C.J. Braden • 5 Minute Read
You may not be aware of it, but the air quality in your home is directly related to how you live. If you are breathing polluted air for long periods, then it will impact your and your pets health and well-being. This blog post will provide information on some easy ways to improve the ventilation in your home while also improving the air quality!
Dry wet laundry outside to improve air quality in your home
1- Dry the Laundry Outside
Drying clothes outdoors is a great way to improve home ventilation. When you dry your laundry outside, the sun helps kill germs and bacteria, making each shirt or towel clean. The sun also dries clothes faster than an indoor machine so that it will save energy as well!
When you dry the laundry outside, you can hang them on a clothesline. If there is no clothesline available, then hangers or towels draped over chairs or porch railings will work as well. Keep in mind that when drying clothing outdoors, always make sure to wash them first!
I buy rugs and blankets that are washable, like ones from Ruggable, Paw.com, and Target. I have a Ruggable in almost every room of my home. I love being able to wash them, which not only helps deep clean them, but also helps cut down on dust. This helps with overall air quality for sure! I wash them in my washing machine and often dry them (especially my faux fur ones) outside.
To keep your family healthy and safe, take advantage of this simple task because it improves the air quality in the home.
Open window in tropical bedroom to improve home ventilation
2- Ventilate Rooms Overnight
Air quality is essential in the home, and you can improve it by ventilating rooms overnight. To increase air circulation, you should open windows for a few hours before going to sleep. It will allow outside air to enter your room while also letting moist outdoor air escape from the house.
You may want to consider opening all the windows in your house to ensure a greater level of air circulation. Whichever type of window you have, ensure that each has at least an hour open during the day. You can also work on adding or replacing different sets of windows with increasing ventilation. Look into different types of windows that will suit your spaces. For example, with awning window replacement and installation, your small spaces will be sorted.
If you are comfortable, you should try to leave the window open for about an hour before bed. It will help prevent moisture from building up in your home and reduce the risk of condensation on your windows, walls, or furniture.
It will help if you exercise caution when opening your home's windows and only do so during cooler year periods. You may want to open them for about an hour before going to bed or even consider leaving them open all day, but make sure that these are done in moderation as over-ventilation can lead to dry skin, hair, and cracked lips.
Ceiling fan with haint blue ceiling paint
3- Install Extractor Fans and Attic Vents
Install extractor fans in the kitchen, hallway, and bathroom. Install attic vents to bring fresh air into the home from outside. Avoid installing an exhaust fan in a room where you spend time; for example, don't install one next to your desk. Air coming out of an exhaust fan won't be replaced by new air anytime soon, so it will just get dirtier.
The extractor fans will suck up the stale air in your home and replace it with fresh air by drawing outside air into your rooms through open doors or windows. Attic vents allow warm, moist air to escape from the building, reducing condensation inside and minimizing mold growth on walls and ceilings below. It is crucial to install attic vents in any building with a "hot roof" construction, such as those built using metal or tar.
White, light and airy home
4- Consider an Efficient Home Ventilation System
Home ventilation uses the power of natural air, and it improves indoor air quality. Healthy homes should have good airflow to reduce harmful particles from carpets or furniture. Air filters can help with this, but they need regular replacements for maximum effectiveness.
A home ventilation system will help to reduce airborne pollutants from gas leaks and smoking as well. The best way is to have a proper design for your HVAC system that removes stale, humidified air from the house's interior to deal with humidity issues inside.
Open window overlooking the ocean
5- Open Doors and Windows
The simplest way to improve the air quality in your home is by opening doors and windows, but this can have some adverse side effects. One of these is condensation on furniture or mold growth within walls if left too long.
With my husband and I currently living in the warm, south Florida climate, we leave our sliding porch doors open for a few minutes every day. They open to a screened-in porch, so this helps cut down on bugs in the house. We only do this for a few minutes at a time on humid days, however, to eliminate moisture in the house. One thing I know for sure: Fresh air definitely airs out a stale home!
Improve air quality in your home to help allergies
6- Use a Humidifier Regularly
A humidifier can help improve the air quality in your home. First, a humidifier helps to cleanse and moisturize indoor air by adding moisture to it. Second, using a humidifier improves airflow throughout your house by decreasing how often you need to use your furnace, wood stove, or fireplace. Thus, it reduces air pollution created by these sources and helps reduce the number of airborne allergens that can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms.
Conclusion
The air in your home is vitally important because it's where you and the people and pets who live there spend a lot of time. Maintaining proper ventilation can help keep that air fresh, clean, and healthy for everyone living in the house. It may take some minor adjustments to get started on this path to better health, but once you've made those changes, you'll find that the benefits are worth it.
C.J. Braden is a regular contributor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her by clicking here.
This is a sponsored article. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.