Are you concerned about the air quality of your home? Post & Beam Design/Build has compiled a list of easy steps you and your family can take to not only reduce chemicals and allergens in your air but also to improve your overall health. Start breathing clean, fresh air again!
You can improve the air quality in your home by:
1. Clean Your Floors
It’s amazing the number of toxins, dirt, pollen, and dander we track in and around the house. Keeping your floors cleaned through vacuuming and mopping, can have a serious impact on getting rid of those pesky pollutants. When vacuuming, make sure your machine has strong suction and filter to ensure that the dirt and dust won’t get blown back out into the air through the exhaust. Using a microfiber mop can also help pick up more grime that other fibers leave behind. It is also a good idea to leave a door mat by each door to help with keeping the dirt at the entrance and out of your home.
2. Keep an Eye on the Humidity
Certain pollutants, like mold and dust mites, love moisture and humid homes. Keeping your humidity between 30% and 50% can help reduce the number of allergens in your home. Purchasing a dehumidifier can help keep the humidity in your home under control, but there are other ways of also controlling the moisture including opening windows when cooking or showering, letting the clothes dryer vent to the outside, fixing leaky pipes, and not over watering house plants.
3. No Smoking Inside
If you or someone you live with smokes, this is the number one way you can improve air quality in your home. By simply enforcing a “smoke outside” rule, you can severely reduce the number of toxic chemicals in the air. Research shows that cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals and second-hand smoke can impact the health of those that breathe it in, especially children.
4. Have Your Home Tested for Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in both old and new homes. This odorless and colorless gas comes from the natural decay of uranium in the soil and can significantly increase the risk of lung cancer. Testing for radon is incredibly easy and, if your home does possess high levels of radon, solutions are also simple and affordable.
5. Get Rid of the Synthetic Fragrances
Spray cans and air fresheners might smell fresh, but those chemical lemon and pine smells only pump more chemicals into your home’s air. A study found that plug-in air fresheners emitted up to 20 different chemicals, some of which were marked as hazardous by federal law. Instead of going for the chemical scents, look for natural ways to freshen your home, like opening your windows, adding house plants, using lemons or baking soda as scents in your kitchen, and using mild cleaners that don’t have artificial fragrances.
For more tips on how to improve your home,contact our Baltimore County contractors at Post & Beam Design/Build.
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