Many assume their indoor air is clean if they live away from wildfire smoke zones, smoggy cities, or other sources of outdoor pollution. But this assumption may be misguided. According to Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse and chairman of Change the Air Foundation, “Unfortunately, our indoor air is not as healthy as you may think.” Rubino, who also hosts the Never Been Sicker podcast, points to factors many homeowners overlook when assessing air quality.
According to Dr. James Langer, a Materials Science Engineer and CEO of Colorfil, “Indoor air can be five times or more polluted than outdoor air, which can lead to an array of negative health consequences ranging from nuisance-like headaches or more serious issues like chronic allergies, asthma, or even cancer. Notably, indoor air quality can be an issue regardless of where you live, as the primary sources of indoor air pollution come from inside the home itself.”
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Pollutants such as cigarette smoke, excessive dust, visible mold, and pet dander may be obvious culprits in making the indoor air a little harder to breathe. Still, they’re only part of the problem and may not even be the biggest.
Air purifiers and dehumidifiers can help tremendously, but being aware and having good, healthy air habits are equally important. We spoke to three experts about the surprising things inside your home that may contribute to poor air quality, and what changes you can make to help combat them.
1. Cooking
A number of studies show that gas stoves present a real risk to air quality and respiratory health.
It doesn’t matter whether you have a gas or electric stove, or if you do the majority of your cooking in a contained space like the oven or microwave. “The No. 1 contributor to indoor air pollution is definitely cooking,” says Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, Certified Indoor Environmentalist, and licensed HVAC contractor. “We tend to be concerned about smells, but high-heat cooking, especially over open heat, is a significant source of p.m. 2.5, a type of particulate matter that can easily get into our lungs.”
However, this is not necessarily an excuse to order more takeout or a directive to invest in sous vide equipment. “Cooking with induction makes a tremendous difference to help the air quality,” says Dolphin Hammes, as does installing a true exhaust fan. “I emphasize that word ‘true’ because we don’t realize that 99% of all exhaust fans actually recirculate the air indoors,” she says. Simply opening a window can also be beneficial in reducing cooking pollution.
Read more: Gas Stove Are Here to Stay, but Are They Safe? Here’s What You Need to Know
2. HVAC system
HVAC systems, especially when not maintained properly, can be a source of unseen mold and dust.
In that same vein, the very system in your home that circulates air, known as the HVAC system — heating, ventilation, and air conditioning — can also be a source of unseen mold and dust, recirculating polluted air within your home rather than moving it outside. “The push for net-zero energy efficiency has led to more tightly built buildings with minimal airflow between indoor and outdoor environments,” says Rubino. “The result is that most contaminants that make their way inside the building will remain until they are actively removed.”
“Have the system serviced twice a year,” suggests Rubino. “Change air filters on time and upgrade to the highest-rated MERV filters your particular unit can handle.” The higher the MERV rating, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, the smaller the particles they can pull from the air.
Read more: How to Properly Clean Your Air Conditioner
3. Cleaning supplies
A homemade cleaning solution can keep harmful pollutants out of your air.
Surely keeping a clean house is key to clean air, right? Well… “Usually, the cleaning supplies that make the highest claims about killing germs or removing smells have a high amount of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs,” says Dolphin Hammes, which are other harmful particles in the air we breathe indoors.
“VOCs are known to cause nausea and can similarly have deleterious effects on health when exposed to higher levels or for extended periods of time,” says Langer. Instead, “look for low/no-fragrance cleaning products that do their job without covering up smells,” he says, and use a clean, damp cloth to wipe up dust wherever it collects on surfaces in your home.
To combat unnecessary VOCs, try making this all-natural cleaning solution with three ingredients you may already have.
4. Wet appliances
Any appliances that hold water, especially those in high-traffic areas, should be cleaned regularly to prevent mold from growing.
Most people understand that damp rooms, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, can harbor mold, but your kitchen is also a significant water source, and spores may come from elements other than spoiled foods. “Appliances like ice machines and refrigerator water spouts can also hide mold,” says Rubino, in addition to your shower and washing machine. Mold spores can trigger respiratory problems regardless of allergies and contribute to odors that compel us to try to cover them up.
Instead, cut them off at the sources. “These should be regularly cleaned,” says Rubino. “Allow them to dry out between uses and keep up with normal maintenance.”
Read more: Mold Growing Inside Your Washing Machine? Use This Secret Trick to Get Rid of It
5. Candles and incense
Anything that emits smoke will cause at least some decrease in air quality.
The very things you employ to make your home smell fresher are actually more than just masking other pollutants; they are also contributing to poorer air quality overall. This is especially true if those things also emit smoke, such as candles and incense, even in seemingly small amounts.
“More often than not, candles and incense are actually a source of pollution within your home,” says Dolphin Hammes. “People want to make their home smell fresh, but they’re most likely introducing high amounts of p.m. 2.5 with these.”
6. Air fresheners
Air fresheners
The same goes for other products where scent is the goal. “Air fresheners, essential oils, and other highly fragranced products are frequently used to cover up bad smells, but this may serve to simply make indoor air pollution even worse,” says Langer.
These products are also bad news for the non-human residents in your home. According to Langer, “there is a vanishingly small amount of data related to the safety of using these products around pets. Given their unique biology, dogs, cats, birds, and other small animals may be much more susceptible to negative side effects from these products.”
In place of fragranced options, consider an air purifier, or look for air fresheners that are baking soda or activated charcoal-based.
An air quality monitor can remove any doubt
Airthings View Plus will monitor your air quality around the clock and alert you in real time if things become dangerous.
If you’re concerned about air quality, a monitor provides real-time data so you can suss out and remedy the causes. We’ve tested several, including the $60 SwitchBot’s Meter Pro which tracks CO2, temperature, humidity, and the $300 Airthings View Plus which monitor VOCs, radon, particle and fdne particle matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity. Both send alerts when dangerous levels are reached.
