If you have allergies or asthma, you might think that staying indoors will spare your airways. However, outdoor contaminants can often still get in, leaving you itching, sneezing, coughing, and feeling short of breath. Prioritize cleaner air by trying these small ways to improve indoor air quality and finally experience relief from uncomfortable sinus symptoms.
Control Indoor Humidity
There’s plenty to know about humidity levels in your home. For example, dry air doesn’t do your sinuses or airways any favors. Increasing humidity, such as with a humidifier, will add moisture back into the air. However, you only need a humidity level between 30 and 50 percent.
If your home is too moist, dust mites and mold can develop, which will only make you feel worse. Venting your home after cooking or showering with exhaust fans can keep humidity at the recommended levels.
Clean Your HVAC Filters
Regardless of the age of your heater or air conditioner, regularly cleaning the filters should be a part of your HVAC maintenance routine. If you don’t replace your home’s air filters, they can’t catch contaminants, which means reduced indoor air quality. Also, you cause your HVAC units to work harder, increasing your utility bills.
Keeping your air filters clean generally isn’t difficult since it requires no tools. That said, always turn off your air conditioner or heater before you touch the filters to avoid injury.
Reduce Chemical Pollutants
Many everyday items release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which worsen indoor air quality. Choosing low-VOC products, like paints, cleaning sprays, and furnishings labeled low-VOC or nontoxic, will make a difference. Switching to eco-friendly cleaning supplies that use plant-based ingredients instead of harsh chemicals is also beneficial. When storing chemicals, keep paints, thinners, and cleaning supplies tightly sealed and away from living spaces.
Add Indoor Plants
Certain houseplants can absorb VOCs and freshen the air. Examples include spider plants, peace lilies, English ivy, Boston ferns, pothos, and snake plants. Be mindful, though, as damp soil can trigger mold allergies if not cared for properly.
Minimize Dust and Allergen Buildup
Dust, pet dander, and pollen collect quickly, especially on surfaces that aren’t cleaned often. Switch to a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. Standard vacuums can stir dust into the air, but a HEPA-filter vacuum captures tiny airborne particles. Keep hard floors clean by mopping, and wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets weekly. Linens often harbor dust mites that can trigger allergies.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to breathe easier at home. Targeting dust, controlling humidity, reducing chemical pollutants, and keeping your HVAC filters clean make a major difference. Start with one or two of these small ways to improve indoor air quality today for healthier air tomorrow.
