5 ways to improve the air quality in your home
With more time spent indoors, winter is the perfect time to tackle projects around the house. From renovations you can complete in one weekend to cleaning tips for every room, Canadian Tire and Yahoo are bringing you everything you need for the season.
Home should always be a place you go to for comfort and relaxation. It shouldn’t be a place that triggers sneezing, congestion and general discomfort.
If the latter is the case for you, there’s a good possibility you have an indoor air quality issue. Ignoring it could lead to serious health issues and is especially harmful to those who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues. It’s also just plain uncomfortable. You don’t have to have the keenest senses to tell if you’re breathing in less than pristine air.
So the question is, how do we clean something we can’t see? The solution is actually quite easy and there are a number of simple and inexpensive things you can implement to immediately improve the air in your home. Check out our these five tips to improve the quality of your home’s air below.
Tidy up
The first line of defense against poor indoor air quality is cleaning. We don’t just mean putting your dishes away and occasionally wiping the counter. Make it a point to regularly give your home a deep clean, from dusting and vacuuming to washing and changing your sheets.
A vacuum is one of the most valuable cleaning tools when it comes to air quality so invest in a good one. One of the most highly rated vacuums on the market is the Dyson’s Cyclone V10 Cordless vacuum. The lightweight and slim appliance removes even the most ground in dirt and its advanced filtration system captures 99.97% of microscopic dust particles.
Find the right air purifier for your space
Air purifiers have been proven to vastly improve indoor air quality — but how do you find the right purifier for your space? Start by deciding what room(s) your air purifier will live in, because it will need to have a clean air delivery rate (CADR) that is large enough for that space. A HEPA filter is also a must-have, as the dense filter captures all those harmful particles like dust, pet dander and even smoke.
For small or medium sized rooms, the AeraMax DX5Air Purifier is a great choice. Along with an aesthetically pleasing design, it’s as quiet as a mouse and notifies you when the filter needs to be changed. For larger rooms, consider the Dyson Pure Cool™ HEPA Air Purifier & Fan Tower. This state-of-the-art air purifying fan reports on air quality and filters out even the smallest particles, including gas and smoke.
If you’re working from home, you may even want to consider a small air purifier for your desk. The NOMA True HEPA Small Air Purifier is compact, effective and will contribute to a productive work environment.
Improve ventilation
Ever walk into a room with no windows and get immediately hit by the overwhelming feeling of stale air?
The easiest way to improve ventilation is to open windows and let fresh air in, but some rooms don’t have that ability. If you have a windowless room you can still improve ventilation by utilizing a fan, or just keeping the doors and windows open in neighbouring rooms.
For this purpose, a simple oscillating fan will do the trick. The For Living Oscillating Desk Fan is a budget-friendly pick that’s easy to use and will vastly improve your air circulation.
A ceiling fan can also work wonders when it comes to air circulation. We like this sleek, modern-looking option from Hunter.
Maintain a healthy level of humidity
While air purifiers are great at removing dust particles, pet dander and smoke, dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air and minimize the humidity level in a room.
Lowering the humidity level will immediately result in a fresher overall feeling, plus, mold and mildew will have a harder time growing and spreading, which will also eliminate any unpleasant musty odours a room may hold.
For a budget friendly solution, Concrobium Moisture Grabbers are great for small spaces like closets and bathrooms. These little pouches work similar to a dehumidifier by collecting moisture from the air and locking it away, but without the added cost of electricity.
Cook on an induction stove instead of gas
One of the major contributors to indoor air pollution are gas stoves. If you think about it, it’s no big surprise. You’re essentially burning gas in your home and releasing fumes like nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide.
An alternative to gas stoves that will improve indoor air quality is to switch to an induction cooktop. While there’s a bit of a learning curve to using an induction stove, you’ll eventually find your rhythm.
You’ll also need to adjust to using stainless steel cookware. The PADERNO Canadian Signature Stainless Steel Cookware 13 piece set includes all the essential pots and pans you’ll need to whip up a great meal using your new air-friendly appliance.
