6 Steps to Prevent Indoor Air Pollution in Your Home

Studies show that many times indoor air pollution takes more of a toll on your health than outdoor air pollution. As we walk through our homes, the air turbulence created by our moving bodies stirs up a combination of dust and debris that can be very irritating to the lungs. If indoor air pollution is bad enough, it can affect allergies and respiratory function, and could have other implications, as well. As a homeowner, it is in your best interest and the interests of your family to do what you can to reduce pollutants inside your home, and the issues that can arise from them.

Indoor Air Pollution Solutions:

Reduce and Alter Indoor Chemical Use
Household cleaners and pesticides are full of chemicals. People can even be bothered by low levels of these compounds in some cases. Ironically, indoor air is now recognized as being full of many of the same chemicals we've spent so much time reducing outdoors. Pay close attention to the labels on household products. If possible, switch to natural products that contain fewer toxic chemicals. When you do need to use a stronger chemical, use it sparingly and follow all the precautions explained on the label.

Air Out Dry-Cleaned Items
Another common source of indoor air pollution is dry-cleaned clothes, which emit a number of chemicals that may be harmful. Don't immediately store dry-cleaned items in a closet. Take the plastic off and allow your clothing to air out for a day or two in a space with good air circulation, then recover the items with plastic and store them in a closet. In some areas, you may be able to find a dry-cleaning company that uses more eco-friendly cleaning solutions.

Use More Sophisticated Furnace Filters
The traditional furnace air filter isn't designed to clean air. Its only function is to keep large particles, like hair and debris, from damaging the furnace blower. These larger particles are rarely the source of human breathing difficulty.

Now there are new, more elaborate filters on the market that trap enough particulate matter to help humans breathe better. In general, the more costly the filter, the more dust it snags out of the airflow. Costing anywhere from $7 to $100, sophisticated filters can pull out up to five times as many particles as traditional filters. Having the ductwork for your furnace and/or air conditioning system thoroughly cleaned may also reduce indoor air pollution, and may increase the productivity of your system, too.

Install an Electronic Air Cleaner
Electronic air cleaners can extract 30 times as much dust as ordinary filters, but they cost a lot more. In fact, a professionally installed air cleaner costs $500 to $700. While this is a substantial amount of money, it's worth every penny if it offers significant breathing relief to one or more people in your household.

If the price is too steep for you, portable units can be purchased for far less. Of course, the smaller units clean just the air in one room (much like a window air conditioner cools only one room). Electronic air cleaners only need to be cleaned once a year or so because they incinerate the trapped dust.

Open the Windows
Don't keep your home tightly sealed all of the time. Years ago homes were far more drafty and air flow between indoors and out was happening constantly (whether you liked it or not). With the additional insulation and high quality seals used in modern construction, air transfer has been dramatically reduced. One drawback to this is that indoor toxins also get sealed inside. It's important to air out your home regularly by opening windows and using fans to draw in fresh air from outdoors. Installing an attic or whole house fan is a great way to increase air flow and decrease indoor air pollution.

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution Naturally with Houseplants
Plants can do a great job of helping to remove toxins from the home. The nice thing about plants is that, while they are effective in reducing indoor air pollution, they don't look out of place or create noise. Some plants work harder at it than others. A few that have been shown to work well: Boston fern, spider plant, English ivy, areca palm, and peace lily. A good rule of thumb is two plants per hundred square feet.