Parents play an important role when it comes to protecting children and providing a safe environment for them, especially when they are at home. In the past year, our children have been spending a lot more time indoors, so we should try our best to create an environment where even the air they breathe is safe for them. Here are some of the things that you can do to improve and maintain the air quality of your home for your children.
Purify the Indoor Air
When it comes to improving the air quality of your home, have you considered installing an air purifier? It is one of the best ways to improve the air quality, and it is also the easiest. The purpose of an air purifier is to clean the air and reduce the number of pollutants, allergens, and toxins present. There are tons of air purifiers on the market now, and there is always one that can fit your budget. However, it is better to choose one with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter because they can remove 99.97% of particles of pollutants bigger than 0.3-microns in diameter. This makes HEPA air purifiers the most efficient one out of all the air purifiers, which is why they are highly recommended for home use.
Choose the Right Textile for Your Toddlers
Using an air purifier for your home is great for improving the air quality, but it is not the only thing that you should do. Another thing you should consider is choosing a suitable textile for your children, especially babies and toddlers. Beddings and curtains are used to keep the room warm so that your children can sleep well at night, but these items are potential storehouses for many allergens. If you are concerned about your textiles compromising the air, you should try getting hypoallergenic textiles for your young children. Aside from that, washing your textiles using chemical-free detergents on a regular basis and vacuuming the room every few days is another fantastic way to keep your family’s allergy symptoms to a minimum, especially if you have carpeted floors.
Purchase Non-toxic, Naturally-finished Furniture
Even the furniture you use in your home could affect the quality of the air. Most of us tend to purchase furniture that is coated with paint and varnish which protect the item from damage, but these coatings can emit toxic chemicals. It is better to purchase non-toxic furniture that is made with natural material composition and has a natural finish.
You should also be concerned about the paint and finishes that you use for your walls because they can continue to emit toxic chemicals after application. Most paints that you can get contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which might cause health issues and also affect the environment. If you wish to avoid VOCs in your house, opt for VOC-free paints, especially for indoor use.
Reduce Pet Dander
Your beloved pet, on the other hand, might shed a lot of dead skin cells and fur, which can have an impact on the air quality. If you want to protect your children’s lungs and sinuses, try to lessen the amount of pet dander in your home by grooming your pets, vacuuming the house, and washing your home’s textiles on a regular basis. Pet dander can be quite pervasive, so placing an air purifier with HEPA filters in the rooms that your pet frequents could reduce the amount of dander in the air.
Manage Indoor Humidity
You may not expect it, but the humidity of your home could affect the quality of the air. High humidity can cause air to be heavier, making it difficult to breathe, especially for younger children. It can also lead to the growth of bacteria, fungus, and other pollutants. If you want to avoid this, then you should try to maintain the ideal level of humidity in your home and children’s room, which would be around 40-45 per cent. Since the level of humidity of your home could differ depending on where you live, you can either purchase a humidifier or dehumidifier to manage the level of humidity.
Ventilate The Room
We may not think about ventilation much when it comes to indoor air quality, but it does have a huge effect. Improper ventilation can encourage the growth of mould and other pollutants, which can worsen the air quality of our home. Even if you have an air purifier in every room of the house, you should still open the windows for at least 10-20 minutes to air out the room. Some houses even come with a ventilation system which reduces the need to open the windows, but it should be cleaned and maintained regularly.
