Tips for Improving Your Home’s Air Quality

With more stories about pollution and environmental toxins with each passing day, it’s no surprise that many people are on a mission to improve their home’s air quality. Poor air quality can exacerbate the effects of allergies and lead to chronic illness. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to improve your home’s air quality and breathe a little easier.

Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your home’s HVAC system is designed to keep your home comfortable and healthy. A faulty HVAC system is one of the main contributors to poor air quality in your home. Unfortunately, these issues aren’t always easy to detect.

Scheduling regular HVAC maintenance will help prevent air quality issues in your home by ensuring everything is running smoothly. During a seasonal maintenance visit, the specialist will check connections, remove debris, and determine whether any repairs are needed. You can also take initiative between check-ups to keep the air filters and the space around your furnace or AC unit clean.

Dust and Vacuum Weekly

Dust and pet hair are two major offenders in home air quality. Scheduling weekly dusting and vacuuming can help keep these allergens at bay. Replacing synthetic materials (sheets and carpets, for example) with hypoallergenic alternatives can also help mitigate allergens.

Don’t forget to add other textiles to a deep cleaning schedule. Wash your curtains seasonally and rent a steam cleaner for rugs, carpets, mattresses, and plush furniture annually.

Improving Your Home’s Air Quality – Leave Space Between Furniture and Walls

Pushing furniture flush against the wall is a common décor strategy. This furniture arrangement could also be impacting your air quality.

Leave space between the wall and large furniture pieces to allow adequate airflow and minimize dust accumulation. You can place blocks or risers to help keep a sofa or bed away from the wall. This simple change makes a huge difference when a vent is present and lets the HVAC system do its job.

Use Exhaust Fans

Turning on the fans in your kitchen or bathroom doesn’t just prevent fog— it also helps regulate air quality. Excess moisture can lead to mold growth and poor temperature control. You should always turn on the fan in the bathroom when showering, and in the kitchen while cooking— turning them off afterward is equally important to avoid wasting heat or air conditioning.

Have your HVAC specialist check if your bathroom fan vents into the attic. This installation method was common practice in older homes and could increase humidity levels and contribute to mold growth.

Use Natural Cleaning Products to Improve Your Home’s Air Quality

While we tend to focus on keeping things clean and tidy when improving air quality, some products do more harm than good. Using chemical-heavy cleaning products releases toxins that negatively impact air quality. Swapping out natural cleaning products will help eliminate this issue.

Don’t be fooled by marketing claims; you don’t need to spend extra for chemical-free products. Vinegar, baking soda, and hot water are some of the most effective cleaners. Vinegar is a natural antimicrobial to kill germs and baking soda is a powerful chemical-free astringent.

These simple DIY swaps and maintenance tips will help you improve the air quality in your home without a significant investment of time or money. Get started today for a healthier home.

Photo by cottonbro