Maid Brigade of Northern Connecticut Helping to Keep the Air in Your Home Fresh

By Maid Brigade of Northern CT

We all want to keep the air in our homes fresh and clean. But how do we do that?

The first thing is to avoid wood-burning fireplaces. Wood-burning fireplaces put out soot and carbon and produce particulate matter that can get into your lungs and make it harder to breathe. 

You will also want to steer clear of smokers. If you are going to smoke at home, go outside to do it. Try to cut down on secondhand smoke exposure as well.

Keep the dust mites away. Dust mites like to burrow into mattresses and bedding. Use mattress covers and pillowcases that are bed-bug proof, which usually means they’re mite-proof as well. Choose pillows that are made of foam rubber, not goose-down or feathers. 

Wash your linens in hot water (above 130°F) at least once a week. This will also keep the dust mites away.

You will want to cut the chemicals. You need to clean up dust and pet dander, but strong-smelling cleaning products can be lung irritants. That means you may want to use vinegar or regular old soap and water. Give us a call and ask us about our green cleaning services. 

You should also avoid hair spray, perfumes, glues, paints, and air fresheners too.

Another thing to think about is controlling pet dander. Make sure to vacuum often with a HEPA vacuum, wash your hands after touching your pet, and keep your pet out of the bedroom.

Filter your air. Air filters can cut down dramatically on the fine particles that irritate the lungs. Changing filters often will also help keep the air clean. For the dog days of summer, central air-conditioning is best, but even then, filters make it better.

Install a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. You can make the air conditioner even more effective with a disposable HEPA filter.

Stand-alone HEPA air cleaners are another option for cleaning the air in a single room. You can also keep your windows closed. Ozone and other forms of air pollution, as well as outdoor allergens and dust, can affect your lungs. This can be especially troublesome if it’s allergy season, if the winds are howling, or if you live in a place prone to dust accumulation. On high air-pollution days keep the windows closed. 

If you’re cleaning, though, you may want to open a window to clear the air of cleaning chemicals.

Fight the mold and mildew. Good ventilation systems in both the bedroom and bathroom can cut down on molds.

And because dust mites like humidity too, you should keep the moisture levels in your home at around 40 percent. To do this, consider using a dehumidifier and don’t run a humidifier or vaporizer.

Check your stove. Like fireplaces, wood-burning stoves can pose problems unless they are completely enclosed and come with a good ventilation system. You can still stay warm and cozy all winter, just do it with old-fashioned radiators or central heating.

Even gas stoves can be a problem for those with lung trouble. However, if you have an automatic igniter, it cuts down on the amount of gas that can escape.

Want to know how we can help you keep the air in your home fresh and clean? Give us a call at 860-645-6243.

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