Although it might not be something that you can see, and perhaps you haven’t had much reason to consider it lately, your air quality has a direct effect on how you experience life in your home. Air pollution isn’t just something that happens outdoors due to smog or car exhaust and the like, it can happen in your home, too. Here, we’re going to look at why you should pay it a little more attention and what you can do to improve it.

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Why Indoor Air Quality Matters
The air inside your home can be polluted by all manners of particulates, from allergens to pet dander to cleaning chemicals and dust. This can become a primary source of irritation, fatigue, and even long-term health issues, such as respiratory health. Poor air quality has significant links to allergy symptoms, asthma, as well as chronic headaches and fatigue, even in those without respiratory conditions. It can even impact your cognitive health, as stale, stagnant air filled with dust, mold, or chemical fumes can contribute to brain fog, irritability, and poor sleep. Clean air is important, so how do you manage it in your home?
Keep Your Windows Open, Mindfully
Letting fresh air circulate throughout your home is one of the best ways to improve air quality. Open your windows on a daily basis to help let the stale air out and welcome fresh oxygen that has a lower content of indoor pollutants like dust and chemicals. However, you should be mindful of the pollen count when you do, especially during allergy symptoms. If you’re someone who suffers from seasonal allergies, airing out your home in the early morning or after a rainstorm, when pollen count is lower, can help you stay safe.
Take Care Of Your AC
Aside from helping you stay cool as the weather gets warmer, your AC also plays an important role in circulating and filtering air throughout the home, which can improve air quality. However, over time, it can begin to experience a build-up of dust, mold spores, and other pollutants, meaning it can have an inverse effect on your air quality. Be sure to clean or replace the air filters regularly, like every couple of months. Schedule professional maintenance at least once a year to check for any buildup in the system and ensure that the components are clean and functioning efficiently.
Add HEPA Filters
If your AC and vents don’t already have them, then consider adding some HEPA filters, which are high-efficiency filters made to capture microscoping particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and even some bacteria and viruses. Aside from your HVAC systems, they can be installed on air purifiers and vacuum cleaners, but they have to be replaced regularly to prevent them from becoming less effective as they get clogged up with trapped particles.
Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
While you might not see them as often as other parts of your HVAC system, your air ducts play a huge role in the air quality of your home. They can collect dust, mold, pet hair, and other debris that then gets circulated throughout the rest of the property whenever your heating or cooling systems are turned on. Professional air duct cleaning removes these built-up pollutants and helps improve air circulation and system efficiency. While it’s not something you need to do every year, getting them taken care of every few years can make a major difference. It’s especially important to arrange for a cleaning if you’ve recently moved into a new home or done renovations, which can kick a lot of pollutants up into the air.
Be Mindful Of Using Indoor Chemicals
When you’re trying to clean your home, you’re likely to do so with the help of a few high-grade cleaning products. However, from cleaning sprays to disinfectants, a lot of the products we use in the home may contain chemicals known as VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. These can have a drastic impact on your air quality, lignernign and contributing to respiratory irritation, dizziness, and even long-term health risks with repeated exposure. Opting for natural or VOC-free cleaning products can prevent these issues. If you do use any chemicals, use them in well-ventilated areas and consider wearing a mask, then keeping the vents running and windows open after using them.
Control Your Moisture Levels
Your indoor air quality is affected in a big way by humidity. Excess moisture in the air not only contributes to mold and mildew, but it also makes the air heavier, meaning that things like dust don’t shift as easily when air flow is introduced. It’s more likely to stick to surfaces instead. That said, you don’t want your air to be too dry, either, as it can worsen allergy symptoms. Use a dehumidifier in damp areas like basements or bathrooms, and consider a humidifier in dry climates or during the winter months when indoor heating can dry the air out.
Clutter And Dust
Aside from making a space look messy and cramped, clutter also contributes to more dust in the area. All the items you leave lying around collect and trap dust particles, which then become airborne if they’re moved or if you vacuum around them. Regular decluttering is vital for reducing the number of airborne pollutants in your home.
Consider Your Pets
As much as you may love your pets, they can be a major source of indoor air pollution. Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, their dander, fur, and dirt can all contribute to poor air quality, which can affect your health regardless. To keep your home’s air cleaner, brush and bathe pets regularly, especially during shedding season. Wash their bedding often and vacuum floors and furniture with a HEPA-filtered vacuum. It’s also wise to keep pets out of bedrooms if you’re sensitive to allergens.
Poor air quality can have direct and negative impacts on your health, comfort, and overall quality of life. Understanding the importance of air quality and how to address it can help you breathe easy in your own home.