Ways to Keep Your Indoor Air Quality in Check

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Our homes are our shelters. But not just in a physical sense. A home is a place where we get to drop our guard down, relax and decompress.

Many people rarely air out their homes. Most will simply set the AC at their preferred temperature and let it run. One of the issues with this approach is the degrading quality of indoor air. Here’s why air quality matters and how to keep it in check.

What Impacts the Quality of Indoor Air?

Air, no matter how clean it feels to your senses, always carries a certain amount of pollutants. Whether it’s the particles from car pollution, things you bring on your shoes from the outside, or your pets being dust magnets, the quality of your indoor air suffers.

Not to mention that some older homes could even include asbestos materials inside walls and other places — all of which erode over time. So how do you keep your indoor air clean?

Clean Your House Periodically

Before we get to some more sophisticated methods of maintaining good indoor air quality, let’s cover the basics first. The easiest and often the most impactful way of keeping your indoor air clean is to reduce the number of pollution sources. Cleaning and then mopping your floor is a great way to kick down the amount of dust that gets carried into the air.

This way, you’ll also get all the pet hair and other potential pollutants out of the way. That being said, sweeping the house once is a temporary solution. Following a cleaning schedule is the only way to reduce the level of air pollutants long-term.

Change Your AC Filter and Use Quality Filters

Once you’ve eliminated the more apparent dust sources, the next big thing is to check your AC system. Air conditioning systems serve to maintain a set temperature in a home, but they also circulate air. On top of that, your AC will always introduce a certain amount of new air from the outside.

You could check many things to make sure that your AC is keeping the air clean, but changing the filter is arguably the most important one. Air filtration specialists from filterbuy.com/resources/how-often-do-i-really-need-to-change-my-hvac-filter/ argue that you need to be rather particular when you choose your filter, no pun intended.

There are many options available.  You can find filters that have all kinds of advanced filtration properties. Some are designed for people who suffer from allergies, while others feature different properties. Whichever one you choose, you must change your filter periodically. Generally speaking, that means getting a new one every six months or so.

Clean Your Rugs and Carpets

Floors might be a chore to clean, but they are the easy part. It’s the rugs and carpets that are literal stores of dust and other particles that will ultimately degrade the quality of your air. A good vacuum cleaner is a must. Speaking of vacuums, makes sure to get one that comes with filters you can clean or change.

A clogged-up vacuum filter will reduce the number of particles you’re picking off the floor or from your rugs.

Get an Air Purifier

If you happen to live in a large metropolitan area, in an apartment building, there is a chance you’ll be exposed to toxic exhaust gases. Certain particles produced by internal combustion engines are extremely harmful and are everywhere in areas with high traffic.

An air purifier is a small device that is continuously filtering your indoor air. Depending on which model you get, you can easily get rid of more than 90% of dangerous particles. Modern air purifiers will also have a feature that tells you how bad your indoor air is at the moment. With all that said, keep in mind that air purifiers also require frequent air filter changes as they too use solid filters for the most part.

Use a Kitchen Hood

Kitchen hoods are extremely useful when it comes to keeping your home free of odors. On top of that, a kitchen hood greatly reduces the number of oil particles that get released into the air every time you cook. Homes that don’t have a kitchen hood tend to develop thin films of grime that stick to everything, not just the kitchen area.

By now, you likely understand that keeping the air inside your home clean takes work and consistency. Stay on top of a cleaning schedule, air out your home, and make sure that your filters are changed periodically to keep yourself and your family safe.

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