As the weather cools and we start to spend more time indoors, here are a few tips for better air quality in your home.
Invest in a good air purifier that includes a HEPA filter.
This keeps your indoor air cleaner, especially when you’re indoors more, the heat is on and the windows are closed.
A good air purifier can trap multiple things, including microbial and viral particles along with mold spores.
Strategically place air purifiers in your home.
- Bedroom(s): always have an air purifier in your bedtime, as you spend a good chunk of your time there. Many people experience worse congestion upon waking in the morning – this can help there too. Especially if you or your kids have allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues.
- Living space(s): since you probably spend most of your waking hours at home in your general living space(s). And your home office, if you work from home.
- Kitchen: especially if you use a gas stove. If you have an open/combined kitchen and living space, one larger air purifier can support the whole space.
Here’s a brand I like. They’re high quality and offer different sizes, perfect for your differently sized spaces.
Open your windows, weather-permitting.
This allows for natural and better ventilation and turnover of the air in your home.
Timing matters: if you live close to a busy road or in a city, open your windows during times when traffic is lowest, so as to avoid auto fumes entering with the fresh air.
Plus, there’s a reason we humans love to inhale fresh air. It’s good for us, and it feels rejuvenating.
Choose better candles and home scents.
Regular candles, air fresheners, room sprays, and the like contain endocrine-disrupting compounds that are awful for health. If you care about your hormonal health, minimize these.
Keep in mind what matters most are your daily/regular exposures, not your occasional exposure to a Glade plug-in or Febreeze.
Better options:
- Candles made of pure soy, coconut or beeswax and with an organic cloth wick (no wood or wire/metal wicks).
- A simmer pot of freshly sliced citrus/apple/cinnamon sticks/herbs. This also makes the mood more festive and can be fun for kids to help create. Learn more here .
- Also, turn on the ventilation fan in your kitchen and bathroom as needed to naturally refresh the air as needed.
This blog and website do not provide medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Always check with your own healthcare provider before taking a new supplement and before making any significant diet, lifestyle, exercise or other changes. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on this site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911.