The Guide to Healthy Indoor Air

The quality of indoor air can either help your health or challenge it. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that people spend 90% of their time indoors. Indoor air can be 5xs more polluted than outdoor air. Poor air quality can lead to increased illnesses, lower productivity, and even dampen your mood.

New construction is more efficient and therefore air tight. This leads to potentially harmful things such as dust, dirt, mold, emissions given off during cooking and candle burning, detergents, paints, and more to get sealed inside.

Clearly it is very important to address the quality of the air where you spend most of your time. This article will show how to clean indoor air in a healthy and safe way. It will also show some good habits to start and/or maintain as well as some things to avoid.

Getting Air Clean

The fastest, cheapest, and easiest way to freshen indoor air is to allow outdoor air in. Outdoor air definitely has a certain amount of pollutants in it. However, in most cases, outdoor air is far less contaminated than indoor air. The instant air exchange that happens when the window or door is opened quickly reduces the concentration of indoor air contaminates. This exchange only needs a few minutes to be effective – depending on the space. Good days to take advantage of this are when humidity is moderate to low.

This is not an ideal option for seasonal allergy suffers. It is recommended for allergy sufferers to use an air purifier in place of opening windows. Use one that is rated 13 or higher on the MERV scale. (MERV = minimum efficiency reporting value). HEPA air purifiers are a good choice. These are most effective when used in a room as opposed to using it for the entire home or office from a central location.

With either method air circulation is very important. When ventilation is limited or if the air is very still, use a clean fan to get the air moving. If using a ceiling fan set it to counter clockwise motion for keeping the air cool and clockwise to encourage warm air into your space. (energystar.gov)

Keeping Air Clean

Constant circulation is crucial to maintaining good air quality. Inspect and change HVAC filters often. According to cleartheair.com if using a 1-2 inch thick filter, it's good to change it every 90 days. If using a thicker filter it can last longer. Be sure to use a properly fitting filter according to your HVAC instructions. If there are pets or the outside environment has high amounts of dust or pollen, then it will be necessary to change the filter more often.

Unsure about what is best for your circumstances? Check it monthly. Compare what it looked like when clean to what it looks like after a month. This should help you to gauge the frequency at which it needs to be changed.

In an office setting it may not be so easy to gauge filtration purity or even control overall circulation and quality. Invest in an appropriately sized air purifier. Be sure it is appropriate for filtering the amount of square footage you are in - more is not better - just right is best. The amount of square footage each one can effectively filter should be clearly labeled either on the box it comes in or on the purifier itself.

Invest in indoor plants. Plants always help in cleaning the air naturally. WebMd recommends using plants as an effective way to keep good air quality. They recommend using Ferns, Spider and Aloe Vera plants. There are many more options - some that require very little to no sunlight which is ideal for cubicles. There are yet others that require little watering and care which is ideal for those of us who are busy or a bit forgetful.

Clean Habits

Good routines also can help keep indoor air quality healthy. Regular dusting, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning up after pets (saliva, urine, feces, dead skins, and hair) all contribute to cleaner air.

What to Avoid

The most obvious thing to avoid is cigarette smoke. Try to avoid or reduce exposure to anything that has formaldehyde in it - it is a carcinogen and causes asthma/allergy irritation. Disinfectants, adhesives, insecticide/pesticides, particle board, and cigarette smoke are some of the items that have formaldehyde.

Do not use synthetic fragrances or aerosol sprays. One study revealed synthetic fragrances emit 20 different VOCs including 7 that are regulated as toxic or hazardous by the US government. Laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, air freshening sprays and air scented solids can contain synthetic fragrances. Today plant based options and even some scent free options are readily available and are a much safer choice.

Monitor the use of hair and nail products, cleaning products, and art/hobby supplies. High amounts of VOCs can be found in these items as well. Again, it is best to opt for plant based products whenever it is available.

Allow items that have been dry cleaned to air out before bringing them into the home. Dry cleaning uses solvents that are toxic to breathe in. To be sure most emissions are gone - allow them to air outside briefly. Organic dry cleaning is a less toxic option if there is one available to you.

As always our goal is to help everyone to Keep Naturally Clean because it is key in staying healthy, productive, and happy. Paying attention to and caring for the quality of your indoor air - at work and at home - is worth the effort. It can help you stay alert, reduce pollutants, bacteria, and viruses that cause illness, and make your everyday experience better.

Resources: energystar.gov | WebMd | cleantheair.com

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