According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air may be four to five times more polluted than outdoor air. With Americans spending nearly 90 percent of their time inside, indoor air quality is often taken for granted.
Allergens such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches and mold; irritants such as smoke, chemical odors and dust; and biological pollutants such as viruses and bacteria swirl in, often causing headaches, stuffy noses, tickly throats, nagging coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath, itchy eyes and more.
The average home has 72 trillion allergens floating in the air. “No matter how often you clean, those tiny little particles can get into your loved ones’ lungs, triggering allergies, asthma and a variety of other respiratory ailments. Fortunately, there are things you can do to make the air in your home better,” says John Spengler, Ph.D., professor of environmental health and human habitation at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Discourage mold growth. A musty smell or mold spots should sound an alarm. Replace missing grout, and repair or replace leaky faucets and pipes immediately. Use a...