How to Improve Indoor Air Quality: 10 Tips to Try
By Marnie Kunz, CPT
If you’re wondering how to improve indoor air quality, this guide walks you through 10 steps to improve your indoor air and offers expert tips. Cleaner indoor air can help prevent and lessen health problems and boost your quality of life. We often live in unhealthy environments and do not realize it until we experience health problems like headaches or breathing issues. Improving your indoor air quality cuts down on triggers for conditions like asthma and allergies and can help you live better.
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Signs of Poor Air Quality
If your home has poor air quality, you may not know it. But there are some warning signs you can watch for, especially with your health.
“Signs of poor air quality are not always obvious,” says Andrew Pace, founder of the Green Design Center. “If your home is showing excessive dust after you just cleaned, you notice stale air when you walk in the home, and if you are experiencing fatigue, respiratory issues, and or headaches, I would begin to look at solutions to improve the air quality.”
Some other indications of poor air quality are noticeable odors, visible microbial growth, adverse health reactions with no apparent underlying cause, and constantly dirty air filters, says Michael Rubino, mold and air quality expert, founder of HomeCleanse, and president of Change the Air Foundation.
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How to Improve Indoor Air Quality
Learning how to improve indoor air quality can help you live a healthier life and enjoy a non-toxic home. Here are 10 ways to improve the air in your home:
1. Increase Ventilation
Maintaining good airflow in your home will boost your air quality. Ensure you have adequate ventilation. Open windows on good outdoor air quality days (and keep them closed when it’s humid or there is wildfire smoke outside). It’s helpful to open your windows even for short periods in the winter to ventilate your home.
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2. Test Your Air
Invest in an indoor air quality monitoring system. This will help you identify and address any pollutants harming your air and health.
“An indoor air quality monitor measures pollutants in the air,” says Rubino. “Some of the common elements they measure include particulate matter (PM), radon, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. Having this in a home will provide daily readings of what’s in our air so that we can take action if there are high levels of contaminants.”
If you’d like to invest in an air purifier, check out Consumer Reports’ air monitor reviews. Consumer Reports rates Airthings View Plus 2960 Indoor Air Quality Monitor as the top choice overall. The air monitor garners high marks for usability and the number of elements it measures, including carbon dioxide, particulates (PM 2.5), volatile organics (VOCs), temperature, humidity, and radon.
3. Control Pollutants
If you’re wondering how to improve indoor air quality, reigning in pollutants is crucial. Make sure you don’t have any toxic mold, asbestos, lead paint, or other issues that could lower indoor air quality.
“Routinely check for microbial growth, water damage, or structural issues and address any concerns found immediately,” says Rubino.
“The most common toxic building materials found in old buildings are lead paint, asbestos, carpeting and heavily treated wood cabinets in which the chemicals used to treat the wood are off-gassing and the occupants are breathing in chemicals in which they are unaware,” Pace says.
As an antidote to these home toxins, he recommends ensuring air circulation is strong, opening a window for fresh air, and communicating with landlords and building owners on the history of your home.
4. Use an Air Purifier
“Invest in a whole-home air purifier,” says Rubino. An air purification system will help remove toxins from your air, and many can also give you a color-coded metric to see your air quality at any given time.
I have a BlueAir air purifier that works well. It has a handy color-coding system that tells you when it’s time to change the filter. BlueAir has a variety of options for different-sized spaces and filters that can clean wildfire smoke, which is unfortunately more common these days.
If you have a bigger budget, Consumer Reports recommends the Alen BreatheSmart 75i HEPA Air Purifier with Pure Filter for an excellent all-encompassing home air filtration system.
5. Clean Regularly
Good home hygiene can go a long way toward improving your indoor air. Clean regularly with a damp microfiber cloth and a HEPA vacuum cleaner, and use botanical cleaning products, advises Rubino. Deep clean at least once a year to keep your air healthy.
Keeping your indoor spaces clean and clear of clutter can help reduce toxins and dust buildup, improving indoor air. Also, keep up with grooming for your pets and wash bedding regularly for all of your household members.
6. Use Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Many everyday cleaning products are made with harmful chemicals. Opt for natural and non-toxic cleaners without carcinogens, irritants, and pollutants. Check the EPA’s directory of safe cleaning products for safe brands and products. You can also clean many home surfaces with white vinegar and baking soda.
7. Change Filters Regularly
Change all HVAC and other filters in your home regularly. This allows your filters to work well and clean the air effectively.
Rubino says to change your HVAC filters on time, upgrade to the highest-rated MERV filters your HVAC unit can handle, and service the HVAC bi-annually. Also, change your vacuum and air purifier filters within the recommended timeframes.
8. Use Cooking Vents
When you cook, make sure you have good ventilation. Turn on kitchen fans or open windows, especially if you’re cooking for a long time. Rubino recommends using exhaust fans while cooking.
9. Keep Rugs and Carpets Clean
Rugs and carpets may become meccas of allergens and germs, and accumulated debris can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to regularly clean your carpets and rugs. If you have pets or kids, you’ll need to vacuum and shampoo carpets more often.
10. Control Humidity
Controlling the humidity in your home improves your indoor air quality. Make sure moist areas (such as the bathroom) are well-ventilated, and invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a humid climate or have particularly damp areas of your home.
Keep humidity below 60% (ideally 30 to 50%), advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
FAQs
How do you purify indoor air naturally?
You can take many steps to improve the air in your home. Clean regularly, ventilate often, especially when cooking or showering, and change your filters frequently.
How to improve indoor air quality for free?
You can improve your home air by cleaning regularly, vacuuming carpets, dusting, and decluttering.
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Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach, dog lover, Akita mom, and writer based in Brooklyn, NY.
