1. Make the house a no-smoking zone
This one is probably obvious. One of the simplest ways to preserve indoor air quality is to avoid smoking indoors, and ensure smoke from outside doesn’t inadvertently enter the house.
2. Invest in air purifiers and high quality HEPA filters
Sensitive lungs deserve the highest-rated home air filters for your HVAC. Look for a MERV rating of 7 or higher. It can be helpful to invest in one or more air purifiers for additional coverage.
Be sure to check and clean your air filters at least once every three months and your air purifiers every two to four weeks!
3. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or strong sprays, including air fresheners and powders.
Common cleaning product chemicals to avoid include bleach and ammonia. Instead, choose products with ingredients like white vinegar, baking soda, lemon and lemon juice, borax, salt, and isopropyl alcohol.
4. Be careful with candles
If you like candles, check what chemicals go into their making. Same with such items as incense sticks and diffusers. Ingredients to avoid include paraffin, synthetic fragrances infused into candles, and wicks with lead. Instead, look for beeswax candles, natural aromas, and essential oils.
5. Hop On the Humidifier Train
Particularly in high altitude areas, winter air can cause dryness in the lungs and nasal airways, making them more susceptible to irritation. A humidifier can be a great way to keep the air from getting too dry inside your home! The moisture added by the humidifier can help against dryness in the throat, dry cough, cracked lips and skin, and sinus-related issues.
6. Opt for pollen-free or allergen-free flower arrangements.
'Tis the season for celebratory flowers and plants, but choose wisely! Some beautiful blooms known to trigger common allergies include ragweed, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers, and chamomile. A few typically considered safe include begonia, cactus, daffodil, geranium, impatiens, iris, lilies, pansy, periwinkle, petunia, rose, tulip, verbena, zinnia. You can also explore Nasa's list of "air purifying plants" here.
