1. Boost air quality by ventilating your home
Making sure you have adequate amounts of fresh air flowing into your home is the first and most important step to take to lower amounts of toxic indoor air pollution. Central heating and insulation may keep us toasty but both of these things often mean that our homes are often less ventilated.
Even if it’s winter, it’s crucial to boost the oxygen content of the air you’re breathing and decrease the humid conditions that allow bacteria to thrive, so don’t be afraid to throw open the windows and let some fresh air in. Many of us spend up to 90% of our time in the home, so it’s vital that the air in your space is as pure as it can be.
Scientists have discovered that the amount of indoor air pollution is increasing, and this is due to many reasons, including rising temperatures, electronic devices, higher humidity, poor ventilation and the chemicals that are used in household products. It’s especially vital to get a flow of clean air going if you’re using toxic chemicals to clean, like bleach, or if you’re painting and decorating your home – but even furniture can release fumes and toxic dust, particularly if you’re living in a high temperature building.
Harvard University researchers discovered that replacing old furniture containing harmful PFASs with items made from healthier materials lowered the concentration of toxic dust in the air by 78%! However, buying furniture second hand isn’t necessarily a bad idea, as some new furniture made with harmful materials is more likely to emit these compounds, whereas older furniture originally purchased by someone else, may already have released them elsewhere. The bottom line is whether you have furniture that’s been hanging around for a long time, buy second hand, or have purchased brand new – you should definitely make sure to ventilate often.
