We’re sure you’ve taken every measure to keep your family safe and healthy over the years. Teaching your kids about numerous safety precautions, scheduling regular doctor’s appointments, and ensuring everyone in the family eats right and exercises are all important, but there may be something you’re leaving out — your indoor air quality.
Your home is supposed to be a safe place for you and your family, so it's important to make sure the air you breathe is as clean as it can be. Here are a few ways you can take care of your indoor air quality.
1. Add House Plants
One of the best ways to improve your indoor air quality is by adding fresh oxygen to your home. And the easiest way to do that? Add house plants. Although certain plants do a better job at this than others, all houseplants will pull carbon dioxide from your home and replace it with fresh oxygen.
Some of the best plants for this job are Aloe, Snake Plants, English Ivy, Bamboo Palm, and Rubber Tree.
2. Watch How You Clean
Not only do you need to clean your home regularly to get rid of dust and allergens; you also need to make sure you're cleaning your home correctly.
Use the Right Products: Watch what’s in your cleaning products, and try to use products that are more eco-friendly. The chemicals in traditional cleaning products can actually do more harm than good.
Use the Right Tools: Forget the feather dusters and dry cloths — these just move dust and allergens around. Use microfiber cloths instead. They trap dust and actually get it out of your home.
Vacuum More Often: Dust and allergens are easily trapped in carpet and rug fibers, so you should vacuum at least once a week — especially if you or a family member suffer from allergies.
3. Use Humidifiers and Vent Fans
The more humid your home is, the more likely you are to have mold growth — yuck! Rather than sit in an overly-humid home and risk your chance of mold-related health illnesses, invest in a few dehumidifying methods.
In Your Bathroom: Whenever you take a shower, make sure to run your ventilation fan. This will help get rid of all the steam and moisture that would otherwise allow mold to grow in your bathroom.
In Your Kitchen: All the steam, oil, and odors that enter your air when you cook is awful for your air quality, so always use your exhaust fan when you’re cooking to keep your kitchen’s air clean.
In Your Home: If the outside temperatures cause your home’s air to feel humid and sticky, use a dehumidifier to keep your air at a healthy moisture level and your home comfortable.
4. Take Care of Your Pets
We’re sorry to tell you that your pets can actually have a negative impact on your indoor air quality. All the dander and fur they shed can seriously irritate your allergies. Not to mention, after running around outside, they can bring dirt, pollen, and more in your home via their fur. But not to worry! You can remedy this by:
Cleaning Their Paws: After playtime outside, wipe off your dog’s paws so you get rid of any dirt and other grime in them before your dog comes inside.
Bathe Them Regularly: While your pets don’t need to be bathed every week, you should be giving your pets a bath at least once a month to wash away any pollen, dust, etc. that may be lingering in their fur.
5. Invest in an Air Filtration System
If you’re really concerned about your indoor air quality — as you should be — you should seriously consider adding an air filtration system to your home. These systems filter out even the tiniest particles of dust, pollen, mold, and other debris that could be lurking in your home’s air.
When it’s time to address the quality of the air in your home, don’t take matters into your own hands. Instead, count on the skilled technicians at Air Treatment Heating & Cooling to help. We proudly offer indoor air quality services in Fairfax to make your home more comfortable for you and your family.