How To Improve Air Quality and Reduce Allergens in Your Home

Breathing clean air at home is essential to health and well-being, especially for people with allergies or respiratory issues. Airborne contaminants like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen can trigger sneezing, congestion, and various other long-term health problems. 

In addition to exacerbating existing conditions, poor indoor air quality can also cause headaches, fatigue and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Common daily activities that we all engage in like cooking, cleaning and using household products can release pollutants into the air making it worse. 

The good news is that improving air quality and reducing allergens in your home is easier than you might think. You can have a fresher, healthier living space with just a few basic changes like improving ventilation and using air purifiers. Let’s find out how! 

Monitor Your Humidity Levels

If you want to enjoy indoor air that is healthy and allergen-free - and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that? - getting the humidity levels just right in your home is a must. Excess moisture creates the perfect conditions for mould growth and dust mites, both of which can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.

So what is the perfect level of indoor humidity to avoid these problems? Ideally, you should aim for between 30% and 50% humidity inside your home, as per the National Asthma Council recommendations. Thankfully, you can go about it in many ways. 

When humidity is on the higher side, a dehumidifier is great for removing excess moisture in damp areas of the house, like the bathroom or laundry. Your air con is another ally that can do its part to control humidity during the warmer months. But as Cyber Air Conditioning suggests, its effectiveness depends on your system’s size, settings and maintenance. 

On the other hand, when indoor humidity is too low, the dry air can irritate your airways. In these situations, using a humidifier will be of great assistance in getting comfort levels just right.

Identify and Reduce Indoor Pollutants

Though you may not necessarily see indoor air pollution in your home, you’ll likely feel its effects. 

There are many things we use or produce in our homes each day that can introduce potentially harmful pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. They include (but certainly not limited to):

• Cleaning products

• Paints

• Air fresheners

• Cooking fumes

• Cigarette smoke

Reducing the presence of these sources in your home makes a big difference. We’re certainly not suggesting you stop cleaning or cooking. But choosing natural or low-VOC products, avoiding synthetic air fresheners and switching to fragrance-free cleaning solutions definitely helps. If you smoke, take it outside to prevent toxins from lingering indoors. Good ventilation helps too—open windows when you can and use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms. 

By minimising indoor pollutants in your home, you can reduce allergy flare-ups and enjoy a cleaner healthier space that’s easier on your lungs.

Regular Cleaning to Kill Allergens

One of the most effective ways to keep allergens to a minimum and indoor air quality at its best is with something you’re likely doing anyway - regular cleaning. 

Dust, pet dander and pollen settle on surfaces, carpets and furniture, so thorough cleaning is essential. Vacuum at least twice a week with a HEPA-filtered vacuum to trap tiny particles that trigger allergies. Instead of using a dry duster that simply moves allergens around and sends them into the air, use a damp cloth to wipe them up. Remove dust mites from the equation by regularly washing your bedding, curtains and cushion covers. 

Hard floors collect less dust than carpets so sweeping and mopping can help keep allergens at bay. Don’t forget the overlooked areas like skirting boards, ceiling fans and air vents. All in all, a consistent cleaning routine makes breathing easier and your home feel fresher.

Improve Your Ventilation and Fresh Air Circulation

Ventilation is key to fresh indoor air and reducing allergens. Stale air allows pollutants like dust, mould spores and VOCs to build up and trigger allergies and respiratory issues.

Opening windows and doors daily for a few minutes helps to flush out indoor pollutants and draw in fresh air. Exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms remove moisture and prevent mould growth. If pollen or pollution has negatively affected outdoor air quality, use trickle vents or mechanical ventilation systems to improve airflow without letting allergens in. Using ceiling fans or air purifiers to move the air about also helps to address any issues with stagnant air inside your home. 

A well-ventilated home feels fresher, prevents dampness and supports better overall health.

Install Air Purifiers and Filters

Air purifiers and high-quality filters can make a big difference in indoor air quality by capturing allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander. Choosing the right one means your home will stay fresh and breathable. When choosing an air purifier consider:

• HEPA filter efficiency – Captures tiny airborne particles including allergens as small as 0.3 microns.

• Coverage area – Make sure the purifier is powerful enough for the room size.

• Maintenance requirements – Check how often filters need replacing and how easy they are to clean.

• Noise levels – Quieter models are better for bedrooms and living areas.

• Additional features – Some purifiers have carbon filters for odours or UV light for bacteria.

Combining a high-quality air purifier with regular cleaning and good ventilation is the best way to keep allergens under control so you can breathe easier at home.

Houseplants: Do They Help Or Hinder?

The humble houseplant. It’s a great way to add some colour and personality to your home, and can also improve indoor air quality to a small extent. However, not houseplants all are allergy friendly.

Some plants are great at filtering out toxins like formaldehyde and benzene and, in doing so, make the air feel fresher. Snake plants, peace lilies and spider plants are great for removing pollutants and are low maintenance. However, if you overwater them you risk mould growth in the soil that can trigger asthmatic or allergic reactions. Other houseplants also release pollen, which can worsen symptoms for sensitive individuals. 

If you want to keep houseplants indoors that won’t kick off your allergies, follow these tips:

• Choose plants that are low in pollen.

• Avoid overwatering.

• Keep your plants in well-ventilated spaces in the house.

• Wipe the leaves of your plants regularly to keep dust build-up to a minimum.

With the right selection and care, houseplants can improve air quality without adding to allergy troubles.

Breathe Easier with a Healthier Home

Improving indoor air quality doesn’t have to be hard. Even small changes can make a bigger difference than you might realise. 

By simply maintaining a consistent cleaning schedule, getting your home’s ventilation in peak condition and using air purifiers, you’ll be able to keep the presence of airborne allergens to a minimum. 

Getting your humidity levels under control stops the potential for mould growth, while adding houseplants (the right ones, mind you) can be a fun way to add freshness to your home without exacerbating allergic reactions.

With a few healthy habits you can have a cleaner fresher home where you and your family can breathe easier every day.