Did you know that air quality in the average home is lower than the quality of air outside of your home? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concentrations of pollutants are sometimes two to five times higher than outdoor concentrations.
This might come as a surprise; outdoor air contains pockets of pollen, clouds of dust and car exhaust, and all of the carbon monoxide and ozone you can shake a stick at. However, the air in your home may contain mold, dust mites, dander, carcinogens, chemicals, and even a fair amount of the outdoor pollutants you tracked in with you. Fortunately, there are ways to improve the air quality in your home, including professional carpet cleaning.
Unlike the air outside, the air in your home is relatively contained. Any allergens and pollutants that enter your home stay there: clinging to your ceiling fans, settling in nooks and crannies, embedding themselves in air filters, and burrowing into your carpet fibers. While plenty of pollutans and contaminants are present in outdoor air, they are scattered and blown about. There’s also just so much more air outside, which dilutes the pollution.
The EPA states that the average American spends roughly 90% of the day indoors (sleeping alone takes up roughly a third of your day). With how much time we spend indoors, it’s incredibly important to keep the air in our homes clean. Here are a few ways to improve indoor air quality. Browse and take time to read our article on stress and housecleaning to discover more about how mess can induce tension. Additionally, it can be distressing if despite your best efforts, your home is still a mess.
Change air filters
Change the air filters in your home at least once every six months. You may have to replace your filters every 90 days, or more, if you have indoor pets.
Check for chemicals
Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Also check for radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that finds its way into some homes. There are several different products that allow you to check for radon in your home.
Air out your home
Occasionally open up the windows in your home to let the air circulate. This is especially important after burning candles, after cooking, and after using cleaning products.
Wash linens often
Sheets and pillows are prime real estate for allergens and dust mites. Wash your linens at least once a week. Avoid drying linens outside on a line, especially on high pollen days.
Remove your shoes
It’s surprising just how much you can track into your home on the bottom of your shoes. Help keep pollen and other pollutants out by removing your shoes before entering your home.
Keep pets outside
You may love your cat, and your dog may be the most admired member of your family, but animals produce a lot of dander, fur, and allergens that can drastically decrease the quality of air in your home.
Install an air purifier
Air purifiers don’t actually purify the air in your home — they don’t completely eliminate pollutants in your home — but they can help improve indoor air quality.
Routine cleaning
Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping may be boring chores, but they are absolutely essential to help keep the air in your home clean and your family healthy.
Hire a professional cleaning service
100,000 dust mites can live on a square yard of carpeting, and a carpet can hold eight times its weight in dirt, debris, and bacteria.
Professional carpet cleaning drastically improves the air quality in your home, it helps keep your family healthy, it keeps your carpet looking it’s best, and maximizes the lifetime of your carpet.
It’s recommended that you have your wall to wall carpets deep cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning service at least once a year, but you may need more frequent cleanings if you have pets or young children.
We offer a full range of professional janitorial and carpet cleaning services for business and homes in Northwest Arkansas. Contact us today for a free online quote for carpet cleaning.
