February 11, 2021
Natural Indoor Air Quality

When you think about pollution, your mind might instantly go to smog, industrial smokestacks or bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, the truth is that the air inside your own home can be even more polluted than the air outside. Many pollutants exist indoors due to household dust, conventional cleaners and building materials. Although indoor air pollution is a serious issue, there are certain steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality naturally.

Clean Your Floors Regularly

It’s very important to keep your floors clean. Whether you have hard surfaces or carpet, you should sweep, mop or vacuum as often as necessary. This can go a long way toward reducing dust and other potentially harmful particles. Dusting higher surfaces every week can also be incredibly helpful.

Maintain the Right Level of Humidity

If your indoor air is too moist, it can allow mold and mildew to grow. These contaminants can trigger allergies and serious respiratory problems. Reduce exposure to mold and mildew by keeping your humidity level around 30% to 50%.

Of course, you can run your air conditioner more often to decrease humidity, but if you’re looking for additional methods of removing excess moisture from your home, there are some other ways to accomplish this. For a start, simply take shorter showers, and turn on the exhaust fan each time you shower or cook. Don’t overwater your houseplants. You might even need to remove a few. Promptly fix any plumbing leaks.

Another cheap and very effective natural method is to use calcium chloride to absorb moisture. This powdered chemical can be purchased at most hardware stores. Placing a small pot of it in a problem area will pull moisture from the air.

Use All-Natural Cleaning Products and Scents

You might associate clean clothes or a clean home with a certain scent. Unfortunately, many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that could reduce your indoor air quality. Items like dryer sheets, laundry detergent, air fresheners, glass cleaners and other products you may use on a regular basis might actually be doing more harm than good. Reduce your exposure to toxins like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by switching to all-natural or organic cleaning products and scents.

Have Your Air Ducts Professionally Cleaned

Your air ducts play the important role of distributing hot and cool air throughout your home. They provide a more comfortable environment in every room. However, if your ducts aren’t properly maintained, they can actually distribute pollutants from one room to another. Over time, contaminants like dust, pet dander, mildew and mold can accumulate within your air ducts. To make sure your overall air quality is ideal, consider scheduling regular duct cleaning service from a trustworthy company. The professional team from Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. can perform this service for you anywhere in central Illinois.

Increase Ventilation

Allowing fresh air inside can help to limit your exposure to harmful air pollutants and allergens. From time to time, open your windows to let plenty of fresh air in. However, if you live near a busy highway or on a busy street, wait to open your windows until rush hour traffic is over. In this case, your best bet is to open up your house early in the morning or later in the evening after traffic has slowed down.

Invest in Air-Purifying Houseplants

Bring the beauty of nature indoors with houseplants that serve as natural air filters while enhancing your home’s décor. As mentioned earlier, just don’t overwater them. You’ll also want to choose the right ones. Here are some of the best:

  • Peace lily
  • Dracaena
  • English ivy
  • Spider plant
  • Bamboo palm
  • Gerbera daisy

Change Your Air Filters

Your air filters trap tiny contaminants like dirt, dust, mold and pollen and prevent them from being distributed throughout your HVAC system. Regularly changing your air filters is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your indoor air quality is good. Not only will this help to make your air quality much better, but it can also help to improve the efficiency and lifespan of your heating and cooling equipment.

Use Nontoxic Paint

Whether you’re touching up a small spot on your wall or repainting your entire house, purchase paint that’s low in VOCs. Instead of going for oil-based paints, opt for less toxic water-based paints. In today’s market, there are plenty of options available, including eco-friendly paints made from sustainably sourced vegetable oil.

Make Your Home a Smoke-Free Zone

Toxic particles from tobacco can significantly reduce your indoor air quality. Make sure to designate your home as a smoke-free zone.

Professional Assistance With Indoor Air Quality

For dependable indoor air quality service in the East Peoria, Normal or Champaign areas, you can rely on Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for advice and assistance. With decades of experience, we strive for impeccable workmanship every time. Our talented team also performs a variety of other options, including heating and cooling repair, installation and maintenance. Besides that, we install and repair geothermal equipment, deal in air purifiers and, of course, clean ductwork. Call us today.

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