Happy heart, happy home. Or is it the other way around? The UnitedStates Environmental Protection Agency reports that long-termexposure to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can have long-term effects likerespiratory disease, heart disease, and cancer.
If your home shows signsof poor IAQ, there are steps you can take to improve your health while alsoensuring good health for the environment.
1. Become a Plant Parent
Succulentshave become a significant home trend in the last few years, but their positiveeffects aren’t limited to aesthetics. Plants like aloe and Golden Pothos(Devil’s Ivy), for example, are known for filtering out chemicals found inpaints and cleaning products. For a full list of the best plants for improvingyour indoor air quality, check out OneGreen Planet.
2. Utilize UV Lamps
Germicidal ultraviolet lights (UV), when properly integrated into a heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system, are an effective method for preventing indoor air contamination from spreading throughout your home. The germicidal ultraviolet light rays produced by the UV Light system destroy micro-organisms that collect inside to help maintain a germ-free environment.
3. Say Goodbye to Aerosols
Aerosols,although an everyday item for many, aren’t great for your IAQ. It’s best to cutthem out completely. If you aren’t able to say farewell just yet, use them byan open window or keep a window open for an hour after use.
4. Try Natural Cleaning Products
Chemicalcleaners are abrasive. When you opt for natural alternatives, you reduce theamount of harmful bleach and ammonia chemicals entering your airflow.
Not surewhere to start? RealSimple has a list of 66 great all-natural cleaning solutions.
5. Beware of Humidity
As it turnsout, humidity isn’t just a nuisance for hair. When humidity exceeds 50%, yourhome becomes the ideal environment for mold growth. Keep your home’s humiditybetween 30-50% to sidestep any potential uninvited guests. A dehumidifierwill take care of it for you!
6. Leave Shoes at the Door
If you’veever looked at the bottom of your favorite pair of sneakers, you know the kindof things shoes pick up as you go throughout the day. Remove your shoes whenyou enter your home to avoid bringing in chemicals, dirt, and pollen inside.
7. Try Aromatherapy
You’ve probablyheard of aromatherapy for stress relief, but essential oils go beyond mentalbenefits. Scents like lemon, peppermint, and tea tree have antifungal andantibacterial properties.
8. Get a System to Take Care of the Rest
The PureAir ™ system attacks the sources of indoor air quality issues: dust, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and pet dander. Weather Master technicians will install your brand-new system in a flash, and you’ll be breathing easy with our 100% satisfaction guarantee!