What Are Some Ways to Maintain Good Indoor Air Quality at Home

In this blog, we’ll explore effective, everyday strategies to improve indoor air quality, understand what causes poor air quality inside homes, and help you create a healthier living space for yourself and your family.

What Causes Poor Air Quality In the Home

Problems require solutions that begin with finding their actual roots. Many contaminants ruin indoor air; some polluting factors are noticeable, and others remain hidden. Common contributors include:

• Dust, pet dander, and pollen.
• Mold and mildew from excess moisture.
• Smoke from tobacco or cooking.
• Cleaning products and air freshener chemicals with strong scents.
• Insufficient ventilation traps air that becomes stale.
• Outdoor pollutants seep in through windows and doors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that home pollution levels exceed outdoor air pollution by two to five times at a minimum, yet reach up to 100 times worse in some cases.

Practical Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Here is a list of practical steps that will help you enhance the quality of your home’s air. They don’t require massive modifications; only consistency and awareness will suffice.

Open Windows Regularly

Opening windows is a straightforward method for removing indoor pollutants from the air. Frequent window openings each day create better ventilation, particularly during cooking, cleaning, or painting. Exposing your room to outside air for even a brief period results in noticeable improvements in air quality.

Use An Air Purifier

A HEPA-filtered air purifier effectively absorbs dust, allergens, and microscopic particles. Install air purifiers in main living areas such as bedrooms and living rooms. For optimal performance, follow the manufacturer’s specific recommendations for filter replacement.

Keep Your Home Clean

Clean surroundings translate into better health for residents. Cleanups through regular vacuuming, mopping, and dusting help decrease household allergens, specifically pet dander and pollen. Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter that captures airborne particles instead of sending them back into the air. Hot-water washing of sheets once a week helps get rid of dust mites, thereby improving indoor air quality.

Control Humidity Levels

Water accumulation in a space provides ideal conditions for mold and mildew development. The ideal range for household indoor humidity should be between 30% and 50%. Use dehumidifiers, particularly in basements and bathrooms. Always turn on exhaust fans when taking showers or preparing food.

Use Natural Cleaning Products

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in household cleaning products produce lung irritation and worsen the outside air quality. You should use cleaning products without strong odors or low-VOC content and natural cleaning ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

Change HVAC Filters Regularly

HVAC appliances clean the incoming air within your residence. A filter operating in a dirty condition releases allergens and dust instead of trapping them. Regular replacement of air filters needs to happen every one to three months based on usage, frequency, and number of household residents. This also improves energy efficiency.

Be Selective With Houseplants

Some indoor plants, including spider plants, peace lilies, and snake plants, can clean the air by eliminating environmental toxins. Houseplants are helpful decorations, but excessive watering can cause mold problems. Maintain the proper health of houseplants and keep them in moderation.

Avoid Smoking Indoors

The substances in tobacco smoke remain trapped inside walls, carpets, and furniture because they carry thousands of dangerous chemicals. Continued smoking inside the house will permanently cause a burnt tobacco smell inside the house and put off the visitors, too. 

Repair Leaks Promptly

Any water leakage promotes mold development. Regularly look for signs of moisture in the areas beneath sinks, toilets, and basements. Proper and swift fixes help stop the growth of persistent air quality problems.

Use Exhaust Fans

Having kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans ensures the removal of smoke, humidity, and odors from the air. Effective ventilation is the main factor in maintaining fresh and clean indoor air, especially where moisture and temperature levels are high.

A Bonus Tip: Tests On Radon and Carbon Monoxide

Humans cannot detect several of the most hazardous indoor pollutants by relying on their sense of smell, and they do not have visible signs. Radon happens naturally and enters homes through foundation cracks. It is the main source of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Indoor accumulation of carbon monoxide produced through fuel combustion threatens to be fatal.

A home needs radon and carbon monoxide detection systems as mandatory safety equipment. Testing your environment frequently will ensure its safety.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifies that more than 400 people per year become victims of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in the United States.

Conclusion

Maintaining good indoor air quality is easier than you might think. Looking after your home through a combination of proper cleaning routines and controlled ventilation techniques, along with using the right products, will create an environment that provides better health conditions and more comfort.

Better air quality does not need significant changes. Replacing your air filter or opening windows will result in easier breathing and reduced allergy symptoms. Through continuous efforts, your family and you gain better health.

GreenWorks Inspections provides assistance to anyone who needs guidance in their air quality assessment or professional evaluation of their home’s air quality. Our home inspections go beyond surface-level checks; we evaluate your home’s ventilation, moisture levels, and overall indoor air quality to help you create a safer living environment.