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10 Ways to Refresh Your Home
If you’re looking for a way to mix up your routine, why not try refreshing your home? Here are 10 tips for how you can do just that and improve your indoor air quality at the same time.
1. Create a regular cleaning schedule.
One word: Dust. It can wreak havoc on your home. Vacuuming and dusting will be your home’s best friend. Both will help get rid of dust in carpets and on surfaces, keeping dust mites and allergens out of the air. Plus, creating a good habit, like keeping your home clean, is a good new year’s or ‘new you’ resolution!
2. Turn on your fans.
Keep that air circulating. If weather allows, open up a window and turn on a fan to circulate fresh air. If you don’t have an overhead fan, place a standing fan in front of the window to pull that outdoor air in. This can help reduce exposure to airborne viruses.
3. Nix the candles.
While candles certainly make your space smell nicer, candles release small particles and pollutants into the air. Their scent can also mask smells that are signs of bigger air quality issues. If you’re set on burning a candle, try to stick with beeswax or soy waxes which emit fewer emissions than paraffin wax.
4. Find the right humidity balance.
Depending on the area you live in, the seasonal changes may cause a shift in your air quality needs. During the winter, the air is often drier, and you may start using a humidifier. Remember: don’t let your home get too humid as humidity can be a breeding ground for mold. Keep your home under 50% humidity to help prevent both mold and dust mites from invading.¹
5. Start a small indoor garden.
Did you know plants can improve your air quality? Since they give off oxygen during photosynthesis and remove air pollutants such as formaldehyde and benzene, plants can help you breathe easier. And you’ll get a cool, new hobby out of it!
6. Give your pet extra love.
This one’s easy for pet owners — pay your pet extra attention as you’re brushing them. Regular brushing will help minimize the amount of pet dander that escapes into the air, onto furniture and on your clothes.
7. Monitor your fabric surfaces.
Air pollutants get caught in fabrics. Everyone has laundry that they need to keep up with, but it’s also important to keep an eye on the fabrics you don’t normally think of or use everyday. During the winter months, you may more regularly use blankets, coats, hats and gloves, and likely spend more time on your soft, fabric couch. Be sure to wash those miscellaneous items!
8. Quit smoking.
This one may seem obvious, but quitting smoking will greatly improve your air quality. Even if you don’t smoke inside your home, the air pollutants can linger on fabrics like your clothes or furniture — what’s known as thirdhand smoke. Eliminating smoking will in turn eliminate that possibility.
9. Check your vents and filters.
Your ventilation system is only as good as the filter it uses to trap pollutants. If your filter gets backed up and can’t maintain regular air flow, these nuisances will continue to cycle through the air. Not to mention it could impact your HVAC system. Remember to regularly check and change your filters. Mark your calendar or use the Filtrete™ Smart App to take the guesswork out of replacements. The app works with all of our filters and will notify you when it’s time to change your filter.
10. Hire a professional.
Want a high-quality clean to refresh your home and air? Hire someone who specializes in the particular area you want cleaned. Find a professional to clean your HVAC system and wood-burning fireplace, all of which can carry and release air pollutants.
Whether you pick two of these tips or all 10, you’ll get a solid head start on improving your space — and a breath of fresh air!
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