Indoor air quality is an essential factor that affects our health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
The air we breathe indoors can be up to five times more polluted than outside air, so improving air quality in our homes is extremely important.
Poor indoor air quality can lead to many health problems, including headaches, fatigue, allergies, respiratory issues, and even more serious conditions such as lung cancer and heart disease.
Sources of air pollution inside include household cleaning products, mold, bacteria, viruses, dust mites, and pet hair.
Improving your home's indoor air quality is essential to protecting your family's health. Thankfully, there are several effective ways to achieve this, which we'll explore in this blog post.
Plants are natural air purifiers that can effectively remove harmful toxins, making them a simple yet effective solution for improving your home's air quality.
Indoor plants can contribute to a healthier indoor environment by not only absorbing CO2 but also emitting oxygen.
Plants purify the air by removing pollutants that are often present indoors, such as those from carpets, paints, and cleaning products.
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You don't need a jungle in your home to reap the benefits of plants. Even a few well-placed plants can significantly improve indoor air quality.
And plants in the home have been shown to have many benefits beyond air purification. They can help reduce stress and anxiety, increase productivity, and boost mood.
Bringing nature inside also adds a nice touch to your home, making it a more aesthetically pleasing and welcoming space.
Although all live plants can absorb CO2 and produce oxygen, some are more effective than others.
Fortunately, many of the most efficient plants are readily available and easy to find. A NASA study identified several indoor air purifying plants that are incredibly effective.
The best air cleaning plants include:
Learn more about promoting clean air inside your home with green plants here.
Opening windows and doors is another excellent way to improve indoor air quality. This is because it allows fresh outdoor air to circulate indoors, replacing stale indoor air that may be contaminated with harmful pollutants.
We release pollutants into the air while cooking, cleaning, and using household products. By opening windows and doors, you can create natural ventilation.
In addition to preventing indoor air pollution, opening windows and doors can help regulate temperature and humidity levels indoors.
This is especially important when indoor spaces become hot and humid during the summer, creating the ideal mold and mildew growth environment.
Keeping your home clean is another essential factor in eliminating indoor air pollutants. Dust, dirt, and other particles can easily gather in your home.
Cleaning regularly can help remove these particles and keep your indoor environment clean and healthy.
When cleaning, it's important to use the right tools and products. A vacuum with a HEPA filter can help remove dust and other allergens from your carpets and floors. Microfiber cloths can help trap dust and other particles on surfaces without releasing them back into the air.
We also recommend paying attention to areas often overlooked during cleaning, such as the tops of cabinets, window sills, baseboards, ceiling fans, and air conditioning vents.
Using natural cleaning products can also improve the indoor air quality in your home.
Many conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) harming your health when inhaled.
VOCs can cause respiratory irritation and headaches and even contribute to the development of chronic illnesses over time.
On the other hand, natural cleaning products are made with non-toxic ingredients. These products are much safer for you and your family to use and can help reduce the number of harmful chemicals released in your home.
You can make natural cleaning products at home with simple ingredients or buy pre-made natural products at your local grocery store or online.
Many natural cleaning products are as good as their chemical-containing counterparts, so you don't have to sacrifice cleaning power for your health. Examples of everyday natural cleaning agents include:
Introducing a home ventilation system can significantly improve the air quality in your home.
Unlike opening windows and doors, ventilation systems allow for a more controlled and consistent airflow, ensuring that the air inside your home is consistently fresh and clean.
Instead of relying on natural ventilation, home ventilation systems circulate air throughout the home, providing a more consistent and reliable source of fresh air.
One of the key benefits of home ventilation systems is that they often come equipped with high-quality HEPA filters.
These filters trap even the tiniest particles, such as allergens, dust, and bacteria, making sure the air you breathe is as clean as can be. This is especially helpful for those with respiratory conditions or allergies.
Introducing a ventilation system into your home requires careful planning. For your system to be efficient, your home needs to be airtight, meaning any leaks or gaps in windows and doors must be sealed to prevent air from leaking.
This can require some upfront investment, but improved indoor air quality benefits will be well worth it.
Home automation can be a game-changer when it comes to whole home air filtration.
One of the biggest benefits of home automation for air quality is that it allows you to constantly monitor the air quality in every room of your home with smart detection.
Smart sensors can detect mold, humidity, and other air quality issues and alert you to any problems before they become serious. For example, if a leak is detected, the system can alert you so that you can take care of the problem before mold begins to grow.
Home automation can also help detect harmful gasses like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Smart detectors can notify you of these gasses and take action, such as turning on a ventilation system or opening windows to let fresh air in.
Home automation is the ideal solution for those with sensitivities that need great air quality at all times.
If you’re wondering how to check air quality in your home, there are several methods you can use. Here are some of the most common methods of indoor air quality monitoring:
We now know that indoor air quality significantly impacts our health, well-being, and overall quality of life.
From simple, low-cost solutions like opening windows and adding indoor plants to more advanced strategies like installing ventilation systems and using innovative home technology - there are several effective ways to improve the air quality in your home.
Are you concerned about the air quality in your home? Our interior design team at Sesshu can help you create a healthier living environment.
We prioritize eco-friendly and healthy options for interior finishes, fixtures, and furnishings to ensure your home is free of harmful pollutants. With proper ventilation, an air purifier, and the right plants incorporated into your design, we can help you safeguard your family's health while creating a space you love.
Schedule your Design Discovery Review today to learn how we can help improve your indoor air quality and create a beautiful and healthy living space.
Schedule your Design Discovery Conversation today!