CLEAN-UP INDOOR AIR

By Angela Ardolino

Updated on April 21, 2011

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According to studies conducted by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) the air inside your home may be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside.

Be Consistent

  • Dusting and cleaning your entire house regularly will help you stay ahead of dust mites and other household pollutants that are bad for you and your children to be inhaling. Use a microfiber cloth and skip the dusting sprays.
  • Use a bag-less vacuum to avoid dispersing dust in to the air when changing the bags. Also, be sure to use a HEPA filter which is designed to keep even the smallest pollutant particles out of the air.
  • Use natural non-toxic products.  Label claims aren’t always true. Cleaning supplies certified by Green Seal or EcoLogo meet green standards.  Non-toxic options, like baking soda and vinegar, clean just as well without releasing toxins into the air. For more tips on Safe Cleaning Supplies for your home click here. 

Maintain Your Ducts

  • People often wonder whether it is important to regularly clean their air ducts. The answer is yes! A new process called Aero-Seal, developed at Berkeley University, seals off your air ducts, reduces energy bills and keeps harsh chemicals out of the air in your house.

Keep Pollutants Out

  • Keep out cigarette smoke, chemicals and excess moisture.
  • According to the American Lung Association, the “Deadly Three” or the three most toxic chemicals are carbon monoxide, second hand smoke and radon gas. You can keep your family safe from these chemicals by not allowing smoking in your house, installing a carbon monoxide detector and avoid keeping the car running inside the garage.
  • Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints inside your home. Regular paint has traces of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, which are highly toxic.
  • Avoid “air fresheners”  they only add toxic chemicals into the air and cover up smells.

Ventilate

  • Open windows for a few minutes every day to let in fresh outdoor air.
  • Turn on fans in your bathroom and kitchen while bathing and cooking.

Angela’s Teachable Moment: Have your children vacuum and then change the filter so they can see just how much stuff there is in the air. This will get them helping out at home and will teach them about indoor air pollution.