Healthier Indoor Air – Let’s Air It Out
In perusing the many great indoor air quality sites today I ran across something that caught my attention. The blog author points out that we have gotten very good at energy efficiency in our homes. Sounds like a great thing, right? Well, yes and no. While it’s great on the environment and our wallets, maybe not so great on the quality of our indoor air. We have everything so tightened up that when we bring possible toxins into our homes they become trapped. Oh dear, one more thing to be concerned about. Well, yes perhaps. However, there are some fairly simple things we can do to avoid the threat. Below are the tips this particular author gives. They can be effective and are relatively easy.
- Make Sure It’s Certified. The only surefire way to find products that will have minimal impact on your indoor air is to look for those that have been independently tested and certified for low chemical emissions by an unbiased third party, such as the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, which screens products for more than 10,000 chemicals. GREENGUARD Certification requires that products meet some of the world’s most stringent chemical emissions limits. Peruse the GREENGUARD Product Guide online at greenguard.org to find certified products that can help you create a healthier home.
- Let It Air Out. If it’s not possible to purchase a third-party-certified, low-emitting product, be sure to unpackage any new product in a well-ventilated and, preferably, unoccupied room (not the garage, though!) and allow it to air out there for at least one week. If weather and climate permit, you should also open your windows and turn on a fan or two to allow fresh, outdoor air to blow indoors and “flush away” the contaminants.
- Clean Up Your Cleaners. Avoid using household cleaners that are made with harsh chemicals and/or strong-smelling solvents. Opt for those that have been independently evaluated by a science-based, independent certifier, such as EcoLogo or the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. If that isn’t possible, go with white vinegar and baking soda: Vinegar is a great natural disinfectant, and both are safe and inexpensive!
- Off-Gas Outside. Just got your dry cleaning done? Be sure to remove the plastic bag and hang the clothing up in a well-ventilated, unoccupied room where it can sufficiently air out before you bring it into your living space. Dry cleaners often use tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), a potential cancer-causing chemical, which can off-gas from freshly dry-cleaned materials.
- Go Odorless. Avoid using home air fresheners, scented aerosol sprays, and fragranced candles in the home. These scents, no matter how pleasant to the nose they may be, are potentially toxic VOCs in disguise. If what you’re after is a “clean” smelling home, remember “clean” should never have an odor at all. Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/five-steps-for-healthier_b_1312949.html
Hope these tips prove helpful in making the air in your homes safer for you and your families. As always, if we can help you improve your indoor air give us a call or visit our site.
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