Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

​For spring cleaning, resist the urge to fling open your windows.  You will be inviting not only pollen inside, but also moisture from outside air in humid areas of the country.  When warm, damp air hits cool surfaces in your house, the water in it condenses, which leads to mold growth on furniture, HVAC grilles and drywall.  Use a monitor to measure indoor humidity and aim for a reading between 35% and 50%.  If it reaches 60%, you have an issue so call your HVAC professional for advice.

Inspect your insulation, rafters, and floor joists - take advantage of pleasant temperatures and inspect your attic.  If you see any wet spots, call a professional right away.  Correcting moisture problems is not a do-it-yourself project.  A buildup of mold in your attic not only affects the air you breathe but it can also cause structural damage.

Seal the building envelope - seal leaks around windows, door frames, recessed lighting and electrical outlets with caulk or foam.  When air escapes through these spots, it’s sometimes replaced with air sucked in from the basement, crawlspace, garage or outside your home.

Purchase a true HEPA cleaner – this is an air filter that can make breathing easier.  Avoid units that produce ozone, which is bad for your lungs.  If you have allergies, choose an air cleaner with a true HEPA filter, which is one that can trap 99.97 percent of particles at least 0.3 microns in size, and spring for a true HEPA filter on your vacuum cleaner as well. "HEPA-type" filters are less expensive but do not clean as well, so be sure to read labels carefully.

Give your whole house a thorough cleaning - although you can create an eco-friendly cleaning solution yourself from household ingredients such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda, you can also purchase eco-friendly commercial products.

Wash your sheets - since you cannot avoid bringing pollutants inside on your clothing and skin, wash your sheets once a week with perfume-free laundry soap.  Be cautious with fabric softener, which is often laden with irritating chemicals.

Synthetic fragrances - avoid candles and air fresheners with synthetic fragrances, known triggers for allergies, asthma, and headaches.
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Use low-VOC paints – there is no need to use a paint that gives off-gasses and may causes health problems.