It’s spring cleaning time, and there is one “spot” you probably missed during your cleaning routine: your air. It’s easy to forget to make sure the air in your home is clean and safe, since air is--literally--out of sight, out of mind. Cleaning your air should be on your spring cleaning checklist, though, since indoor air can be 5x more polluted than outside--affecting allergies, asthma, concentration, sleep quality, and much more.
Luckily, there’s plenty of ways you can make sure your air is clean this spring. To get you started, use this list of our top 10 favorite air-cleaning tips to add to your spring cleaning routine:
Leaks are a great way for moisture to sneak into your home, causing the humidity levels to rise. High levels of humidity will lead to mold and mildew, which trigger allergies and make your air unhealthy.
Carpet by your front door can trap dust, pollen, and toxins that get dragged in from outside by your shoes. Placing a clean doormat and taking your shoes off at the front door can help reduce these toxins by 60%.
If updating your decor is part of your spring cleaning plans, opt for wood panel products that don’t have formaldehyde, a common chemical (VOC) that evaporates into your air. Air out any new furniture before bringing it into your home.
It's common to keep half-used cans of paint in the house, but they can be very dangerous for your air. Chemicals found in paint can easily evaporate into the air in your house--even if the paint cans are sealed. Throw out half-used cans of paint, and store unused cans of paint outside or in a ventilated area.
Many popular cleaning products contain a cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), which are chemicals that can easily enter your lungs after they have evaporated into the air. Opt for VOC-free products and products without fragrance. When dusting, use a damp cloth--dry dusters will disperse dust throughout the air and make your allergies worse.
Stoves can produce unhealthy levels of chemicals that can spread into the air throughout your house. If you have a gas stove, ventilate your stovetop by opening the hood and letting the chemicals air out through an open window.
Common paraffin candles are made up of a variety of chemicals--which are all released into the air when the candles are burned. Instead, opt for candles made of beeswax, which burn clean and with very little smoke (they burn slower than paraffin candles, too).
There are plenty of easy-to-care-for plants that would love to help clean your air for you!
The air filters in your heater and air conditioner catch dust, which can build up over months--and will be blown around the house any time the are turned on. Ideally, you should change your filters every 3 months.
As the weather gets nicer, step up the habit of regularly opening windows to let in fresh air--it’s the easiest way to clean your home’s air of chemicals and regulate temperature. Be sure to ventilate any time you use cleaning products, as well.
Taking a few small steps to keep your air safe and clean can go a long way. Awair monitors toxins and chemicals in your space and alerts you when indoor air pollution levels become unhealthy. To learn more about how Awair can help you keep a healthier home, follow the link below.
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