Do you are anyone in your household suffer from allergies? If so, you may need to have your indoor air cleaned of pollutants to improve your quality of life.
It is frightening to realize that the air quality inside your home is probably worse than that of the air outside. One solution is to keep your home healthy with air cleaners. Your home will also appear cleaner when all the dust is removed from the air. It’s also important to keep your home as clean as possible inside to prevent dust and dirt buildup.
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What Is Air Cleaning?
Particle air cleaning is the process of removing pollutants from outdoor air as they enter a building or residence. It can also remove particles already present in indoor air.
Air cleaners mainly use fans to remove pollutants from the air, and the amount removed depends on the airflow rate. Air quality services can provide you with more information on air cleaning systems and help you determine what system will be best for you.
The Benefits of Clean Air
The symptoms experienced by allergy and asthma sufferers will improve if pollutants are removed from the air inside your home. There are also some other surprising benefits to having clean air:
- Your brain will be healthier and will function better if it’s not constantly exposed to pollutants. Studies have shown that you will experience cognitive decline in the long term if your brain is exposed to air pollution over time, and you may even develop depression. Children who live in homes with cleaner air also fare better academically.
- Improved heart health. It has been established that there is a link between long-term exposure to pollutants and cardiovascular health. Clean air leads to a healthier heart and arteries, as well as a reduced risk of cardiac disease.
- Your lungs are affected by airborne pollutants which can place a lot of stress on them. This can cause them to age prematurely and work less effectively.
- Clean air is also good for your skin, as it is more likely to retain its elasticity which will prevent you from getting wrinkles.
- One study even found a link between clean air and higher levels of happiness.
Examples of Indoor Air Pollutants
It’s possible to manage indoor air pollution. The first step is to identify the sources of air pollution in your home and to get rid of as many as possible. Here are some of top offenders:
- Airborne allergens such as pet dander and indoor dust: You can have microscopic dust mites living in your bedding, upholstery, or carpets that can cause major health issues, especially for those suffering from allergies or asthma. Pet dander can also be a problem as it can cling to surfaces and go into cracks. Frequent cleaning of your home, such as vacuuming, washing your bedding and wiping surfaces will help you keep the pollution levels down.
- Germs, Bacteria, and Viruses: Germs and bacteria thrive indoors, especially in closed spaces, and can spread through the air fast. Poor indoor air quality also causes contagious viruses like colds, the flu, and COVID-19 to spread faster.
- Toxic airborne chemicals emitted from certain liquids and solids. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home can include aerosol sprays, air fresheners, paint, pesticides and cleansers. These items can cause nose, throat, and eye irritation, and even kidney and liver damage, as well as potential damage to the central nervous system.
- Gas appliances can also be an irritant and pollute your indoor air quality. A gas stove should be serviced yearly by a technician that can adjust the metering for the gas to burn cleanly. Also keep the kitchen window open to avoid irritating nitrogen dioxide from building up, especially when you’re using your gas stove.
What Can You Do To Eliminate Indoor Air Pollution?
There are a few things you can do to improve the indoor air quality of your home.
- Remove as many sources of airborne allergens from your home as possible. Clean and vacuum at least once a week; regularly wash bed linen.
- Make sure your house is well ventilated. A good ventilation system can remove allergy-causing particles and germs, by circulating filtered air from outside through your home.
- Use air cleaners and air filters to capture the contaminants in your house that are so small that they never even land on a surface, or they escape the vacuum.
- Use a programmable thermostat to monitor the moisture levels and temperature in your house, as high temperatures can increase the level of germs and other particles.
Final Thoughts
While air cleaners can remove the pollutants from the air, it’s also essential to realize how important it is to keep your home as clean as possible. You need to make sure that your house is well ventilated, and that you remove as many sources of indoor pollution as you possibly can.
If you continue to live with indoor air pollution, it can have a negative long-term effect on your health, as well as the health of your family members and pets.
