Most people see and feel the outdoor pollution, but just a few realize that we are often exposed to even more dangerous impacts inside our home, workplace or school. According to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in the USA, indoor pollution levels could be 2 to 5 times higher than the outdoor levels. And since we spend most of our time indoors, this directly affects our health. Often the body’s response to air pollution is expressed as a cough, sneezing, eye irritation, allergic reactions, headache. Polluted air also could be an aggravator for asthma and other respiratory illnesses. So what are the actual air pollutants and how can we clean the air in our homes?
Indoor air pollution can be caused by beauty and cleaning products, paints, lacquers, or furnishings, like mattresses, carpets and couches, building materials, such as asbestos, lead, and formaldehyde. The good news? Knowing that, you can create а cleaner home by following some of these practices:
Throw out all the air fresheners
Contrary to expectations, air fresheners are not actually removing the odor molecules, but trapping them into a chemical shield, masking the bad scent and faking a chemical smell. A study of the University of Washington shows that air fresheners emit an average of 18 chemicals into the air. So instead of buying air freshener next time, search for a DIY recipe and make your own.
Replace the cleaning products with bio-based ones
Many companies offer cleaning products based on biomass, which are just as effective or maybe even more effective than some of the chemically-heavy products you have at home.
Grow some air purifying plants
According to NASA studies, there are 50 houseplants that can reduce the air pollutants inside your home. Some of them are aloe vera, bamboo palm, dracaena, peace lily, philodendron, Boston fern, ficus, and snake plant.
Increase ventilation
Consider making it a habit to open at least twice a day for 15 minutes the windows in your home. This will also help to reduce the air pollution levels.
Get some beeswax candles
Choose beeswax candles as natural air purifiers. If you are a fan of scented candles, be sure the one you buy is from real beeswax. Most scented candles are paraffin-based and they could do more harm than good, releasing benzene, toluene and soot into the air.