888.630.9224Even the most avid winter enthusiast spends time thawing indoors. In fact, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors during this cold season. Because many Americans live in an area where temperatures force windows closed – on the job, at home, in your car – many are living and breathing in a tightly sealed environment until spring.
According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. The main reason that indoor air can reach this level is due to ventilation. Homes that are not well ventilated contain the most indoor air pollution.
If you think you’re not at risk, consider these sources of indoor pollutants:
- Household cleaning products
- Central heating and cooling systems
- Radon
- Air fresheners
- Combustion sources
- Personal care products like hair spray, nail polish, perfume, and nail polish remover
- Hobby materials including glue, paints, paint stripper
- Pesticides
- Cigarettes
Improve Your Air Quality
Minimize the source of pollutants by avoiding the use of pesticides, chemical cleaners, and air fresheners in your home. Look to use non-toxic, low-VOC or zero-VOC paints if remodeling or repainting.
Fresh air is hard to circulate in winter, so consider using a window or attic fan, kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan, or a window air conditioner unit to increase ventilation. If you live in a location with mild winter days, briefly open windows or doors to freshen the air and eliminate built-up toxins from carpets, dust, and poor air circulation.
Keep the humidity level in your home between 30% to 60% to prevent dust mites, mold and mildew from growing rampant. If your furnace doesn’t have a built-in humidifier, keep a cool mist humidifier in the bedrooms or place a bowl of water on the floor near warm air registers. This will help to prevent brittle skin, nails, and hair as well as help keep nasal passages clear; problems that tend to arise in over-heated, dry conditions.
Regular cleaning, dusting and vacuuming, will also keep biological air pollutants to a minimum. Consider a bagless vacuum and try to do household cleaning at least once a week.
