4 Speedy Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air

You know the feeling: You sense that the air in your home is stale, musty or foul-it's in dire need of a little refresh. But what if you're short on time or don't have an entire day to set aside to clean your home?

We've all been there, and that's why it's so important to have easy, quick solutions on hand for when life gets super busy. When you just want to hit "reset" on your air quality, here are four simple ways to improve your indoor air in just a few minutes. 

Changing the air filter in your heating and cooling system is a quick task that when done regularly, can improve the quality of your indoor air. Plan to change your air filter at least every three months.

In the summer months, excess humidity can make your home more susceptible to the growth of mold and bacteria. A common area for this to occur is in the basement. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should aim to keep relative humidity around 30 to 50 percent in your home to limit the growth of bacteria, mildew and mold*.

Watch your humidity so it doesn't exceed this range, and if it does, simply run a dehumidifier in your home. The basement is a common area that gets overly humid, so plan to set it up down there.

If you have five minutes, you have enough time to refresh your windows. Take a damp cloth and wipe down your window sills and window frames to rid them of allergens and germ build-up. You might be (unpleasantly) surprised to see all the dust, grime and particles that can collect on your windows over time, especially in the winter.

Sometimes it's not enough to simply open a window or two in your home and expect the air to circulate properly. If possible (and not during high allergy season), open your front and back doors and windows on opposite sides of the house for a few minutes so that the air can flow in and out more effectively.

Even doing this for as little as five minutes while you tend to another quick task-boiling water for dinner, folding your laundry, etc.-can help let in some new air to freshen up your home.

* Environmental Protection Agency