Would you be shocked to learn that levels of indoor air pollutants can be two to five times —and even sometimes 100 times—higher than outdoor air pollutants?
Poor indoor air quality has been linked to health issues like asthma, allergies, headaches, and even cancer. Since Canadians spend around 90% of their time indoors, it’s all the more important to clean up the air in your home. You don’t even need to invest in an air purifier to do this.
Simple steps like eradicating key pollutants, using your air conditioner, and lighting beeswax candles are enough to improve air quality and protect your health.
Remove air pollutants
Eliminating obvious air pollutants around your home minimizes your exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs): toxic chemicals that cause fatigue, respiratory problems, and even cancer. In particular, everyday cleaning products like glass cleaners, stain removers, and bleach are a major source of VOCs. So, replace them with natural cleaning products free from fragrances, dyes, or flammable ingredients. Or, simply stick to cleaning with soap and warm water when you can. Air fresheners are another to avoid. They emit over 100 chemicals, many of which are VOCs. Even if you don’t have an obvious reaction to your air freshener, repeated exposure to VOCs leads to worsening symptoms over time. So, if you want to fragrance your home, stick to diffusing high-quality essential oils instead.
Turn on your air conditioner
Although your air conditioner primarily functions to keep your home cool and comfortable, it also doubles as an air purifier. Most whole-home systems have a filter that can trap particles like dust, pet dander, mould, and pollen. The conditioner works by drawing in warm indoor air, cooling it, and pushing it back out into your home. Any harmful particles are caught in the interior filter. So, run your AC as often as possible.
Just remember to clean the unit and change the filter often as it can get clogged up with all those nasty contaminants, which negatively affects air quality. If you forget to do this, you’ll soon notice as it’ll start to smell really bad. Mould and mildew can even start to grow if moisture is allowed to build up inside the unit. Breathing in mould and mildew has been linked to conditions like asthma and allergic rhinitis. So, regularly clean the unit and change the filter at least every three months to keep it running smoothly.
Light beeswax candles
The paraffin within regular candles is derived from petroleum, which, when burnt, releases carcinogenic chemicals (like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene) into the air. So, replace them with pure beeswax ones. Beeswax candles actually purify the air as they release negative ions: electrically-charged molecules that cause harmful floating particles like dust and pollen to clump and fall to the ground, which you can then clean up. Beeswax candles also burn far slower than regular candles, which makes them better value for money even if they are more expensive upfront.
Improving your indoor air quality doesn’t have to be complicated. These simple methods can successfully eliminate pollutants and minimize your risk of chronic health issues.
