Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

With spring in full bloom, there’s a lot to love about the season: vibrant flowers, longer days, and the buzzing energy of nature’s revival. But along with all the beauty comes a few less pleasant companions—like allergens, dust, and other indoor air pollutants. So, how can you keep your home feeling as fresh and lively as the outdoors without the unwanted irritants? Today, we’re diving into the world of spring air purifying.

The Sneaky Trouble with Spring

Spring is like that friend who means well but ends up causing more drama than you anticipated. Between the seasonal pollen, pet dander, and even chemical off-gassing from new furniture and paint, your indoor air can quickly become a minefield of irritants.

Here are a few common indoor air pollutants that tend to spike during spring:

• • Pollen: It’s everywhere! Coming in through open windows and doors, pollen can settle in carpets, on furniture, and other surfaces, triggering allergies for many.

• • Pet Dander: If you have pets, their shedding season is in full swing in spring. Pet dander can irritate your respiratory system, even if you’re not allergic to your furry friends.

• • Dust Mites: These tiny creatures thrive in warmer, more humid weather. As temperatures rise, you might find an uptick in their population, and with it, increased allergens.

• • Chemical Off-Gassing: If you’ve recently renovated or moved into a new home, or bought new furniture, you might notice that “new” smell. While it may seem refreshing, it’s actually a release of toxic chemicals into the air from these new items.

Understanding the impact of these pollutants on indoor air quality is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment, especially during spring. Did you know that indoor air is considered 2-5 times more harmful than outside air? Monitoring and improving indoor air quality can significantly minimize exposure to airborne illnesses, lower toxic burden on the body, and enhance overall well-being.

So, how do you maintain a healthier, cleaner home while keeping the spring woes at bay? Let’s explore some simple and effective ways.

Top Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

1. Opening Windows

Letting in fresh air might seem counterproductive when you consider that springtime is when pollen is at its peak. However, ventilating your home helps to reduce the concentration of indoor air pollutants. Open windows strategically during the cooler parts of the day and keep them closed during high pollen times.

2. Bringing Nature Indoors

Houseplants can be great for purifying the air. Snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies are just a few options that help filter toxins out of the air. Plus, they add a touch of green beauty to your space!

3. Regular Dusting and Vacuuming

A regular cleaning routine is a must to combat the onslaught of allergens. Dusting with a damp cloth traps particles instead of kicking them back into the air by using dry dust wands. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to trap dust mites and other allergens in carpets and upholstery.

4. Essential Oil Diffusing

High-quality essential oils can kill airborne bacteria while making your home smell fresh. Do not mistake them for fragrance oils. Those disperse harmful chemicals like phthalate into the air. The word “fragrance” hides over 1000 chemical concoctions that are hormone disruptors and possibly carcinogenic. AirX and Breathe essential oil blends are specifically created to clean the air and help to breathe easier in allergy season.

5. Air Purifying Systems with Activated Carbon Filters

If you’re looking for an efficient way to maintain high air quality, investing in an air purifier is a great option. Modern air purifiers, equipped with an activated carbon filter, can effectively remove allergens, gases, and odors from the air, creating a healthier indoor environment. The inclusion of HEPA filters in these purifiers ensures the trapping of a wide range of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, pet dander, and even viruses, capturing particles as small as 0.3 microns. Opting for a HEPA air purifier model further enhances air quality by efficiently capturing fine particles and improving the overall indoor air quality, making them an essential tool for any home looking to reduce pollutants like smoke, pet hair, and cooking smells.

 

Top 3 Air Purifiers: A Comparison

Now that we’ve discussed some natural ways to purify the air, let’s look at some air purifiers on the market. The available choices are quite overwhelming and with some elevated price tags, it is not an easy task to make a decision.

When we moved into our newly built home at the end of 2022, I was mostly concerned about the chemical off-gassing of construction materials and their harmful effects on the body. After a few weeks of extensive research, I narrowed the selection down to 3-4 brands. The major factors I considered were quality filtration system, low EMF, price of unit and filters, and coverage.

Here is my honest recommendation of the top three air purifiers on the market: AirDoctor, Medify Air, and Austin Air. The quick comparison can help you decide which is best for your needs and budget.