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They say your body is a temple—take care of it and it will take care of you. It's time to apply that same thinking to your home. After all, we spend 90% of our time indoors, two-thirds of it at home. You can create the healthiest possible home environment for you and your family, with the cleanest air. With more home buyers making wellness part of their decision process, our checklist will improve your home's value, as much as your physical and mental wellbeing.
The air inside our homes is up to five times more polluted than outside air, due to the presence of toxins, allergens, and other airborne contaminants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health impacts range from short-term symptoms like eye, nose, and throat irritation to long-term effects like asthma and other respiratory issues.
• Vacuum Regularly and Effectively. This simple housecleaning task is one of the best ways to reduce airborne allergens. Try to vacuum at least once a week, more if you have pets. Our cleaning pros say vacuums with HEPA filters are best at capturing contaminants.
• Open A Window. Assuming the weather is right, and the pollen count is not too high, opening a window or screen door will replace polluted indoor air with fresh air from outside.
• Put Out the Welcome Mat. Wipe shoes before coming indoors to reduce the number of pollutants entering the home. Implementing a shoes-off policy is even more effective.
• Upgrade Your Furnace Filter. Most forced-air furnace systems have a 1-inch-thick filter that's designed to protect the mechanical workings. Next time you have the system serviced by a professional, ask them to retrofit a new housing to accommodate a filter that's 2 to 5 inches thick. The larger filter will capture more fine particulates, improving your home's indoor air quality many times over.
• Improve Your Home's Mechanical Ventilation. Open windows are great but installing exhaust fans throughout the home will do even more to improve indoor air quality. In the kitchen, add a ducted range hood that vents to the outside to suck away smoke and fumes. Add bathroom exhaust fans to remove steam, minimizing the risk of mold and mildew. Get suggestions from local heating and cooling contractors in your area.
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