Green Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Health and Wellness - General Health

By: CarlyWyatt 24-Sep-2010

Introduction:

EPA research suggests that the air inside our homes (and offices) is up to 5 times more toxic than the air outside. Given that some of these toxins are allergens and even carcinogens it is in the interest of our health that we eliminate, minimize or counteract their usage in our homes.
Fortunately, the best ways to do this are all green in nature, so you can feel good about improving your health and helping the planet at the same time.

Open the Windows

If the EPA is correct, the air outside our homes is actually 2-5 times cleaner than the air inside. The easiest way to improve indoor air quality is the flush the air in our homes with air from outside. Open your windows and doors, early in the morning and let cool fresh air circulate.

Switch to Green Cleaning Products

Those lemon-scented chemical products that we use to clean our homes are some of the most toxic products we bring into our homes. Many of the chemicals are at least suspected carcinogens, and have only been in use post World War II. So what did the Bing Crosby generation use to clean their homes? Products that are still prevalent in our pantries today: Baking Soda, Vinegar, Salt, and.Lemon Juice. Three guesses why chemical cleaners tend to be lemon-scented?

Cook Outdoors

Cooking generates toxic gases in your home and impairing indoor air quality. Reduce this by cooking outdoors-fire up the grill, or if you're really keen learn about solar ovens, which allow you to cook using only the power of the sun.

Be Mindful With Your Purchases

Formaldehyde is one of the most prevalent toxins found in our modern homes. Improve indoor air quality by keeping products with this toxic chemical out of your home. Flat pack, chipboard furniture, new carpets, new paints etc all leach, or "off-gas" formaldehyde.
Solid wood furniture is a better choice for maintaining indoor air quality. So is second hand furniture, as most of the off-gassing occurs when the product is new. If you have to buy new flat pack furniture, assemble and allow to off-gas outside of your home.
New floor coverings and paints are also now available that are low or VOC (Volatile organic Compounds) free.

Filter the Air With Indoor Plants

It is impossible to eliminate all sources of toxins from your home in the name if maintaining air quality. NASA, however, in their research into living in closed environments (space capsules and space stations) discovered that indoor plants absorb the toxins that destroy indoor air quality.
Of course not all plants are equal in this task. Two to three plants per 100 square feet of living space will eliminate toxins from the immediate area. Plants such as Philodendrons, Spider Plants, English Ivy, many types of palms, Gerbera Daisies and Chrysanthemums have shown to be superior air filters.

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pamperedpen 7/14/2011
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Great list of ways to improve indoor air quality. H5
clewand550 1/20/2011
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Nice advice. Great list of 5.