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When we think pollution we automatically think of outdoor contaminates, auto exhausts,
belching smokestacks and visible damage to the environment. The US Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA, www.epa.gov) and the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org) however
have recognized that indoor pollution can constitute an even greater risk to our respiratory
health than the outdoor pollution levels in the largest and most industrialized cities.
There are several sources for indoor pollution that can make our lives miserable, such
as smoke from tobacco products or wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, radon gas entering
the home from the ground, wet or damp environments, formaldehyde-leaking certain
pressed-wood furniture products or even household cleaning and personal care products.
Since we spend up to 90% of our time indoors it comes as no surprise that the number of
allergy and asthma sufferers has risen dramatically over the past decades. Fortunately
there are a number of very simple steps we can take to keep indoor pollution to a minimum.
Following these steps can result in a noticeable improvement in indoor air quality, and
ultimately better health.
- Circulate The Air: One of the most obvious steps to take is opening windows.
Simply opening windows as often as possible circulates the air and improves the
quality of indoor air. During the winter months we all get a little negligent. Let's face it, who wants to freeze in their own home, but opening the windows on
a regular basis even for short periods of time will result in a noticeable improvement
in air quality. If you can, leave your windows open when running short errands.
- Leave Your Shoes At The Door:
Taking your shoes off when entering the home is highly effective in preventing the
spread of dirt, mold spores and other outside influences throughout the home. This not
only reduces the amount of contaminates being brought into the home, it also keeps
your carpets and floors cleaner.
- Buy Some House Plants: Recently studies have been showing that placing
plants inside the home can improve indoor air quality, since a lot of contaminates
that can negatively affect our health are absorbed by houseplants. In turn these plants
give off oxygen. Heartier tropical plants that thrive in darker areas and are more
forgiving if not cared for on a regular basis are great choices for those of us
who were not blessed with green thumbs. Be careful not to over-water plants, since that in
turn can encourage the growth of molds that may give off spores into the air. In particular,
bamboo is a great choice, being unproblematic to care for, attractive and able
to absorb a large
amount of contaminates.
- Change Your Filters: Keeping up with changing air filters in your home helps immensely.
Especially at the beginning of the cold season you should change all air filters in the home.
During months of inactivity they will have gathered a lot of dirt and grime, and as a consequence,
will lose their capacity to filter effectively. It also pays to use higher quality and more efficient
filters, such as HEPA filters where possible, since these will last much longer than cheaper filters
and maintain their effectiveness longer.
- Banish Chemicals From Your Home: Remove all harmful chemicals from the home. While most
of us might think "Wait, I don't have any harmful chemicals in my house," think again. Most household
cleaners contain chemicals that, when inhaled, are hazardous and often times carcinogenic. Most of
these products also release these chemicals directly into the air even when they are not being used.
Switch to environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaning and personal care products made of natural
ingredients that perform just as well, but do not release chemicals into their surrounding area.
Avoiding scented candles and air fresheners also improves air quality. These products might cover
up embarrassing odors by producing nice scents, but they also release harmful additives and chemicals.
If you have a lawn or a garden, use boric acid and humane traps against pests instead of pesticides, and use
organic lawn care methods like mowing high and adding top soil. Harmful chemical fertilizers and
pesticides can be brought into the house by playing children and pets. Even
furniture can emit harmful chemicals. A frequent ingredient in laminated or plywood furniture is
formaldehyde, a compound known to cause cancer in humans.
Using an air purification system helps improve indoor air quality by trapping contaminates and filtering
them from the circulated air. Air purifiers should, however, be viewed as one highly effective part of a
whole regimen of techniques we can use to combat indoor air pollution. Keeping up with recommended maintenance
schedules and changing filters on a regular basis will ensure your air purifier will work at full capacity.
Look for a unit with a high CFM rating and a high clean air delivery rate (CADR) to ensure the highest
level of performance for your home.
PureAirProducts.com offers a wide selection of air purifier models, and it can be confusing trying to find
the right model for your home. Narrow down your search by asking yourself what
type of air purifier you need. Do you need to be able to move your air purifier
from one room to the next? If the answer is yes, choose a portable model. A
smaller sized purifier is perfect for cleaning the air around a smaller area,
like a favorite seating area, while a larger model is capable of filtering the air in the entire room
without losing its portability. The advantage is that portable units can follow you wherever you need them.
Whole house purifiers work centrally to treat the entire home at the same time.
It is important to consider what your major concern is when looking for an air purifier.
Here at PureAirProducts.com, we offer a wide range of air purifiers that are
capable of either concentrating on a specific health concern or the full
spectrum of indoor air quality.
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