During these winter months, it seems that we spend more of our time inside than we do outside, mostly because we are just trying to keep warm and stay away from all the cold/flu going around everywhere. Have you ever thought about the quality of your air inside your home? Could it be causing you to have more allergies or even making those cold/flu-like symptoms worse? Well, it could be because of the quality of the air inside your home. Consider all the things you use in your home. Cleaning products, laundry detergents, air fresheners, even cosmetic and common hair products could be making things worse for you. Keep reading to find out why!
“According to the EPA, our indoor environment is two to five times more toxic than our outdoor environment and on average Americans are spending about 90 percent of their lives indoors!”
We live in a “toxic” world it seems, anything we spray, cook soak, shake, wash, brush, even buying new furniture or using building materials will carry toxic chemicals in it that could be affecting our health concerns and the quality of the air inside our homes.
Not having the correct ventilation inside your home could be causing poor air quality, if it’s very humid, or your air conditioner doesn’t circulate correctly. Formaldehyde, asbestos, flame retardants, synthetic air fresheners, mold, pesticides, are only to name a few chemicals that are found in everyday products that we may be using in our homes. The good news is there are a lot of things that we can do to get rid of these chemicals and improve the air quality in our homes.
Natural Resources to Create Good Air Quality Inside
First, get rid of things that say they are scented, it usually means there is a toxic chemical attached to it, clean air ducts, and change filters, make homemade natural cleaners for your home. Vinegar and baking soda remove odors naturally as well as lemons. Get rid of the bad air, and bring in the good air. Use good quality air filters that will circulate the air at home properly. You could also use diffusers with essential oils in them to get your home smelling fresh and the way that you want it.
“We live in a highly chemically infused environment where people use tons of products. Just because it’s on the supermarket shelves doesn’t mean it’s safe.”-David Rosenstreich, M.D., the director of the division of allergy and immunology at New York’s Montefiore
With that in mind, be careful also in the beauty products you buy and the sprays and lotions you use. Most commercial sprays and scents will have chemicals not good for your skin that could be causing breakouts and could be affecting the air quality, believe it or not.
“If you’re wondering how to test air quality, there are a number of options including radon tests kits as well as mold and allergen test kits available in stores and online. Another important home air quality test that should be installed in all homes is a carbon monoxide detector.”
Houseplants are also a great way to naturally clean the air as well. Aloe-Vera plant, Jade plant, and Spider plant are all plants that will help to purify your air. Last, but not LEAST, when you can, spend more time outside! There’s a reason why they say “breath in the fresh air,” there is so much beauty for us to enjoy outside and it will be beneficial for our health if we do!