Best Ways To Beat Air Pollution In The Home

Try to keep your bedroom as sparse as possible with only the bare essentials. Take a bit of inspiration from the Japanese and keep the furnishing minimal, with no carpets. By breathing in fresh air for six to eight hours you are protecting your lungs for a considerable part of the day, giving them the added advantage to battle the pollutants when you finally step outside to begin your day. Don’t you want that kind of protection and leverage?

Shoes are a silent culprit spreading germs and toxins in your home. Our shoes literally bring the filth and muck from the outside world into our homes. If you ever place the soles of your shoes under a microscope, you would shudder at the number of bacteria you will find. You’ll be surprised at how dirty your footwear can get.

The air in your home is polluted with toxins if you use varnishes that have alcohol or spirits in them. Step outside when using nail polish or nail polish removers. Or do it in the bathroom with the exhaust fan on. Get all wooden furniture varnished outside and bring it in only once the smell has gone. Don’t air pollution in the home anymore. You can eliminate the chemicals and toxins with some simple alternatives like soapy water or vinegar and baking soda.

Did you know that air pollution in the home can be caused by mould? Mould is a pollutant and can cause respiratory complications. Indoor air pollution is exacerbated by pollen and bacteria. Given that we spend 80 to 90 percent of our time indoors, air quality matters. It’s especially important that we clean mouldy areas of our houses thoroughly.

Newspapers are filled with toluene, a harmful toxin. And people keep stacking them up, causing the toxins to only increase. Go paperless; we are in the age of the digital world after all.

Let’s get rid of air pollution in the home. Ozone levels increase five to seven times when agarbattis are lit. Even herbal agarbattis release toxic gases and PM 2.5. I suggest you light your agarbattis outside and stick them in a Tulsi pot. Candles are guilty of emitting VOCs (volatile organic compounds) as well, especially the perfumed ones that a lot of us like to use around the house. Remember, combustion and smoke are the same. There is no good smoke.

If you notice poor air quality, think of other consumer products with high VOC levels. Things like perfumes, deodorants and air fresheners fall in the same category. They emit high VOCs. But I know that puts a lot of you in a spot, after all, we don’t want to smell bad.

Money plants remove formaldehyde and carbon monoxide (CO) from the air and help in increasing general indoor air quality. They improve your cognitive ability, so you become smarter! Areca palms work like air purifiers by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.

Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) performs a vital service to your home or office. It absorbs harmful toxins such as nitrogen oxide, xylene, carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air. The plant produces oxygen at night even in a dark room making it the perfect bedroom plant.

Fireworks are a great way to celebrate. But since they’re full of harmful chemicals, we need to protect the home environment. During festivals such as Diwali and Holi, when fireworks lead to a sharp drop in air quality every year, encourage your neighbours to celebrate together in the colony rather than only with their families. This will mean fewer fireworks and less air pollution in your home.