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Tools, tips, and technology for reducing indoor air pollution
In northern states like Minnesota, we retreat to cozy indoor spaces for the long winter months. And though our homes are a welcome refuge from the cold, the air within them is often loaded with invisible pollutants. Molds, mildews, volatile chemicals, and other invisible toxins trigger allergies, and aggravate chronic conditions like asthma and cardiac disease. They can cause sleepiness, fatigue, and digestive issues. Some of them, like carbon monoxide, are lethal in high concentrations. That’s why the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission identifies indoor air pollution as a serious health risk.

Fortunately, there are many easy and economical ways to purify the air in your home. And for houses with more serious infrastructural challenges, there are pricier but very effective technological solutions. But before we dive into the art and science of cleansing the air, it’s time for a pop quiz. 

Which of these spaces is the most polluted place in your home? 

(Hint: There’s more than one) 

Bedrooms: Invasion of the dust mites 

They’re tiny, they’re hungry, and they’re feasting on your skin. Hundreds of thousands of these microscopic pests live in your bed, upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains, and any space covered in fabric. Devouring dead skin cells shed by humans, they excrete harmful allergens that can cause sneezing, runny nose, cough, congestion, and watery eyes. For those with respiratory illnesses, dust-mite waste can trigger asthma attacks and other lung issues. According to the American Lung Association, four out of five American homes have at least one bed with serious levels of dust-mite allergens. 

Although dust mites can never be eliminated, you can greatly reduce their presence by: 

• Using a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity to less than 50% (better yet, open the windows and let in fresh, dry air on warm sunny days) 
• Vacuum weekly 
• Cleaning bed sheets every two weeks 
• Cleaning mattresses every six months 
• Damp mopping all areas where dust accumulates 

If anyone in your home suffers from severe allergies, consider removing all carpeting. If this is not possible, use a powerful vacuum equipped with a high-efficiency filter. 

Bathrooms: Draining the swamp 

For molds and mildew, your bathroom is a tropical paradise. All those hot showers and baths keep humidity high, and allergenic spores flying. Add in all the vapors and aerosols from hairsprays, cosmetics, and skin-care products, and you’ve got a toxic stew of irritating chemicals. 

A well-functioning exhaust fan can greatly reduce humidity and remove dangerous fumes. To make your bathroom even healthier, consider replacing conventional body and grooming products with more natural, plant-based alternatives. 

Common Living Spaces: Going from crumby to clean 

Over a lifetime, the average American will spend almost $30,000 on snack foods. Many of those chips, pretzels, popcorn, and cakes break into crumbs that litter the carpet, couches, and lounge chairs in the living room, family room, and dining room. Trapped deep in the plush fibers of floor coverings and beneath cushions, food particles gather mold and bacteria, and can attract insects like flies and roaches that sometimes transmit intestinal diseases. 

Frequent vacuuming is the first line of defense. You should also plan to clean the carpets annually or more often if you have small children and pets. Even better, consider ripping out the wall-to-wall carpeting and replacing it with wood, tile or linoleum surfaces where those troublesome crumbs have no place to hide. 

Kitchen: Exhausting the pollutants 

If you’ve ever watched an episode of Kitchen Nightmares, you know how greasy, grimy, and nasty a busy food-prep area can be. Even if you’ve unleashed your inner Gordan Ramsey and scoured the gunk from every corner and crevice of your kitchen, you may have inadvertently polluted your gourmet sanctum with something just as bad. Many of today’s powerful cleaning agents are loaded with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that produce noxious fumes and gases. Even the relatively benign act of cooking can create smoke and harmful particulates. 

A good quality fan with a range hood will vent most of these vapors out of your home. For an even healthier, long-term solution, replace the harsh chemicals with cleaners derived from natural compounds like citrus, vinegar, alcohol, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and tea-tree oil. Your kitchen will look, feel, and smell better, setting the stage for many delicious meals to come. 

Laundry Room: Wringing out the wet 

For mold and mildew, your laundry room offers the best spa in town. They take a whirl in the jacuzzi (aka, washing machine) before hopping into the sauna (clothes dryer), and paying you for the privilege with a wealth of allergens. 

Regularly cleaning these appliances will greatly reduce the problem, as will a fan with adequate venting. If the room is particularly humid, a dehumidifier will dial down the moisture and keep the molds and mildews from reproducing.  

Also, highly scented laundry detergents can be another source of harmful VOCs and skin irritants. Switching to scentless detergents made from natural compounds is a healthier option. 

Garage: Keeping chemicals neat, sealed, and tidy 

Unless you’re starting a grunge band or cranking out DIY cutting boards on the table saw, you’re probably not spending a lot of time in the garage. Still, with all the paints, solvents, cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals commonly stored there, it can be a source of VOCs that seep into your interior living spaces. 

Always make sure that chemical containers are tightly stored and sealed. When you’re done with them, be sure to follow the State of Minnesota’s guidelines for disposing of household hazardous waste.  

Finally, a word on your garage’s primary occupants—your vehicles. Never idle them in the garage, even with the door wide open. Carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases build up quickly. Always back out immediately after starting the engine. 

Five Best Practices for a Beautiful, Healthy Home 

Take Your Shoes off and Breathe a While 

The average shoe is home to over 400,000 bacteria, including E.coli, which causes gastrointestinal distress. And that’s not even counting all the nasties inhabiting the shoe on your other foot. On a daily outing, your shoes get coated in toxic lawn chemicals and pesticides, splattered by traces of antifreeze, oil, and gasoline, and exposed to viruses ready to jump from the streets to your nasal passages. They also spread grime and dirt all over your house, soiling floors and reducing the lifespan of your carpet.  

So, while the shoes might fit, don’t ever wear them in the house. 

Open all the Windows 

Drawing fresh air into your home is the best way to blow out the toxins. Be sure to open multiple windows to take advantage of cross ventilation. On calmer days, window-fans are a great way to bring outdoor air inside. On excessively humid days, it’s best to minimize interior moisture levels by keeping the windows closed. Also, if you live in an area with consistently poor air quality, an HVAC system is a better option for improving air quality.  

Vent, Filter, and Roll 

A good quality heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system draws fresh air into your home while expelling stale and potentially toxic interior air. Filtration is at the heart of a functioning system. High energy particulate air (HEPA) filters, which trap even the smallest particles, are critical to maintaining healthy air quality. Other air-purifying technologies include electronic air cleaners that capture particles using electrostatic attraction, and gas-phase air filters that use activated carbon to absorb odors and gases. Note, they do not provide protection against carbon monoxide or natural gas. You can learn more about this complex topic by reading, How to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality for Better Health. 

Brush the Cat and Wash the Dog 

Our most popular domestic pets shed loads of potentially allergenic skin cells called dander. For those suffering from allergies, this can make life miserable. You can reduce dander by regularly brushing cats and dogs, and bathing dogs once a month (good luck bathing the cat). Frequent vacuuming should also be part of the routine, especially if your home has a lot of carpeted surfaces. 

Adopt Some House Plants 

Although they are not the first line of defense, house plants can play a small—and beautifying—role in cleansing indoor air. A 1989 study done by NASA found that some plants can reduce levels of pollutants like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, and other volatile gases. Plants like pothos, English ivy, bamboo palm, Chinese evergreen, and many more can help purify air.  

Please note, plants come with one BIG caveat. Overwatering creates humid conditions where mold and mildew can thrive in the soil. Also, some plants produce their own allergens, so research carefully before turning your home into an arboretum.

Three Major Sources of Household Pollutants