In our original post, Air Quality in Your Home. we pointed out that it had been suggested that the air we breathe in our homes is often more polluted than the air breather outside. this was an alarming realization and now we would like to offer a few tips to reverse this.

According to National Geographics Green Guide there are a number of things we can do to improve air quality in our homes.

  • Ventilate your home regularly
  • Vacuum weekly
  • Use a good quality air filter on your furnace and replace it regularly
  • Maintain ventilation systems (If your home has one) and dehumidifiers
  • Run exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
  • If you're considering an air purifier, avoid devices that generate ozone, as these can make lung problems and asthma worse.

In addition to these few necessary steps, you should also pay close to attention to the indoor chemicals that may be linked to allergies, asthma and learning disabilities in children, according to some studies.

The two more commonly identified chemicals in our homes include formaldehyde which is present in home renovation products and solvents from fresh paint and phthalates which are used in soft plastics and synthetic fragrances such as air fresheners and dryer sheets.

There are an number of alternatives to these damaging products as described below.

Formaldehyde
There are products on the market that offer a great alternative to the products that contain formaldehyde such as formaldehyde-free-products made of solid wood and natural products. There are also a number of low or no VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints available to consumers these days.

Phthalates
The best way to eliminate phthalates from your home is to get rid of any air fresheners completely. Alternatively, baking soda in your trash cans can also leave your home smelling fresh. Baking soda can also replace your dryer sheets, used in the rinse cycle to soften fabrics and tackle static cling.

These are a few of the basic steps we can take to improve air quality in our homes for our families.