Now that summer is here, you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors. But when you come indoors, you’ll want to breathe air that is fresh and clean. It’s more comfortable, and healthier. Here are 13 lucky tips for improving your indoor air quality in the summer.
- Have your air conditioner serviced. In addition to making sure your air conditioner is in top shape, a good cleaning of the evaporator coil can remove dust, allergens and other pollutants that otherwise could enter your home’s air.
- Change your AC filters. Changing your one-inch filters every month or thicker filters twice a year will also help keep dust and allergens from entering your living area.
- Clean the vents. Allergens can also grow in your vents and then invade the air in your living area. So cleaning your vents yourself of having a professional do it will make the air in your home cleaner, and can also lower your utility bills.
- Let fresh outside air in. Open your windows on cooler, breezy days to let fresh air into your ventilation system.
- Keep humidity out. Damp air from outside can raise humidity and promote mold and mildew growth. The most humid parts of your home are your basement, attic, crawl spaces and closets. You want your indoor humidity to stay at 30% to 50%. The best ways to keep the humidity down are to fix cracks and gaps in your home’s insulation and to buy a dehumidifier.
- Keep dirt out. Make sure there are mats at every entrance to your home. It’s also not a bad idea to have people take their shoes off before entering your home.
- Keep your carpeting clean. Despite your best efforts, dust, allergens and other pollutants will enter your home and settle into your carpeting. Vacuum regularly, using a vacuum cleaner with strong suction, rotating brushes and a HEPA filter. Also vacuum walls and upholstered furniture. Vacuum two or more times a week, and wash out your filter regularly.
- Same with wood floors. Mop them, preferably with a micro fiber mop.
- Avoid harsh chemicals to clean. Natural items like lemon juice, baking soda and vinegar are quite adequate to clean and disinfect and will not release harsh chemicals into the air.
- Avoid synthetic fragrances. Chemicals in many common air fresheners can irritate your nasal passages and lungs. Instead, use fresh flowers or essential oils to create a pleasant fragrance.
- Use plants. Plants can remove toxic agents such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. Try placing a plant every 100 square feet.
- Test for radon. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. The chance that your home has radon increases if there is a smoker in the home.
- No smoking. Of course, the best alternative is not to smoke at all. Cigarette smoke has more than 4,000 chemicals, and poses grave health risks to the smoker as well as others due to second hand smoke.
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