Posted by Stacey Stultz on Feb.14, 2008

Most people do not think about air as being something we put into our bodies.  The importance of clean air is then relegated to the bottom of our list of Healthy Things To Do.  This is unfortunate since the lungs have an amazing ability to absorb the toxins from the more than 3,000 gallons of air we breathe daily.

Since we can’t wish away air pollution, here are a few things a Green Diva Mom can do to ensure her family gets cleaner air at home.

1. Green Clean your home to reduce indoor air pollution from VOCs or volatile organic compounds. Dump the gaseous, harsh detergents in favor of more family-friendly and eco-friendly cleaners.  These cleaners are showing up on regular grocery store shelves more and more!  Better yet, make your own inexpensive green clean solutions and put them in labeled spray bottles!  “Click here for Green Cleaning solutions”  A favorite all-purpose cleaner is Orange Plus. We also love Seventh Generation cleaners.  They are non-toxic and sustainable.

2. Change home air filters according to manufacturer’s recommendations. The recommended replacement can be as little as once a year for the deeper pleated filters or as much as 12 times a year for the traditional air filters.  Proper fit is also important. Improperly fitted filters allow unfiltered air to go around the filter itself.

3. Open a window when using glue, painting or doing other gaseous activities to minimize contaminating your home air with VOCs. Think of this as source control.  The whole interior of our home is painted with ‘No VOC” and  “Low VOC” paint.  The coverage is excellent with no off gassing!

4. Make sure your home is properly ventilated. Newer homes are built tight and can let toxic fumes from projects and new furnishings build up.  Simply opening a window more often can greatly improve indoor air quality.  Run kitchen and bathroom fans that vent outside of house when needed.

5. Use a HEPA vacuum twice a week for cleaner air! Carpeting holds more dust, pet dander and dirt than hard surfaces.  Clean hard flooring once a week.  Do not use harsh chemicals to clean floors and carpeting…make your own safe cleaners or buy safe alternatives to chemical cocktails called “cleaners”.  The harsh floor cleaners are especially dangerous for crawling babies and children who like to play on the floor for most of the day.

6. Use an air purifier to filter out micro-organisms, dust, pollen, pet dander, VOCs and odors. There are several types of home air cleaners: table tops, stand alone and whole house systems.  They also vary in effectiveness, noise level, up-keep and cost.  You will need to do a little research to find the best air purifier to meet your family’s needs.  A good start is to read our next article, “How Do Air Purifiers Work?”

Green clean, home air filter replacement, ventilation, and use of an air purifier: easy ways to clean up the air in your home.

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Posted under Green Clean Air, Home Environment.