Our last post focused on quick & easy healthy and green steps for your home.  One key area that deserves its own overview is indoor air quality – how to get and maintain it.

Below are some steps you can take in your home to improve indoor air quality.  (If you would like to dig deeper, post a question in the comments area and I would be happy to share more specific resources).

• Open windows:  Indoor air is typically 2-5 more polluted than outdoor air.  Open your windows and circulate the air. So basic & so important.

• HEPA vacuum filters:  Kids spend a lot of time on the floor where dust collects.  HEPA filters are able to capture and remove the widest range of particles and allergens (including brominated flame retardants, pet dander, dust mites, etc).

• House plants:  many studies have shown that plants such as ferns act as living air purifiers, helping to absorb some toxic chemicals that would otherwise remain in your home’s air.  A quick search can find specific recommendations.

• That “clean” smell:  don’t be fooled into thinking the “fresh” or “clean” smell of standard cleaning products is what you need.  That smell is likely produced from synthetic fragrances, many of which have been proven to be problematic to indoor air quality. (As for specific cleaning products, you can refer to this prior post).  Specifically look out for:

1. laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and air fresheners in solid, spray, and oil form (they may all emit such gasses).
2. Look for fragrance-free or naturally-scented laundry products.
3. Switch to mild cleaners that don’t include artificial fragrances.
4. Avoid aerosol sprays — deodorants, hair sprays, carpet cleaners, furniture polish, and air freshener (a great alternative is baking soda and sliced lemons)

• Furniture, carpeting, fabrics – home furnishings can be a leading contributor to indoor air pollution (here is a past discussion on indoor air quality and furniture).  The leading organization that tests and certifies products as safe for indoor air quality is Greenguard Environmental Institute.  Through their site, you can search their database for products they have certified.

[At Q Collection Junior we pride ourselves on having the first indoor air quality approved line of cribs and children's furniture.  You can learn more on our work in this area by following this link.]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 at 5:19 pm and is filed under Expecting, Green Living, Health & Wellness, Trends. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.