3 Ways to Improve Your Apartment’s Air Quality

Even before the stay-at-home orders, Americans were spending about 90 percent of their time indoors. While we all enjoy a little downtime, the EPA has reported that indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. If we’re going to be spending so much time indoors, we might as well make sure it’s as healthy as possible.

While outdoor pollutants can be visible as smog, haze, and smoke, the status of your indoor air can often go unnoticed. Here are three tips to help you improve the air quality in your apartment without stressing.

Increase ventilation.

Simply opening your windows and doors can increase airflow to your apartment, which will immediately improve your air quality. This is increasingly important when you are doing activities that are adding additional contaminants to your air, such as cooking.

Cut down on pollutants.

Be mindful of what you bring into your apartment. Some types of furniture, air fresheners, and cleaning agents, to name a few, can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your air, which can be damaging to your health. To reduce your exposure, look for products labeled “low VOCs.” Additionally, look for products made from natural ingredients.

Grow an indoor garden.

A wonderful technique to reduce indoor air pollution is indoor gardening . Plants, while often used for their decorative qualities, can also reduce pollutants in your air. To get you started, here’s a list of several plants that have been shown to reduce contaminants like formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene. Breathe easier while also enjoying the beauty of decorative plant life.

With all the time we’re currently spending indoors, your air quality is more important than ever. These three small changes can significantly improve the quality of the air inside your apartment. Why wait? Let’s make your air fresh and clean.