Cleaning Tips that Help Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants

Cleaning your home and getting rid of clutter is by far the best way to remove and reduce indoor air pollutants. You may be shocked to learn how many pollutants there are inside your home. A surface may look clean, but if you strapped on a pair of x-ray goggles, you would see a literal ocean of bacteria, dust mites, mold spores, pollen and a number of other particulates. These particulates include microscopic particles of paint, cleaning solutions and even car exhaust. If you have allergies, the pollutants can be a serious problem, which is the reason why it is so important to clean. Here are some cleaning tips that help reduce indoor air pollutants.

1.  Throw out stuff you don't need. One of the best ways to reduce indoor allergens is to get rid of anything that is simply attracting dust and debris. That old chair that no one sits on - you can probably toss it. Those old boxes - you can probably recycle them and find a safe place for the contents inside. When it comes down to it, the less clutter you have inside your home, the cleaner the air will be.

2.   Wipe after you dust. A quick dusting will get rid of a lot of dust, but oftentimes, there is still a layer of dust that remains. This layer of dust will keep building and building until it is caked onto whatever surface it is stuck on. This is why you want to bring a damp cloth with you when you dust - after you dust a particular area, you want to simply wipe the area down and remove whatever dust may be left. This is especially important on molding and hard to reach places.

3.   Blast an air purifier while you clean. When you do a deep clean of your home, you may be using harsh chemicals. The irony is that many of those chemicals will still linger. Eventually the molecules settle, dry and then are kicked back into the air. To remove these particulates, you want to run an air purifier. Ideally, you want to use a purifier that has a HEPA filter, because not only will you remove particulates in the air - you will also remove dust, dander, mold spores and other pollutants.

4.   Empty out your vacuum cleaner regularly. Your vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt - most of the debris ends up in a bag inside the unit. Typically, you are supposed to clean out this bag every couple of weeks. However, if you want to make sure none of the dirty spreads throughout your home, you may want to empty it out more regularly.

5.   Open your windows. When you clean, you want to open the windows to get plenty of ventilation and sunshine. Ventilation alone can clean and circulate the air - the sunshine's UV rays can kill mold and mildew. When it comes down to it, you should be opening your windows during the day, especially on hot days, because it will keep your home feeling fresh and it will keep the pollutants to a minimum.