Breathe Easy! 5 Simple Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Our air quality is no joke. Although the recent rain was a breath of fresh air (literally), I’m sure many of you, like me, are still deeply concerned. You have probably already made some changes, such as limiting your time outdoors and consolidating your time on the road. However, we may be forgetting that the air inside needs attention, as well. Consider these tips for improving indoor air quality inside your home.

1. Go crazy with houseplants.

I love bringing plants indoors for their aesthetic effect, but the truth is plants are beautiful and smart. They have an incredible system that removes organic chemicals from the air, and thanks to a study conducted by NASA years ago, we have a list of the best. Some of my favorites are gerber daisy (keep it in a sunny window), aloe vera (pictured above), and ficus, and I’m looking forward to adding a few more.

You can find beautiful air-purifying plants at our local nurseries.

2. Burn 100% pure beeswax candles in your home.

100% pure beeswax candles provide a slower, cleaner burn than paraffin candles (source and source), and the fact that there are no additives (like fragrance, for example) keeps them all natural. But there is more: makers and lovers of beeswax candles are quick to tout the purifying nature of burning 100% beeswax candles in your home. In fact, some people swear that burning such candles in their room before bedtime improve asthma and allergy symptoms! Plus, there is thought that beeswax candles may even release negative ions into the air…which would be a positive thing, indeed.

You can find 100% pure beeswax candles at our local Farmers Market honey stands.

3. Get green with cleaning. And then clean away!

I’ll admit I’m a bit of a neat freak. I enjoy the smell of cleaning products because they tell me–rather pungently, in fact–that my home is squeaky clean. The truth is, though, that we often use harsher chemical products than needed. For regular housework, the old basics of vinegar, baking soda, olive oil, and good ol’ warm soapy water do the trick just fine. Weekly dusting and vacuuming (which requires no fancy products at all) will help, too. We can all breathe easier (pun intended) keeping our home and air as clean as we can.

4. Give attention to filters.

Air conditioning filters are made to trap dust and particles, but their usefulness wanes when they’re caked in it. Change your air filters as directed, and pay attention to anything in your home that collects dust and debris, such as vacuum cleaner bags, lint filters, and exhaust vents.

5. Wash those linens.

If we’re sleeping eight hours a night (and the moms reading this laugh…), we’re spending one-third of our lives in bed. Unfortunately, our sheets, pillowcases, and covers can become homes for dust and allergens. Experts recommend washing them in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) once a week to kill possible dust mites and keep where we sleep nice and fresh. (Source)

These five changes are a great place to start, and who doesn’t mind a pretty houseplant or honey-scented candle? If you have any other tips or insight, please share!