While you’re enjoying the outdoors this summer, you’re most likely thinking about the air quality index, using sun block, not exercising during the heat of the day, along with other health related cautions associated with spending time outside. Are you also thinking about your indoor environment? According to the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency, the air we breathe indoors may be up to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. If you are one of the millions of Americans living with allergies or lung diseases such as asthma or COPD, then it’s particularly important to make sure your indoor air quality is lung-friendly.
Here are a few indoor air menaces:
Dust mites - If you are allergic to dust I don’t have to tell you how irritating it can be and how it can affect your daily routine. If you have asthma and dust is one of your triggers, then that irritable disruption can set off an asthma episode that could potentially land you in the emergency room. Those microscopic critters known as dust mites need to be dealt with, especially if you are susceptible to the aggravation they can cause to your respiratory system.
Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, but rest assured, they are almost everywhere. Dust mites especially enjoy living in stuffed animals, curtains, carpeting, sofas, old clothing, pillows and bedding. Up to 2 million dust mites can call a double mattress home. The most important step in controlling dust mites is to keep your home’s humidity level below 50 percent. Drier air keeps dust mites and other allergens from growing. Use air conditioning or open the window to exhaust cooking and bathroom moisture. Be sure to wash your bed linens every week in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Many health care professionals recommend pillows made of fabric impermeable to dust mites and pillow and mattress covers that have dust mite barrier protection. Use a damp cloth when dusting and when vacuuming use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency, purifying air-filtration system.
Take our Sweeter Dreams quiz and test your dust mite knowledge by CLICKING HERE.
Pets – Be pet-smart. If anyone in the household is allergic to a pet, the best action is to find a nice new home for it. The next best thing is to keep the pet outside. If you must keep them inside, do not share your sleeping spaces with them. Bathing them weekly may help along with cleaning their bedding each week.
Mold and Mildew – Once again, keeping the indoor level of humidity at no more than 50 percent is one of the best ways to eliminate mold and mildew growth. Also, keep your house well insulated, properly caulked and sealed to prevent leaky basements, windows, roofs and vents. Angle downspouts at a five percent slope away from your house. Properly ventilate and clean bathrooms, kitchen and laundry rooms. Check to be sure your dryer is vented outdoors and not into the garage.
No Smoking!! Don’t let anyone smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars in your home – secondhand smoke is extremely harmful especially if you suffer from respiratory problems.
Heating and air conditioning systems – It’s very important to perform proper maintenance which includes making sure filters are changed according to manufacturer’s recommendations, in order to make sure the system is regulating the humidity and filtering out irritants. Have anything that burns fuel inspected annually and vented outdoors and make sure to install carbon monoxide detectors.
Paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides and other chemicals – Purchase only what you need to use immediately so you won’t have leftovers in your home. Store those you need regularly in a dry well-ventilated area and away from children. Never mix cleaning products that contain chlorine and those including ammonia…such mixtures produce potentially lethal fumes.
For more information on indoor air quality issues, visit our indoor air section by CLICKING HERE.
Here are a few indoor air menaces:
Dust mites - If you are allergic to dust I don’t have to tell you how irritating it can be and how it can affect your daily routine. If you have asthma and dust is one of your triggers, then that irritable disruption can set off an asthma episode that could potentially land you in the emergency room. Those microscopic critters known as dust mites need to be dealt with, especially if you are susceptible to the aggravation they can cause to your respiratory system.
Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, but rest assured, they are almost everywhere. Dust mites especially enjoy living in stuffed animals, curtains, carpeting, sofas, old clothing, pillows and bedding. Up to 2 million dust mites can call a double mattress home. The most important step in controlling dust mites is to keep your home’s humidity level below 50 percent. Drier air keeps dust mites and other allergens from growing. Use air conditioning or open the window to exhaust cooking and bathroom moisture. Be sure to wash your bed linens every week in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Many health care professionals recommend pillows made of fabric impermeable to dust mites and pillow and mattress covers that have dust mite barrier protection. Use a damp cloth when dusting and when vacuuming use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency, purifying air-filtration system.
Take our Sweeter Dreams quiz and test your dust mite knowledge by CLICKING HERE.
Pets – Be pet-smart. If anyone in the household is allergic to a pet, the best action is to find a nice new home for it. The next best thing is to keep the pet outside. If you must keep them inside, do not share your sleeping spaces with them. Bathing them weekly may help along with cleaning their bedding each week.
Mold and Mildew – Once again, keeping the indoor level of humidity at no more than 50 percent is one of the best ways to eliminate mold and mildew growth. Also, keep your house well insulated, properly caulked and sealed to prevent leaky basements, windows, roofs and vents. Angle downspouts at a five percent slope away from your house. Properly ventilate and clean bathrooms, kitchen and laundry rooms. Check to be sure your dryer is vented outdoors and not into the garage.
No Smoking!! Don’t let anyone smoke cigarettes, pipes or cigars in your home – secondhand smoke is extremely harmful especially if you suffer from respiratory problems.
Heating and air conditioning systems – It’s very important to perform proper maintenance which includes making sure filters are changed according to manufacturer’s recommendations, in order to make sure the system is regulating the humidity and filtering out irritants. Have anything that burns fuel inspected annually and vented outdoors and make sure to install carbon monoxide detectors.
Paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides and other chemicals – Purchase only what you need to use immediately so you won’t have leftovers in your home. Store those you need regularly in a dry well-ventilated area and away from children. Never mix cleaning products that contain chlorine and those including ammonia…such mixtures produce potentially lethal fumes.
For more information on indoor air quality issues, visit our indoor air section by CLICKING HERE.
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