One of our top priorities is the health of our families. Healthy eating, exercise, and keeping harmful substances out of our lives is a big part of that. The quality of the air we breathe is also important. There isn’t much you can do outside if you live in a city where the air has a lot of pollutants, but there are several ways you can improve the air in your home.
Add an Air Purifier
The first thing many people think about when they consider clean air in their homes is purchasing an air cleaner or purifier. These can go a long way toward removing particles from pollutants.
You can find a wide variety of air purifiers on the market with different effectiveness ratings and efficiency levels. Besides separate air purifiers, you may want to look at modifying the air filter on your air-conditioning unit. Newer, thicker filters can remove additional particles from the air, helping you breathe easier at home. You may need to have a professional modify the intake to accommodate the filter, but the savings and better air may be worth it.
Bring in Outside Air
Most of us don’t think about introducing outside air into our homes as a way to get cleaner air, but it’s more effective than you’d think. Most forced-air HVAC units take very little air from outside, so the same air circulates through your home constantly. Fresh air is one of the best ways to keep you and your family healthy.
Open a window when you can, or make sure your HVAC unit has a natural ventilation component that introduces fresh air into your home. Natural ventilation can help keep your indoor air temperature stable as well as reduce indoor air pollutants.
Eliminate Indoor Pollutants
There are a couple of indoor air pollutants that we introduce without even thinking about it. One of the first ones many of us think about is cigarette smoke. We’ve heard many times that it’s best not to smoke in your home. But we don’t as easily think about fragrances. We all love the smell of a clean home, and air fresheners and sprays definitely make our home smell better.
Those fragrances, however, can be more harmful than we think. They are synthetic, which means that when you spray them, you’re introducing synthetic particles into the air. All of these are tested for irritation, but most only check for skin irritation instead of respiratory irritation.
Add Plants to Your Home
Using an air purifier is a great first step to breathe easier in your home. But the most natural way to purify and filter the air in your home is to add plants. Plants offer more benefits for your home than just being nice to look at.
Many plants, such as lilies, ivy, and chrysanthemums, clean the air particularly effectively. These provide additional oxygen and remove many air impurities.
Making yourself healthier and breathing easier inside your home can be much easier than you think. The air inside your home, where you spend the most time, is the best place to start.
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