Shocking FACT: Levels of indoor air pollution can be up to 100* higher than the outdoor air!
It hard to believe, but average levels of air-pollution indoors is 2 to 5 times higher than outside, and in the very worst cases, up to 100 times worse than out-door air.
Air-borne pollutants are microscopic particles such as pollens, dust, mould spores and dust-mite waste but can also include harmful materials such as lead, VOC’s and petroleum gases.
There are 2 main factors that can significantly affect indoor air-quality:
- How clean your home is;
- How effective the “filters” in your home are at trapping air-borne pollutants “Filters” in your home to trap air-borne pollutants. These amazing filters are common household items such as carpets and soft furnishings that trap pollutants as air makes its’ way around your home.
To keep indoor air-quality in check we must empty the “filters” on a regular basis, otherwise they get full and actually start releasing pollutants back into the air.
Carpet
It has not been proven that homes with carpet, have better indoor air quality that homes without carpet. This is because when we walk through a room with a hard floor (tiles or timber) we disturb the dirt and dust on the floor, drawing it back up into the air. This doesn’t happen with carpet. This means that as long as we vacuum the carpet regularly with a good quality HEPA filter vacuum and have regular professional cleaning, your carpet will continue to make an excellent air filter.
Keep Wood and Tiled Floors clean
Just a light breeze is enough to whisk the dirt and pollutants from your wood or tiled floor up into the air. This means that regular cleaning with a good quality dust mop or a HEPA filter vacuum designed for hard floors is essential, especially if one of your family members is an asthmatic.
I picked up a Dyson V6 vacuum for this purpose in our home and we love it!
Upholstery
Fabric lounges are amazing indoor air filters. The pluck all types of microscopic particles out of the air such as pollens, mould spores, and even air-borne residues from cooking. This is in addition to the dirt and body oils the lounge collects from being sat on.
To keep your lounge “filter” working, it needs a vacuum every couple of weeks and annual professional cleaning. I’ve got a 2 and a 4 year old so our lounge gets hammered. In our case professional cleaning every 6 months is essential!
Mattress
Mattresses are a well-known breeding ground for dust mites! Whilst dust-mites don’t bite, their waste contains a chemical called “guanine” that becomes easily airborne and is very toxic to humans . Keeping dust-mites under control is a challenge but we’ve got a few helpful tips:
- Carry the mattress outside and rest it in the sun for 15 minutes on each side. UV light is very effective at killing dust-mites.
- Open up the windows and let the fresh air and sunlight in!
- Clean your mattress regularly and thoroughly with a HEPA filter vacuum
Air Conditioners
A clean air-conditioner will control humidity and help filter the air, but once the filter gets clogged and mould and mould starts to grow in the air-conditioner, it can create some real health hazards.
Try cleaning the filters every 2 months and wipe down the drip trays that can harbour mould and mildew. If you can see a build-up of gunk, or start to notice a musty smell when you turn your air-conditioner on, then professional cleaning is a must.
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