Indoor air quality tends to be 3 to 5 times worse than outdoor air quality according to the EPA. If you stop to consider the amount of time spent indoors, you quickly realize just how big a threat to your health indoor air quality really is.
Common sources of indoor air pollution include building materials (e.g. paints and carpets), furnishings (or anything with pressed or “fake” wood), combustion sources (e.g. automobile exhaust from an attached garage), household cleaning products, outside pollution finding its way inside (e.g. pesticides or heavy metals tracked in on shoes), and mold and mildew.
Good air quality is an important part of keeping healthy. Air pollution can trigger asthma, allergies, and worse. Indoor air pollution is one of the top five most pressing environmental health risks according to the EPA. The best way to address the risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants. The second most important strategy is ventilating the home with clean outdoor air. When these measures aren’t sufficient (or possible) the EPA says an air cleaning device can help.
The good news is that some of the most effective strategies for improving your indoor air quality don’t have to cost you a thing: taking off your shoes before coming into the house for instance. Likewise, one of the most effective strategies for protecting your family from indoor pollutants is the same as with anything else: washing hands with soap and water. Wet mopping floors and windowsills and opening windows also help reduce exposures to hazardous chemicals in the home.
TAKE ACTION
- Take off shoes before entering your house
- Wet-mop floors and windowsills frequently
- Install an exhaust fan in your garage if it is attached to your house
- Look for an indoor air filter to improve your indoor air quality, specifically one that does not produce ozone.
- Look for VOC free paints and wall-coverings, carpets, and glues
- Buy real wood furniture or ones with a certification like Green Seal that says it isn’t releasing harmful chemicals
- Find green cleaning alternatives.
- Prioritize getting the best possible air quality in your nursery, bedroom, and study (or other room where you spend a majority of time).
At MightyNest every item we offer has been proven that they won’t off-gas harmful VOCs, formaldehyde, or phthalates. And be sure to check out our air filters for even more peace of mind.
