4 Common Household Items That Can Ruin Your Indoor Air Quality

Have you ever used perfume or cologne inside your home? Have you lit scented candles? Perhaps you’ve sprayed some air freshener after a trip to the toilet? These products are super common in the modern home, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re great for your indoor air quality.

At Dust Doctors, it’s our goal to help Twin Cities homeowners breathe the healthiest indoor air possible. But with a near-endless array of air-polluting household products on the market, that’s often easier said than done. While routine duct cleaning and HVAC maintenance can dramatically improve the quality of your indoor air, you also need to control which products you allow inside your home.

Below, we discuss four common household items you should consider cutting back on or eliminating to improve your indoor air quality.

Scented Candles

Scented candles smell great, but it’s precisely that scent that’s diminishing your indoor air quality. How?

Paraffin-based candles release microparticles into your indoor air as they burn. Though you won’t notice these particles as you breathe them in, they can cause lung inflammation with long-term exposure. Certain candles also emit formaldehyde as they burn, a substance that’s highly hazardous to human health.

If you’re determined to burn candles indoors, look for the ones made out of beeswax. They release less particulate matter into the air you breathe and typically contain less hazardous fragrances. Or, why not opt for an essential oil diffuser instead?

Aerosol Sprays

Would you believe that aerosol products account for nearly half of outdoor VOC emissions in urban areas? According to researchers, it’s true. If you currently use aerosols in your house, not only are you diminishing your indoor air quality, but you’re also putting your health at risk.

Though not all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are hazardous to your well-being, many of them can cause a number of health issues, including:

●        Eye and skin irritation

●        Lung inflammation

●        Throat and nose discomfort

●        Nausea

●        Headaches and coordination problems

●        Liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage

Ideally, you should avoid using aerosol products if at all possible. But if you can’t cut out the aerosols completely, make sure you have plenty of ventilation in the room(s) in which you use them.

Certain Cleaning Products

Can cleaning products really pollute your house? The research says, absolutely. Products that contain fragrances naturally contain VOCs, which you already know cause a number of health issues. Certain ingredients within many cleaning products also react with other common household substances, such as bleach, releasing harmful airborne particles into your home.

To maintain healthy indoor air quality, you should avoid off-the-shelf cleaning products altogether just to be safe. However, if you prefer pre-made solutions, look for the eco-friendly variety.

Humidifiers

Humidifiers, when used appropriately, are fantastic for improving the moisture content of indoor air in arid locations. That said, humidifiers can also contribute to mold growth and dust mite proliferation with too-frequent use, both of which seriously diminish indoor air quality.

If you need to use a humidifier indoors, be sure to keep your home interior at or below 50% humidity. This will prevent indoor allergen buildup that can irritate your lungs and contribute to other health issues.

If your indoor air isn’t as clean as it should be, get in touch with our team at Dust Doctors. We specialize in comprehensive duct cleaning, HVAC maintenance, and air purification system installation. For over a decade, we’ve proudly served residents throughout the Twin Cities, and we’d love to help you improve your indoor air quality too. To learn more or request a free quote, give us a call today at 651-319-9777 or contact us online.