How to Quickly Improve Indoor Air Quality

Since we are all spending more time at home, it may be a good time to think about the air quality inside of your house. There are many reasons why the air inside may not be at its best. Pollutants that are outdoors can often be found indoors as well, where they can and will join forces with other irritants. Those irritants can include fumes from gas-fired appliances, or allergens such as pet dander, house dust mites, and mold.

Here are some simple tips for improving your air quality today.

Air Quality Tip #1: Check the furnace filter

This is one of the most overlooked maintenance items in the home. Any furnace repair person can tell you stories about filters they’ve seen caked in dust. Make sure those aren’t yours. Air passes through those filters before circulating throughout your home. Replacing a filter takes less than five minutes and will make a huge difference.

Air Quality Tip #2: Clean the drains

Drains are a surprisingly common source of odour in the home. Most people only clean them when they’re clogged, but they should be flushed thoroughly with a good-quality cleaner at least once a season.

Air Quality Tip #3: Turn on the Bathroom fan

Not only do bathroom fans remove odour, they also reduce moisture build-up. About 50% of air pollutants originate from some type of moisture. Mould is the worst of these pollutants. Professionals recommend you keep your bathroom fan on for at least 30 minutes after a shower.

Air Quality Tip #4: Clean your doormat

Even if your doormat doesn’t smell, it can be a source of air pollutants. When people wipe their shoes, they transfer outside ground pollutants from their shoes to your mat.

Air Quality Tip #5: Open the windows

Of course, you can always open a window. That’s the most popular and easiest way to freshen the air, and it works. Check out these tips about asssessing the health of your windows.

Air Quality Tip #6: Groom Fido & Felix! 

Brush your pets outdoor and often and wash their bedding frequently to minimize their fur and dander going throughout your home. Especially in the spring! My dogs are shedding like crazy, getting rid of that winter coat – they get a brush outside daily at this point!

Air Quality Tip #7: Bring the green inside – get some houseplants!

Plants are natural air filters and the right one can make a difference inside of your home. Check out this list of 20 plants that are known to be especially up to the task!