Cleaning
A regular cleaning schedule is an obvious and effective action to improve air quality. Dusting regularly is important as allergens and other nasties can accumulate in household dust. Vacuuming not just your floors, but your furniture, skirting boards, and anywhere else that can accumulate dust is vital. Keep on top of mopping your floors and make sure you regularly wash your bedding.
Chemicals
Many products emit harmful chemicals. Check carefully before you buy, and opt for fragrance-free or naturally scented products. Avoid harshly scented candles or reed diffusers, and stay away from aerosols if you can. How about switching to milder, more natural cleaning products? They’ll get the job done without all the nasty chemicals you don’t want in your home.
Humidity
A healthy humidity level for indoor spaces is between 30% and 50%. Air that is too humid creates ideal conditions for dust mites and mould. Bathrooms, basements and bedrooms in particular need proper ventilation, so use a dehumidifier if necessary. Open doors and windows to keep air circulating.
Smoke
Our homes, office and public spaces should all be no-smoking zones. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals. Smoking can cause cancer, heart attacks and strokes. Breathing second-hand smoke is linked to asthma and cancer. So make your home a smoke-free space – ask smokers to go outside.
Ventilation
Improving ventilation is an easy way to improve indoor air quality. Increase the amount of clean outdoor air inside by opening windows or doors and running fans. Extractor fans can remove contaminants directly from rooms. Ventilation is particularly important for all activities that involve pollutants, such as painting, paint stripping, cooking, welding, soldering, or sanding.
Plants
Bring nature inside – plants can make spaces healthier and more beautiful. To some extent, household plants can help eliminate toxic agents from indoor air and absorb chemicals with their leaves and roots. However, their removal rate is small, so don’t expect your potted plants to act as full-scale air filters for your home or office!