Since most of us spend close to 90% of our entire lives indoors, it’s vitally important to ensure that our living spaces have proper air quality. People often take various precautions to protect themselves from the air pollution that exists outside, but little do they know that the air inside of their homes can be equally harmful.

From contributing to multiple health issues including asthma, allergies, headaches, and respiratory infections, to making breathing difficult, poor indoor air quality can cause a lot of harm. In extreme cases, it may even be a cause of lung cancer among individuals of all ages.

It is for these reasons that you must know how to beat indoor air pollution and keep yourself and your family safe from adverse health effects.

Even though installing an Air Purifier Humidifier Combo may be the best bet for all-around indoor safety, improving air quality without it is not impossible. The best way to avoid dirty air inside of your house is often to control the source. Keep on reading for our top 10 tips on how to improve indoor air quality.

1. Clean out the air vents and grills

Since air circulates throughout a building via its air vents and grills, it is necessary to keep the vents and grills free from all obstructions. If these areas are blocked, the air inside your house can become stagnant, with excessive levels of air pollutants caused by poor ventilation.

Blocked grills may also put the mechanical systems of your home under strain, which may potentially lead to costly repairs and result in higher electricity bills.

2. Avoid smoking indoors

Cigarettes contain literally thousands of chemicals, including carcinogens that can really wreak havoc on the health of those who breathe the contaminated air. Tobacco smoke causes health damage not only to the smoker but also to those who passively inhale the lingering smoke.

So, it’s best that you do not smoke or let anyone smoke inside of the house. This will prevent your family from being exposed to secondhand smoke, which is detrimental to everyone.

3. Dispose of garbage properly

Never forget the importance of disposing of trash properly, as trash can contribute to a deteriorating of air quality in the indoor space. Certain decaying food products disperse mold and various other contaminants that are harmful to the air.

These chemical products release dangerous agents that can be hazardous when either inhaled or ingested. So, it’s best that you maintain a practice of disposing of all trash properly and removing it from your home in order to maintain good air quality.

4. Clean regularly

Dust, sanitize, and vacuum frequently to control bacteria, dust, animal dander, and other contaminants in enclosed areas. It’s best to use non-toxic cleaning products derived from all-natural ingredients to minimize your exposure to volatile organic compounds. Also, avoid air fresheners as much as possible, because many of the brands are not completely safe.

If you’re a fan of scented candles, make a point of only using all-natural soy or beeswax candles instead of those made of paraffin wax.

5. Avoid using VOC products

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are present in many household products, such as nail polish remover, pump hair sprays, and dry cleaning substances. Since these products contaminate indoor air, it’s in your best interest to stay away from beauty products that contain these harsh chemicals.

For dry cleaning, always look for businesses that follow an eco-friendly model and use non-toxic substances for cleaning.

6. Use hypoallergenic bedding

Hypoallergenic bedding materials are comprised of all-natural fibers that drastically reduce your exposure to allergens and dust mites. Since hypoallergenic bedding contains a higher thread count, it is better at blocking allergens that would have otherwise contaminated the indoor air.

The best choices that you can look at are natural cotton dust mite covers, cotton mattress pads, and comforters made of wool or silk. Also, be sure to routinely wash the bedding on the hottest setting in your washer and dryer. That ought to make sure that any trapped germs are gone for good.

7. Use air cleaning systems

One of the best ways to maintain the purity of indoor air is by installing an air purifier. High-quality HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) cleaners are able to filter out up to 99.97% of airborne particles such as pollen. Other purifiers based on ultraviolet light, electrostatic precipitator, activated carbon, etc. work only passively, unlike HEPA filters.

Look for a HEPA system that comes with the prefix of “True” tag, which implies the product to be certified in its category.

8. Bring in houseplants

What can possibly be a better way to maintain the purity of interior air than by having houseplants inside? Plants like Areca and bamboo palms have excellent properties that detoxify air and keep you breathing fresh air all day long. However, be sure to check that the houseplants are non-toxic if you’ve got pets at home.

These plants not only help purify the air, but also add some much-needed beauty in the interior of a home. Having one plant for every 100 feet is the best way to keep the environment fresh and the interior looking aesthetic.

9. Do not idle cars

Don’t let your vehicles sit idle in an attached garage or even in the outside area, as they will be releasing toxic exhaust the whole time. It is also essential not to let lawnmowers or other fuel-based engines run inside of the garage if it is attached to your house. Always turn the keys and switch off the vehicle before you leave, regardless of the length of time you’ll be gone.

10. Beware of toxic building materials

Materials such as carpet pads, engineered wood, and others that contain toxic vapors or formaldehyde should be avoided.

Insisted of toxic substances, go for bamboo and solid wood products as well as woolen carpets that contain lower levels of VOCs. You may also use a non-toxic variety of paints marked as “non-VOC” paint.

And that’s all folks! These are the 10 most crucial steps that you can take to ensure that the air inside of your home remains fresh for breathing. After all, the home is where the heart is, and so we must keep it safe.