Spring has finally arrived, which means experts will be handing out plenty of advice on how to eat healthy and exercise in order to get ready for summer! Eating right and exercising are essential steps to improving one’s health; however, there’s another commonly overlooked factor that you may not have heard much about: how indoor air quality, or IAQ, affects your heart, respiratory system and brain. Thus, if you are committed to improving you and your family’s health this spring, you may want to consider adding a few of our indoor air quality tips to your Spring Cleaning Checklist!

Poor Indoor Air Quality & Your Health

Airborne particulates build up in your home, even if you can’t always see them. Here are just a few that are likely to be present to some degree, in a typical home:

• Dust
• Dust mites and other insect particles
• Mold, mildew and fungus
• Pollen
• Pet dander
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

In addition to dust and pollen, your home may also be harboring smoke, radon, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide in greater than normal volumes. The health effects of these substances in your air can range from mild irritation to serious diseases such as COPD or heart disease.

Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize your body’s exposure and give your family the best chance of avoiding complications.

10 Steps to Control Airborne Particulates

Follow these tips to keep pollen and other airborne particulates under control this spring:

1. Vacuum carpet, drapes and upholstery regularly using a HEPA filter
2. Control humidity and mold by running a dehumidifier
3. Schedule seasonal HVAC maintenance by a licensed professional
4. Brush pets outdoors frequently to control pet dander
5. Keep windows closed to keep out pollen
6. Use a good quality air filter in your HVAC system
7. Ban smoking in your home and limit the use of candles and other air fresheners
8. Air out chemical-laden products and dry cleaning before bringing them indoors
9. Wash linens in hot water to get rid of dust mites.
10. Use an air quality monitor to detect damaging levels of CO, CO2 or radon

To learn more about IAQ effects on your home and health, contact Jackson and Sons of eastern North Carolina.