How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality?

Many of us now might be staying at home 90 to 100 per cent of the time. Although we’re protected from outdoor respiratory threats, there are new risks inside our homes. It’s especially the case with indoor air quality where pollutants and allergens build up and affect people’s respiratory health.

How can I improve indoor air quality?

Mould, bacteria, dust mites and even cleaning products and disinfectants can cause health issues such as headaches, fatigue, asthma and even cancer. Those pollutants have substances in them that trigger immune reactions and biochemical processes, which eventually affect our overall health.

As a result, it’s crucial to improve indoor air quality. Remember, the risks are not just in the presence and amounts of contaminants, but also in the sustained exposure because we’re now staying at home most of the time. Even during the normal days, we spend more than eight hours a day inside our homes (e.g. sleeping, preparing for work, weekends).

To achieve or maintain good indoor air quality, it helps to vacuum regularly and make sure the exhaust fans are really working. When it comes to cleaning products, it helps to choose those with low VOCs especially now that we might be cleaning surfaces more often. It also helps to pay attention to the objects and materials that surround us every day.

Most of the objects and materials inside our homes could emit or attract harmful substances. The main goal then is to keep the concentrations low inside our homes. In other words, we have to let the substances come out and or let the fresh air from outside to dilute those substances. We can accomplish this by improving the ventilation such as opening the windows. A humidifier or dehumidifier can also help as well as an air conditioner with an air purifying filter. With better moisture control we limit mould growth and with an air purifying filter we somehow reduce the amounts of contaminants inside our homes.

These are simple steps to minimise pollution but they still help in safeguarding our health. Although simple and easy to do, they still have a huge impact especially if we think about the everyday and long-term positive effects of such measures.