If you think falling sick in winters is common due to the decreasing temperatures, think again. During cold winter months, people tend to stay indoors a lot more and tightly seal any open windows or openings to prevent the chill from getting in. This, in turn, also seals off the home from any fresh air and raises the concentrations of both allergens and pollutants in the home.
Poor air quality in homes can actually cause or exacerbate illness.
Indoor air pollutants that are the most guilty of making the air in your home unhealthy are fireplaces, water heaters, dryers, and stoves; solvents such as perfumes, scented products, paint, air-fresheners, glue, carpeting and cleaning products; outdoor sources such as dust and particles, radon, molds, pesticides, lead and building chemicals; pets – animal dander and other particles from pets with fur or feathers can majorly aggravate allergies and asthma in sensitive individuals. As people stay indoors more, so do pets that go outside during less inclement weather.
The EPA recommends three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality: source control, ventilation improvements, and air cleaners or purifiers.
Air Purifiers
Most air purifiers combat the multiplying presence of mould using a very powerful weapon: the HEPA air filter. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters excel at trapping microscopic particles. True or absolute HEPA filters must meet strict standards of efficiency, capturing a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 microns. Air purifiers can go a long way in getting rid of fungus, mold, dust and bacteria that can cause everything from sneezing to runny noses to illnesses.
Chimneys
Apart from using air purifiers, use of chimneys to filter cooking fumes also keeps the indoor air free from the dust and allergens. Researchers have found that the cooking fumes contribute greatly to contaminate indoor air and are also cancerous. Also, never forget to keep the exhaust fan on and use chimney in your kitchen.
Air Purifying Plants
Plants purify air, making them part of what NASA calls “nature’s life support system.Plants absorb some of the particulates from the air at the same time that they take in carbon dioxide, which is then processed into oxygen through photosynthesis. But that’s not all—microorganisms associated with the plants are present in the potting soil, and these microbes are also responsible for much of the cleaning effect. We recommend that you have one plant per square feet for not just cleaner indoor air, but also to a prettier, brighter home!
Change your Linen Regularly
Dirty bed sheets and pillow covers are perhaps the biggest contributors to indoor air pollution. Regularly wash curtains and other upholstery. Change your bed sheets and pillow cases at least once a week.
Last but not the least, keep your home clean and prevent it from moisture as high moisture content inside the house enables mold growth.
