indoor plants at home? How often do you use sprays and chemicals? Most importantly, do you clean your home regularly? Your simple daily tasks can significantly affect the quality of the air you breathe inside your home.
Air fresheners, scented candles, perfume, and other chemicals contribute to the pollution inside your home. Be mindful when choosing chemicals and scented items, or use cream-based items instead.
Here are more ways you can improve your indoor air quality.
Keep Your Home Clean
Good indoor hygiene can significantly improve the quality of your indoor air. Vacuum your home, especially your sofa and rug, regularly to help eliminate pet dander and cut down on dust and allergens lingering in your area.
Wash and replace your bedding and drapes to prevent dust mites from accumulating. To protect your mattress from oils, sweats, and dust mites, use a mattress protector. Where possible, buy a mattress with anti-dust mite, anti-bacterial, and hypoallergenic properties.
Maintain Proper Ventilation
One reason pollutants stay indoors is the lack of airflow. Proper ventilation can help renew your indoor air while expelling smoke and other contaminants. The easiest and cheapest way to keep the air flowing in your home is to open the windows. This is particularly important when off-gassing a new mattress, painting your home, or using chemical-heavy items. Investing in a ceiling fan can also help maintain clean and fresh indoor air.
Air conditioners provide more innovative ways to keep your home fresh and free from indoor pollutants. While cooling your area, air conditioners filter dust and other airborne contaminants and prevent them from circulating in your area.
Change Your Air Conditioner Filter
Aside from keeping our homes cool, many air conditioners come with HEPA or PM 2.5 filters that can regulate even microscopic air pollutants. However, your AC filter will eventually trap dust and other particles that can affect its efficiency with frequent use. Replace your filters when they're due to avoid this and other costly air conditioner repairs. Also, make sure to conduct regular tune-ups to guarantee the optimal operation of your air conditioner. The frequency depends on whether your place is susceptible to a high level of pollution. If your air conditioner is too old and inefficient, consider investing in a more advanced model to filter minute particles.
While maintaining the optimal performance of your air conditioner, make sure to also check on other appliances with filters, like your air purifier and vacuum cleaner.
Use a Cooker Hood
The smoke, heat, and grease from everyday cooking will not only make your kitchen hot and uncomfortable but also compromise your health. With how compact most kitchens are, it can be challenging to maintain proper ventilation in your kitchen. To improve this, invest in a kitchen hood on top of your range to exhaust smoke and grease while cooking. If possible, cook on the back burner.
Consider induction technology when buying a cooktop for your kitchen that emits fewer pollutants than traditional gas hobs.
Control Humidity with a Dehumidifier
The scorching heat in Singapore during the summer brings lots of inconveniences, especially for allergy sufferers. There is this dry, sweaty, and irritating feeling, as well as the presence of pollen, fungus, and bacteria.
Mould and mildew thrive in damp and humid environments, where they can cause allergy and asthma symptoms.
Reduce the risk of accumulating moisture and allergens by strategically placing a dehumidifier in frequently affected areas to regulate your home's humidity level. Level up your air protection by opting for a unit with an efficient air filter.
Invest in a Good Air Purifier
Often overlooked, an air purifier brings many benefits to improving your indoor air quality. This compact home appliance effectively reduces airborne pollutants, including allergens and other microscopic particles that our bodies cannot filter. Many air purifiers come with a HEPA filter that targets the smallest harmful particles and carbon-active filters that absorb toxic chemicals trapped inside your home.
Welcome Indoor Plants for a Better Air Quality
Plants are natural air filters. Not only do they bring a refreshing look to your space, but they literally freshen up your home. Getting indoor plants will help improve your indoor air quality and make your decor more homey and inviting.
It is important to pay attention to your indoor air quality as much as your furniture and home decorations to ensure you have a beautiful and comfortable home. If you plan to invest in your indoor air, let Megafurniture help you! Shop from our online collection of innovative air cooling and purifying appliances.