Home Basics - Clean Air
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has found out that many homes have indoor pollution levels two to five times higher than outdoor pollutant levels and regular Americans are spending up to 90% of their time indoors.
Indoor air pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust, and animal dander have the ability to create asthmatic and allergic reactions. So ensuring clean air in your home is extremely important.
Consider an Indoor Air Purifier.
One of the more common ways to clean the air is with the HEPA filtration (High Efficiency Particulate Air). A good quality HEPA filtering system can be up to 99.97% efficient at filtering particulates that are 0.3 microns from the air. (A strand of human hair is 150 microns.)
Another popular unit uses water as the filter. The Venta-Air-Washer was designed in Germany; it circulates air through two squirrel cages. The airborne particulates are caught by the water in the pan and cleaner air is exhausted. As the water evaporates the particulates stay in the pan.
Improved Air Circulation.
For better air circulation, leave doors between rooms open most of the time and open windows when possible to allow for a good supply of fresh outdoor air. You can also install exhaust fans in bathrooms to help remove moisture and chemicals from your home.
Filtering the Air.
Upgrade the air filters on your furnace with the pleated filters that capture smaller particles. Change the filters regularly as recommended by the manufacturer's instructions.
Here is a list of plants that are known to function as efficient air detoxifiers and remove toxins from the air.
- Peace Lily
- Chinese Evergreen
- Golden Pothos (Devil's Ivy)
- Snake Plant
- Daisies
- Chrysanthemums
- Spider Plants
- Australian Umbrella Tree
- Dracaena
- Ficus
- Philodendrons
- Aloe Vera
- English Ivy
- Boston fern
NEXT: Indoor Air Pollutants & Natural Alternatives
Review and comparison websites for Air Purifiers:
Air Purifiers America - provides reviews and tests on which air purifiers and filters for air purifiers are best for you.
ClearFlite Air Purifiers - provides reviews for each purifier technology type and manufacturer.
ConsumerSearch - part of the About.com/New York Times family.
