Did you know that the air in your home may be more polluted than the outside air? Well, it’s true. And indoor air pollution is as harmful to your health as outdoor pollution. This means your home can be making you sick. So you need to be careful.
Indoor air pollution can be caused by many sources. These include furnishing, building materials, electronics, chemical cleaners, smoking, etc. Even the scented air freshener you use is also a pollutant as it can release harmful chemicals in the air.
You can use electric air purifiers to clean the air of your home. Air conditioning also helps. But if you are looking for environment-friendly, natural air purifiers that don’t need electricity, then here are some that work the best.
Environment-friendly, natural air purifiers
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Welcome the morning air in:
This costs nothing and is easy to do. Keep your house well-ventilated. And every morning, open your windows and welcome the fresh morning air in. It will reduce the accumulation of air pollutants in your home.
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Make space for indoor plants:
What better natural air purifier than plants? Make space for indoor plants in your house. They will improve the indoor air quality, add freshness to the décor of your home, and may even reduce your stress and anxiety!
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Freshen up your air with Essential Oil Diffusers:
Essential oils have numerous benefits. Different oils can help you in different ways like relieving stress, healing small cuts, etc. Some essential oils like tea tree oil have antibacterial properties. You can add them to your homemade household cleaner. You can also use essential oils like eucalyptus, clove, and rosemary as they help reduce the dust mites in your house.
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Charcoal air purifying bags:
Charcoal air purifying bags are filled with activated charcoal. These are affordable, natural, and effective ways to eliminate malodorous scents from your home. They are small, easy to use, and can easily fit in any corner of your home.
Activated charcoal cleans your indoor air because of its porosity. The activated charcoal has numerous tiny holes. These holes trap and absorb the polluting particles. This works excellently to reduce foul odors from your home. It is a safe and cost-effective natural air purifier. You just need to put it in direct sunlight for about an hour before first use and then once every month. You will start noticing the change in the air inside your house within a few days. Bamboo activated charcoal is considered better as it is more porous.
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Keep your outdoor footwear outdoor:
As much as possible, avoid walking into your home with your outdoor footwear on. These can bring in pollutants like pollen, pesticides, fungi, bacteria, or feces, etc.
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Control pet dander:
Pet dander is your pets’ skin cells that are found almost everywhere in a home with pets. This pet dander can be more harmful than pet fur. It can aggravate your asthma or give rise to develop asthma-like symptoms. So, if you have a pet, groom them regularly. Brush them outdoors. And vacuum clean your floors and furnishings regularly with a HEPA filter. This will help keep the pet dander to a minimum.
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Use Nontoxic cleaners:
The household cleaners contain several toxic chemicals that can pollute the air inside your home. Using homemade cleaners is a better alternative. It helps you have a chemical-free home. You can easily make them using ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, or citrus juice.
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Minimize Mold
Mold is a fungus that releases spores into the air. It can trigger allergy symptoms and affect your health. It is found in damp and dark places, such as your bathroom, laundry room, and basement. So keep these places clean and dry to reduce the growth of mold.
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Be careful of the new furniture:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that are found in things like glues, paints, fabrics, and construction materials, etc. New furniture emits more VOCs. To reduce this pollution from your home, keep the new furniture in a well-ventilated place for a few days. You can store it in a garage for a week. If it’s not possible, at least open the windows of the room for ten or fifteen minutes every morning, for the first few months of buying the furniture.
Conclusion:
These natural air purifiers are easy to use and cost-effective. They are environment-friendly too. However, if you need more extensive purifying of air, you can use an electric air purifier. You may need this if someone in your family has asthma. However, for most households, the natural air purifiers mentioned above can be sufficient to improve the quality of indoor air.
