It’s super easy to clean counters and carpets, but what about the air in your home? Indoor air can be polluted up to dozens of times more than outdoor air since it’s trapped in an enclosed space. There are steps you can take to eliminate these pollutants and increase the quality of the air your family breathes!
We’ll start with what to cut out: scented plug-ins, spray air fresheners, and candles. It’s totally understandable to want your house to smell like an apple orchard or a sea breeze, but those scented items are releasing toxic chemicals into the air. Plus, they only mask the smell temporarily. But waht if you could target the the source of the smell and fix it naturally? Well, the good news is, you can! And with something that is mostly likely already in your pantry – baking soda.
My favorite alternative for air fresheners is essential oil diffusers! Essential oils are a great way to purify the air and keep the house smelling fresh without harmful effects. Diffusers have a square foot range they cover, so you can get a diffuser that will reach across the house or simply target the area that needs it the most (ex: the kitchen). The best part is you can experiment with scent combinations such as lemon and lavender to find your favorite one. Essential oils are great for your respiratory system and kill airborne germs, amping up your health while keeping your house fresh.
Even your home decor can help you clean the air! I personally love salt lamps to counteract pollutants. A salt lamp is a chunk of himalyan salt that has been hollowed out for a light bulb. The heat from the bulb releases negative ions from the salt, which then bind to pollutants and make them so heavy that they fall to the ground (making it less likely you’ll inhale it). These lamps are aesthetically pleasing, but also help allergy symptoms and boost your mood!
For all my plant lovers: your houseplants can purify the air too! NASA conducted a clean air study of nineteen houseplants and found they can remove harmful substances from the air (Trichloroethylene, benzene, formaldehyde, etc.). The general recommendation for this is to use at least 15 different houseplants for a home under 2,000 square feet. Some low maintenance plants I would recommend are dracaenas and spider plants!
Finally, cleaning indoor air can be as simple as changing your cleaning routine. Vacuuming and mopping often removes dust, aka the biggest source of household toxins exposure. While cleaning your house or just watching TV, try opening a few windows if it’s a nice day! This allows fresh air to circulate in and indoor air to circulate out.
Purifying indoor air is one of the easiest changes you can make! By even just implementing one or two of these things, you can have a fresh smelling home without worrying about chemicals polluting your air!