Now that the snow has melted, the trees begin to bud, and the flowers start to sprout, you’re probably itching to get your spring-cleaning on. But before you break out the rubber gloves, here are some ways to make sure your home’s air is fresh, clean, and pleasant, just like the new season upon us!
1. Open up those windows: This may be an obvious tip, but it’s easy to forget when you’re rushing to work during the week with little time to do anything else. Don’t save cracking open those windows until the weekend when you’re free, try making a habit of opening some windows when you first wakeup and closing them before you leave. Something this simple can lower concentrations of toxic chemicals and carbon monoxide.
2. Move smoking outside: The smoke exhaled after smoking a cigarette contains more than 4,000 different chemicals, which are then released into the air. The only way to keep your home toxic free from cigarettes is to step outside or to even ask guests that smoke to go outside. Second-hand smoke is also a higher risk when smoke is contained in the air in a home rather than outside.
3. Keep it Clean: Practicing daily and weekly cleaning habits can improve the air quality of your home tremendously. Not only will your home smell fresh and clean, but it will also have cleaner and higher quality air. Try dusting, mopping, and vacuuming at least once a week to improve your home’s air.
4. Trade in Synthetic for Natural: Some air fresheners that you use to “freshen” up your home may create an inviting smell, but can also release harmful gasses. Excessively using an air freshener as your only means of getting rid of odor can decrease the quality of the air in your home. Try using simple products such as baking soda, lemon slices, or fresh flowers.
5. Monitor the Humidity: Keeping the humidity of your home between 30 and 50 percent can limit mold growth and dust mites that may pollute the air. Dehumidifiers can usually help with this, and even just making sure there are no water leaks in your home is a good start.
6. Grab some Green: Houseplants are a great way to bring some lively decor into your home and improve the air quality at the same time. Some great houseplants for this include Chrysanthemums, Snake plants, Peace Lily’s and English Ivy’s. Although the plants’ pollutant removal rate is small, every little bit helps!
Keep these tips in mind so that you can rid your home of the stuffy winter air and bring in the sights, sounds, and smells of spring. Not only will your home be cleaner, and safer, but it will also be a much more enjoyable environment for family and guests. You beat the winter blues, time to celebrate with some fresh air and sunshine!
