How to Improve Home Air

A plant in every room acts as a natural air purifier.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average American spends roughly 90 percent of his time indoors. With indoor air holding as much as five times the pollution as the air outside, it's understandable that home air quality is a concern to anyone trying to keep her family healthy. Improving the indoor air quality in your home will eliminate many of the toxins that pose a threat to the people in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Carbon monoxide detector
• Air filters
• Vacuum
• Mop
• Plants

Instructions

1. Enforce a smoking ban in your home, restricting any tobacco usage to the outdoors.

2. Open windows to ventilate your home whenever the weather conditions are favorable. Turn off the heat or air conditioning to avoid wasted energy.

3. Check your home for leaks in the basement, attic or roof and have them repaired to prevent moisture from entering your home, which will lower the air quality.

4. Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home to monitor the air quality and keep your family safe from the deadly gas.

5. Have your home professionally inspected for radon to ensure the air in your home is safe for you and your family.

6. Invest in electronic air cleaners and purifiers for your home, setting them up in bedrooms and common living areas. Electronic air cleaners and purifiers pull dust, dander, allergens and a number of other particles from the air into a filter. Both tabletop and larger room units are available and prices vary depending on brand and size.

7. Clean any air conditioners, air filters, humidifiers and dehumidifiers regularly to ensure they're doing their job properly. Some of these devices have a filter that must be cleaned every few days.

8. Switch on the ventilation fan in your bathroom, kitchen and garage when showering, cooking in the kitchen or working in the garage. Run ventilation fans when the rooms aren't in use as an additional means of air circulation.

9. Clean, mop and vacuum your home regularly to decrease the amount of dust in the air. Always keep a room thoroughly ventilated when using chemical cleaners and use them sparingly.

10. Grow plants in every room of your home. According to Web MD, NASA research shows plants work as "living air purifiers."

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid using aerosol sprays and other harsh chemicals when cleaning your home.

References

• The Daily Green: How to Purify the Air in Your Home
• EPA: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
• WebMD: Breathe Easy: 5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality
• EPA: Buildings and Their Impact on the Environment: A Statistical Summary
• Home Tips: Air Cleaner and Purifier Buying Guide

Resources

• American Lung Association