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8 Tips for Cleaner Air in Your Baby’s Nursery
Your baby’s nursery should feel like an oasis — from the calm, peaceful ambiance to the cleaner, fresher air. Take steps now to prioritize better air quality in your baby’s nursery using these eight tips.
1. Monitor humidity.
High humidity can invite mold, mildew and other pollutants into your baby’s room. Aim to keep humidity in the 35%–50% range (you can buy a tool called a hygrometer at a hardware store to keep tabs on this).¹ Manage moisture by running a humidifier or dehumidifier as needed. Be sure to keep these devices clean and change filters as recommended.
2. Ventilate the room.
Stagnant air traps dust, allergens and not-so-pleasant smells (think dirty diapers). Keep your nursery air fresh with proper ventilation — whether that’s running a ceiling fan, installing an air purifier or cracking a window.
3. Replace your HVAC filters.
If you have central air conditioning or heating, schedule a system checkup and replace any old filters. Even better, consider upgrading to Filtrete™ Smart Air Filters — these connect to the Filtrete™ Smart App via Bluetooth® so you get reminders when it’s time for a filter change. It puts maintenance on autopilot — one less thing to think about while you’re busy caring for your child.
4. Reduce pet dander.
Keep your fur babies clean and well-groomed to minimize dander and shedding. Consider making the nursery a no-pet zone to save yourself the extra cleaning work.
5. Use natural cleaning products.
Avoid cleaning products like bleach and aerosol sprays that contain harmful, volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Instead, choose natural products that are low in irritating ingredients. When in doubt, a simple soap and warm water mixture often does the trick.
6. Clean regularly.
To keep irritants at bay, try to dust and vacuum at least once a week. Pay extra attention to crawling surfaces like the floor. Use a damp cloth when wiping things down to prevent dust mite particles from spreading around. If you use cleaning products, remember to open windows and doors to air out the space. Get a HEPA filter for your vacuum — these trap pesky dust, pollen and bacteria particles so they don’t recirculate into the air.
7. Avoid candles and air fresheners.
As nice as they may smell, it’s best to keep scented candles, air fresheners and other fragranced products out of the nursery. Many of these products release VOCs and other toxins into the air.
8. Opt for a non-toxic crib.
When shopping for your baby’s crib and mattress, look for options that carry the GREENGUARD Gold Certification — this certifies that a product has been tested to meet low chemical and VOC emission standards.
Sources
1. “Your health and humidity.” Boston Children’s Hospital. 2024.
