As more people spend time inside, indoor air quality is becoming a pressing issue. Here are a few tips from experts recently highlighted at Curbed.com.
Use the vent when cooking. “One of the big things we’re starting to understand a little more is the problems with cooking,” Adriano L. Martinez, an environmental lawyer who tweets about air quality issues as @LASmogGuy, told Curbed.com. “A hood and fan that siphons toxic fumes out of your kitchen can make a big difference, even if you’re just boiling water. Try to run the fan every time you’re cooking.”
Clean surfaces. Cleaning has never been more important than in the age of a pandemic, but it can also help improve the indoor air quality of your home. Wipe down surfaces and vacuum frequently to remove build ups of dust, pollen, and mold, which all impact air quality, Curbed.com reports.
Avoid the VOCs. Pay attention to the labels when cleaning to avoid products containing volatile organic chemicals. The fumes have been linked to irritating lungs.
Use a high-quality filter on the HVAC. A good filter can help trap airborne pollutants inside a home. Martinez suggests looking for a minimum efficiency reporting value, or MERV rating, of 8 or higher on the HVAC filter. Also, change it frequently. Plug-in air purifiers can also help, experts say.