Buzz
Numerous suggestions, including those on Mytour, explain how to clean various parts of your home, such as your toilet, fireplace, and couch cushions. While these items require regular maintenance to stay functional, the same applies to the spaces without physical objects. The air in your home can also become polluted, exacerbating allergies. Below are five strategies to ensure the air in your surroundings is as healthy as possible.
Select Cleaning Products Wisely
While it may seem that using aerosols and chemical sprays will purify your home's air, this method requires caution. Avoid indiscriminately using products like Lysol in your living areas. As highlighted by Live Science, certain cleaning agents contain harmful ingredients that can cause headaches, fatigue, and irritation to the eyes or nose—effects that undermine your goal of improving air quality.
Household items often release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a 2018 study in Science revealed that some products emit far more VOCs than earlier estimates suggested. To minimize risks, invest time—and possibly a bit more money—in finding “natural” cleaning alternatives. This guide can assist you in identifying effective options. In the interim, rely on staples like baking soda, vinegar, and borax. Scrutinize the ingredient lists of store-bought “natural” cleaners, opting for fragrance-free, Green Seal-certified products, and steer clear of aerosols.
Choose Your Plants Carefully
While the internet often touts plants as natural air purifiers, these claims are somewhat exaggerated, as Mytour has previously clarified. Having plants indoors isn’t harmful—they increase oxygen levels, may lower stress, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of your space (as long as you keep them alive). However, the notion that plants alone can replace air purifiers is overstated. That said, plants can help improve air quality in one practical way: by trapping dust. Certain plants are more effective at this than others. Here are the top choices for reducing airborne dust:
Rubber plant
Pygmy date palm tree
English ivy
Spider plant
ZZ plant
Dripping guanyin
Bamboo palm
Peace lily
Ferns
While these plants excel at capturing dust, remember to clean the plants themselves regularly. Treat them like a Swiffer pad: after collecting dust, the pad needs cleaning to remain effective, or it will just spread dirt the next time you use it.
Ensure Proper Ventilation
Open your windows periodically—even during colder months—to allow fresh air to circulate and remove pollutants that may have built up from activities like cooking or cleaning. Avoid neglecting your vents; they require regular maintenance. Here are easy methods to clean your air vents, and don’t overlook your bathroom exhaust fan. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association suggests having your air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years. There’s only so much you can do yourself to combat the grime accumulating in the hidden parts of your home.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Beth Skwarecki, Mytour’s Senior Health Editor, advocates for air purifiers and has noticed a reduction in her asthma symptoms after using one. If you’re unsure about a device that might seem like a placebo, it’s worth exploring. While there’s no definitive proof that air purifiers alleviate symptoms, many users report positive effects. If you decide to purchase one, ensure it includes a HEPA filter.
Address Mold Immediately
Mold can appear in numerous areas, so monitor any damp spots closely. Your washing machine, bathtub, and even wooden surfaces in your home can become ideal environments for mold growth. Act quickly to eliminate it—using the cleaning methods mentioned earlier—to prevent the onset of allergy-like symptoms.
