Breathe easy in your home!
Fresh air in the home can help prevent infections and respiratory illnesses. Asthma sufferers can use it to reduce the severity of coughing fits, and guests visiting a home with a pet they’re allergic to will experience less severe allergy symptoms. So how do you maintain the good quality of the air we breathe every day?
What is dust? It consists of a wide variety of particles, including human skin flakes and hair, animal fur, grains of sand, bacteria, fungi, molds, and their spores brought into the home on shoes and clothing, all types of pollen, insect eggs and droppings, food scraps, tiny bits of our pets’ food, residues of chemicals and cosmetics, and dust mites. Excess dust can be harmful to your health! It collects many germs and spreads them throughout your living space. Above all, dust can trigger allergies and worsen asthma.
So what can you do to freshen the air in your home? First, plant some plants—houseplants are excellent at absorbing harmful chemicals from the air. This has been proven by numerous studies, including one conducted by Vadoud Niri at the State University of New York. NASA itself has also demonstrated the positive impact of plants on removing unhealthy substances from the air. It is the root system and the specific microorganisms living in the soil that accompany each species that play the most important role here. The agency has compiled a list of the best air-purifying plants. So which plants do this most effectively? Among the 18 species listed by NASA are the snake plant, English ivy, floribunda chrysanthemum, Jameson’s gerbera, rubber plant, and palm bamboo. It’s important to remember to care for the plants properly—including maintaining the recommended soil moisture and regularly dusting the leaves. This also affects the air quality in our home. NASA also points out that it is important to have the right density of plants in the room—there should be at least one plant per ten square meters.
It is also very important to maintain overall cleanliness in the home. Regular cleaning—vacuuming, dusting, washing, and disinfecting floors and other surfaces—will help prevent the accumulation of large amounts of harmful substances in the air. It is also important to maintain proper humidity levels indoors. This can be achieved, for example, by turning on the range hood or opening a window while cooking. Additionally, the apartment should be ventilated frequently. Unfortunately, both in large cities and small towns, it is necessary today to pay attention to information regarding smog. If the concentration of harmful substances on a given day is alarming, letting outside air into your home may not be the best idea. To reduce the presence of chemicals in the air we breathe every day, you can replace aerosol cosmetics and cleaning products with less intrusive alternatives—such as stick deodorant or air fresheners in the form of scented sticks. It’s also worth paying attention to product ingredients—the more natural they are, the fewer harmful chemicals will end up in the air. There should also be a strict no-smoking policy at home for both household members and visitors. “Cigarette smoke contains approximately 4,000 chemical compounds. About 40 of them are carcinogenic,” warns Prof. Andrzej Sapota, Ph.D., from the Department of Toxicology and Bromatology at the Medical University of Łódź.
It is also mandatory to inspect the technical condition of the structural components of the ventilation system. You must check—preferably with the help of a professional—the patency of ventilation grilles and ducts, as well as any chimney flues. Do not forget the bathroom, where a great deal of moisture accumulates during daily activities.
Finally, we have a tip for lovers of elegant dinners, long baths, or romantic evenings by candlelight. Candles made from natural beeswax are a natural way to purify the air. On the other hand, you should avoid paraffin candles, which are made from petroleum and contain benzene and toluene that are released into the air.
