Improve Indoor Air Quality and Keep Your Family Healthy

Posted: October 11, 2022 | By: JEANETTE ANDERSON

According to the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) poor indoor air quality can have serious repercussions on an individual’s health.  In fact, currently indoor air quality is ranked by the EPA (USA) as one of the top 5 environmental risks to public health.

Indoor pollutants that threaten air quality include lead, dust mites, mold (mould), radon, pests, carbon monoxide, pet dander, second hand smoke and VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds).

These pollutants can cause immediate effects; irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue and aggravation of symptoms among asthmatics, COPD, respiratory diseases and heart diseases. The effects are escalated in children and in particular, babies who experience greater exposure.  They eat, drink, and breathe more relative to their size than adults. They play close to the ground and are continually exploring the environment with hand to mouth activity.

They are TOTALLY unaware and unable to protect themselves from potential hazards.

Outdoor vs Indoor air quality

We take about 20,000 breaths each day and spend 90% of our time indoors.  With this in mind, it’s incredibly important to encourage everyone to fight for clean, healthy air especially in our homes.

There’s a proliferation of information available on tips to protect you from the dangers of outdoor air pollution, including tips and alarming warnings;

100-percent-organic-home-cleaning-solutions

  • Check the daily air pollution forecasts in your area.
  • Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high. In fact, it’s encouraged that when the air quality is bad you should walk indoors in a shopping mall or use an exercise machine at the gym.  It’s highly recommended that you limit the amount of time your child spends playing outdoors if the air quality is unhealthy!
  • Use less energy in your home; electricity and other energy sources create air pollution
  • Don’t burn wood or trash or rubbish. They are major sources of particle pollution (soot).
  • Don’t allow smoking in homes and avoid being near to someone who is smoking.

The warning from the EPA…”Clean up sources of air pollution, someone you love may depend on it!”

What about indoor air quality?

Obviously, using an air purifier is useful.  It can help you breathe in whatever room you’re in at the time.  If you can, it’s useful to have an air purifier in multiple rooms.  That’s because air from unpurified room (such an entry or hallway) can leak into the room and overtax the purifier and negate its effect.  Use these with other simple air quality improvement methods.

  • Regularly vacuum and wash your floors. Your floors are where MOST of the dust and pollutants that enter your home tend to settle. Use a good quality floor cleaner that will lift the contaminants off your floors and prevent you from breathing in lots of dust, chemicals, pollens and other nasties. Youngevity/Nature Direct manufacture a powerful floor cleaner; Super Strength Concentrate.
  • Use an outdoor floor mat. They are surprisingly inexpensive and effective at improving air quality in the home.  Doorways and verandas are notoriously filled with particles of contaminants and pollutants.

What triggers poor air quality in the home?

In particular how do you recognize what triggers impact the air we breathe?  Most of us unwittingly contribute to the chemical toxic load in the home on a daily basis!

Indoor air pollutants include:

  • The obvious common allergens such as dust particles, dust mites (especially in the warmer areas), pet dander, mold (mould).
  • Scents, chemicals and other volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
  • Paints, varnish, pesticides, new furniture, carpets, mattresses, clothing, linen.
  • Air fresheners
  • Food waste, rubbish bins/trash cans.

Reducing the level of allergy triggers in your home

First, shut all doors and windows.

  • Use nontoxic cleaning products in your home. If you have a cleaner then insist that they do not use any toxic cleaning product.

“Cleaning products can be toxic for people with asthma as they often contain chemical compounds that can inflame the airways, leaving people prone to an asthma attack. It is deeply concerning that this study of women in particular, shows cleaning products can cause long term lung damage for people with asthma and lung conditions.” *Asthma+Lung UK

  • Control dust mites by keeping your surfaces clean, uncluttered and sanitised.
  • Use a nontoxic AIR sanitiser such as Nature Direct EnviroMist to spray throughout the rooms.
  • Dust with a premium microfiber cloth (these have microscopic hooks that trap dust) lightly sprayed with Nature Direct EnviroMist. This pair is very effective at attracting and trapping particles.
  • Vacuum your home once or twice a week
  • Vacuum your mattress every week
  • Consider removing carpets and rugs from bedrooms. They store a lot of dust, dust mites and other allergens in your home.
  • Use an allergy certified mattress and pillow protectors
  • Wash sheets, pillow cases and doona covers in hot water every week. 130 f or 50+ c
  • Prevent pollen from getting inside; keep all doors and windows closed.
  • Avoid mold (mould) by recognizing the early signs (it often emits a musty smell). Get onto the source of moisture quickly. *Mold (mould) questions can be directed to Jeanette Anderson, Global Brand Ambassador Youngevity/ Nature Direct.
  • Use a Humidifier. Humidifiers help reduce allergy symptoms and improve the mucous membranes of the airway.  Ensure the unit is regular cleaned.
  • Use Nature Direct EnviroMist and EnviroAir to control strong cooking odours in the living areas.

Many people will react to strong odors (odours) from perfumes/essential oils, household or industrial cleaners, air fresheners, nail polishers and removers and pungent cooking odors such as cooking curry or chili dishes.

  • Keep toys clean and stored away. Toys and knick knacks tend to collect a lot of dust. Spray with Nature Direct EnviroMist and wipe with a dampened microfiber cloth.

Safe, natural air cleaning solutions from Nature Direct

  • Free from VOC’s
  • Plant based
  • No parabens, ammonias, bleaches, phthalates, alcohol
  • pH neutral
  • Meet international sustainability and environmental standards
  • Economical concentrates
  • No animal testing
  • No palm oil
  • No GMO’s
  • No Gluten
  • Organically sourced
  • Vegan
  • No BPA or BPS in our bottles, triggers

For more information contact [email protected] or message via What’s App and FB messenger. *references available.

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