Although it may be hard to believe that air pollution levels within the modern house can be two to five times greater than the levels outside. Combine that with the fact that the typical person can spend up to ninety percent of their time indoors, it will come as no suprise that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new byword in the English language.
Unlike outside air, inside air is recycled over and over again with pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all contributing towards asthma and allergies.
There are various symptoms associated with so called sick building syndrome including sinus congestion, watery or itchy eyes, headaches, lethargy, difficulty in concentrating and sickness. Certain immediate effects are akin to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is frequently hard to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to inside air pollution.
If you discover that the symptoms lessen or even disappear when you are outdoors, the chances are that poor air quality inside your home is the cause. If that is the case, there are various things that you can do to all but eradicate the possible causes and breathe a little easier.
Here are several simple measures you can take to better the air quality in your house.
No Smoking Indoors
Although this may sound obvious, you should effectively ban smoking inside your home or at least restrict it to one room. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, call, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan fitted in the kitchen, make sure that it is turned on and endeavour to have smokers stand as close as possible to the fan so that the fumes get drawn out.
Open Your Windows Once In a While
Provided that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outside air in by opening your windows and doors every so often. Doing so will also get rid of some of the pollutants that have built up within your house. Make good use of kitchen and bathroom extractor fans. Clean and check the fan and any vents on a regular basis and clean or replace any filters that may be fitted.
Use Natural House Cleaning Products
Take any one of those so called miracle kitchen cleaners from your cupboard and someplace on the label will be a warning as to how dangerous they are to your health. Moreover, look at what they are made of and see if you can recognize the names of any of the substances in that bottle. As A Matter Of Fact, I doubt you will even be able to say the name, not to mention recognize what it is. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Personally, I have taken the enviromentally friendly approach to home cleaning. Bicarbonate Of Soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for the majority of cleaning tasks. Not only do they cost less but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your house.
Keep you House Clean and free of dust
Hoovering your carpets and floors regularly will help to keep dust and airborne allergens at bay. It is claimed (although I have no proof) that around 70% of all house dust is composed of dead skin, which we humans shed day in and day out. Dust mites like to feed on this dead skin which in turn makes them grow. They then shed their own skin and that, mixed with their feces is what causes allergic reactions in some folks.
Pet Dander Allergies
For those folks with a cat, dog or other pet, allergic reactions like asthma can be triggered off by their dander, which they shed day in and day out. If you think that you or a family member may be allergic to your family pet, action needs to be taken. The ideal solution is to keep pets out of the home completely. If that is not a feasible choice, you should restrict the number of rooms that the pets are allowed to go into and definitely keep them out of the bedroom.
Reduce Inside Air Humidity
If the clime where you live is either very muggy or just plain damp (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels within your house can increase. A consequence of excessive moisture is the growth of mold and mildew. For anyone with extreme allergies, mold spores are as bad, if not worse, than dust. For that reason, a home dehumidifier can be essential. An air purifier dehumidifier will extract dampness from the air and into a water tank which you can then remove and pour away.
Get an Indoor Air Purifier
Home air purifiers or room air cleaners do as their name indicates and clean the air of pollutants and allergens such as mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander. They are especially useful if you or a family member suffers from allergic reactions or asthma since they can reduce airborne contaminants by a considerable amount. Indoor air purifiers have become very popular of late because they are able to clean the air in your home while making it a lot healthier to breathe in. Nevertheless, there are several types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.
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