When you and your family settle in for the cold months indoors, you will want to make sure that the air inside your home is as clean and healthy as possible. Stale indoor air can be heavy with dust, pollen, mold spores, and several other toxins and pollutants. Here are ten more very simple steps you can take to improve the quality of the air in your home:
11. Make a No-Smoking Rule
Cigarette smoke is an extremely toxic substance, including to those who are exposed to secondhand smoke. If you have smokers in your household, give them the option of giving up the unhealthy habit or taking it outside and away from your home. Cigarette smoke clings to every surface in your home. Its effects linger long after the cigarette has burned up.
12. Decorate Your Home with Air-Purifying Plants
Certain types of house plants work just like the trees outside, by filtering and purifying the air around them. Put a couple of these plants in each room of your home to get the same effect and to keep the air clean in a stylish, natural way. These types of plants include Spider Plant, Bamboo Palm, Chinese Evergreen, Pot Mum, and more. You can find more information about these and other helpful plants at https://www.hgtv.com/remodel/interior-remodel/10-best-plants-for-cleaning-indoor-air-pictures.
13. Clean Your Furniture the Right Way
Your furniture very likely holds more germs than anything else in your home. Everyone who enters your home sits on your furniture and if you have pets who are allowed to make use up sofas and chairs, then you already know the difficulties of removing pet hair and dander from your upholstery. Once a week, vacuum sofas, chairs, futons, anything that is used by the masses. Beyond that, once a month, give your furniture a good washing with a mild soap that is safe for your upholstery and warm water. Remove washable slipcovers and set them on a gentle cycle in your washing machine using an upholstery-safe detergent.
14. Shampoo Your Carpets Regularly
Vacuuming frequently is a good way to keep pollutants from being swirled into the air, and shampooing your carpets regularly will keep the dirt and debris from becoming ground into your carpet. Choose a fair-weather day once a month, open doors and windows, and shampoo your carpets with a deodorizing and disinfecting soap specifically formulated for use on carpets.
15. Clean Window Treatments and Accessories
The curtains, blinds, and shades that cover your windows collect an extreme amount of airborne dirt and debris on a daily basis. Clean them regularly with a handheld mini vac
or a steam cleaner. If they have become excessively dirty, take them down and wash them or have them dry cleaned. Use a good quality duster to keep shades and blinds clean and free of dirt and grime. While cleaning your window treatments, go over window ledges and sills with a mixture of warm water and disinfecting cleaner as well.
16. Let the Fresh Air In
Make sure to ventilate your home adequately. While it is necessary to keep out unwanted cold drafts, it is also important to allow fresh air in occasionally to chase the stale air away and replace it with crisp, refreshing air. On mild days put window fans or A/C units to use. Set the vent control to “Open” on you’re A/C unit and allow it to run for about an hour.
17. Try an Air-To-Air Heat Exchanger
Air-to-air heat exchangers are great for remote, seldom-used areas of your home such as attics and basements since they do not require attention for extended periods of time. Placing them in areas that may need a bit of extra care to keep the air clean will keep the pollutants from finding their way into your home. There is no need for filters, thanks to their closed-loop design.
18. Consider a New HVAC System
You may want to give serious thought to investing in a new HVAC system for your home. While your old one may still work fine, newer models are designed not only to be energy efficient and save you money on utility bills. They are designed to deliver cleaner, more sanitary air into your home. Air is filtered more thoroughly than ever before, eliminating the majority of the debris before it can find its way into your home.
19. Place Humidifiers Around Your Home
Dirt, debris, and other pollutants cling to dry air. Humidifiers prevent the air in your home from becoming too dry. Humidifiers provide a healthy amount of humidity, which is good for individuals who suffer from respiratory issues. Place a humidifier in each bedroom in your home to provide a restful night’s sleep and relief from breathing problems.
20. Re-paint Your Home with Safe Paint
There are a large number of paints on the market that should not be used on the interior of homes. For many years after the house has been painted, these paints still give off toxic fumes that are constantly breathed in by everyone inside. Do some research and find an eco-friendly line of paints, and then give your home a makeover that is more than just skin deep.
Xenia Heating and Air can help you get your home winter-ready with a professional HVAC inspection and cleaning as well as advice on any upgrades to your system that may be beneficial to you and your family. To schedule an appointment, call us at 937-708-8451 or visit us on the web at xeniaheatingandair.com/schedule-now/.