We all long for a cozy, idyllic home to leisurely reside in, but the quality of air in our homes may hinder us from making these dreams a reality.
Poor air quality can adversely affect our health and mood, triggering our allergies and making us fatigued. Stale indoor air allows harmful contaminants to circulate, but since many home pollutants are odorless, there may not be much to alert us to any problems.
“Poor air quality can adversely
affect our health and mood,
triggering our allergies and
making us fatigued.”
As reported in one study, the quality of air in our homes can be more polluted than the air outside, regardless of whether we are located in a city or the countryside. If we can determine potential pollutants, we can begin taking steps to reduce our expose and freshen up the air in our homes through a number of natural means.
Purify Your Air With Houseplants
You don’t have to be a seasoned gardener to nurture and sustain plants from the comforts of your home. Not only are most houseplants easy to care for, but they also provide your home with an excellent source of natural air purification while adding color and life to your living spaces. The variety and versatility of plants presents you with options to consider which plants may be better suited to your desired level of maintenance, the space in your home you want to fill or other specific needs that come to mind. While looking for plants, it’s important to consider that some may be toxic to humans or pets, so if safety is a matter of concern, adjust accordingly.
While many houseplants are beneficial to air purification, some of the best-rated plants for filtering your home include the following:
- Aloe Vera: Thriving when placed near windows with optimal sunlight, aloe vera releases oxygen while absorbing CO2 during the night, making it a great addition to your bedroom. It also purifies the air of formaldehyde.
- Bamboo Palm: Needing little in the way of maintenance or light, the bamboo palm functions as a natural humidifier while purifying the air of formaldehyde and nitrogen oxide.
- English Ivy: Best suited to a humid environment with low lighting and a stable temperature, the English ivy substantially decreases the number of fecal particles or mold spores in the air, making it an excellent addition to your bathroom.
- Rubber Plant: Requiring little more than an occasional spritz of water, the rubber plant absorbs airborne contaminants like bacteria and mold spores through its leaves, depositing them in its soil. It also converts CO2 into oxygen.
- Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue: Although it needs watering on occasion, the snake plant prefers drier conditions and a little sun, releasing oxygen at night while filtering the air of formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.
Release Negative Ions With Beeswax Candles or Salt Lamps
Beeswax candles and salt lamps both release negative ions into the air, purifying it from unhealthy positive ions. Whereas negative ions are abundant in nature, especially near waterfalls, at the beach and in the mountains, positive ions are prevalent in polluted cities, populated areas and tight spaces. By clearing the air of airborne allergens, dust and danger, the negative ions help you breathe in healthier air.
Whereas synthetic air fresheners and petroleum-based wax candles can emit harmful chemicals, beeswax candles are completely natural and smell good while salt lamps create a welcoming ambience for your home.
Restore Your Home’s Air Quality With Ventilation
Stagnant air enables contaminants to collect within your home, reducing your quality of air. Generating airflow by ventilating your house through the simple act of opening doors and windows allows your home to breathe, removing pollutants, moisture buildup and odors to rejuvenate the quality of air in your home. Without ventilation, your home can become an ideal environment for mold, which is dangerous to your health. Uninterrupted airflow restores the well-being of your home, which in turn refreshes you.
Use Fragrance-Free Products and Natural Cleaners
Cleaning products are frequently comprised of chemicals detrimental to your home’s quality of air and the health of others. While fragrances in cleaning products may rid your home of foul odors, many of those fragrances can be problematic to those with allergies or asthma. Fragrances provide no benefits to cleaning and are non-biodegradable, only benefiting your home with the smells they provide. While marketing has led us to believe that “clean” equates to pleasant scents, the reality is that toxins in chemically-infused cleaners are not freshening up our living spaces.
Using fragrance-free products and natural cleaners like lemon and baking soda allow our homes to shine while reducing the amount of chemicals we introduce to our air.
Make Your Home Naturally Comfortable and Clean
Maintaining excellent air quality in your home is essential for creating a living space beneficial to both your health and mood, so why not put in the effort to improve it? Purify your home’s air through natural living and begin living in the happy home you deserve.
About the Author
Emily covers topics in sustainability and green living. You can read more of her work on her site, Conservation Folks.
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