Improve Indoor Air Quality to Optimize Respiratory Health

By Kristina Gundersen


We often take for granted the air we breathe. It is all around us, we need it to survive, and we breathe it every second of our lives. Yet few of us consider how air quality impacts our health. Although we cannot really control the air outdoors, it is easy to improve air quality in the home environment by taking some straightforward measures. You’re on your way to breathing easier in four simple steps.

Damp Dusting
Is your home a dust-filled environment? Do you have pets, lots of decorations, or carpeting? Then your home probably has more dust than you should be breathing. Luckily, there is a simple remedy: dusting with a damp rag instead of a dry one. The water on the rag enables the dust to stick to the rag and traps it on the rag, thus preventing the spread or movement of dust that occurs with dry dusting.

Natural Cleaners
Do you use chemical products like shower and toilet bowl cleaners, disinfectants, bleach, or window washing fluid? Then you may be breathing toxic chemicals. Opting for natural or odorless cleaning products like Bon Ami for tubs and toilets, baking soda and water for countertops, vinegar for windows and hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant is a smart option for people with chemical sensitivities or chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or emphysema.

Houseplants
Ever wonder if the air we breathe is pure? Before investing in an expensive, complicated air purification system, try incorporating some houseplants into your décor. Plants are nature’s own air purification system. Try putting at least one in each bedroom near a window and two or three in the living room to cover the extra square footage. Some powerful air-purifying, humidity-balancing plants are the Bamboo Palm, the Boston Fern, the Peace Lily and English Ivy.

Mold Abatement
Do you have areas of your home that smell damp or musty? The culprit may be a dangerous substance called black mold. Sometimes it is visible as black or dark gray splotches, sometimes it is not so easy to find. Anywhere where water damage has occurred, there are usually mold spores growing. A leaky pipe under the sink, for example, may be a source of black mold growth. It typically grows in bathrooms and on windowsills, anywhere where there is frequent condensation. If you can see the mold growth, try spraying it with bleach. If you cannot determine the origin of the musty smell, contact a mold abatement specialist who will take air samples and inspect your home until they locate the source.


Kristina Gundersen lives in Washington State. She is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on accredited online universities for Guide to Online Schools.