While spring signals growth and rebirth, it’s also a time that many allergy sufferers dread because of the symptoms they must endure before enjoying summer’s fun. Taking control of your home’s indoor air quality is one way to help decrease the sneezes, coughs and itchy eyes while also looking after your respiratory health. That said, here’s how you can improve your indoor air quality so your home doesn’t become a safe haven for harmful pollutants and chemicals.

Take Advantage of the Benefits That Plants Provide

Not only are plants aesthetically pleasing, but the right ones can help purify the air inside your home by filtering out volatile organic compounds. If you don’t believe us, take NASA’s word for it. Any one of these plants will help.

• Aloe (Aloe vera)
• Spider plant (Chlorophytumcomosum)
• Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonni)
• Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
• Golden pothos (Scindapsus aures)
• Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)
• Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)
• Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)
• Azalea (Rhododendron simsii)
• English ivy (Hedera helix)
• Warneck dracaena (Dracaena deremensis)
• Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema Crispum)
• Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)
• Heart leaf philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium)
• Peace lily (Spathiphyllum)

Limit Your Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Your Home

VOCs are a group of carbon-based chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. We’re exposed to thousands of VOCs daily, but some are more harmful to our health than others. Although eliminating all the VOCs in your home is nearly impossible, try starting with this group to improve your IAQ.

• Cleaning products (use non-toxic alternatives instead)
• Air fresheners and air cleaners that produce ozone
• Smoke (do it outside, if you must)

Invest in Indoor Air Quality Testing and Other IAQ Solutions

Hiring a specialist to test your IAQ is the best way to check if your home has a healthy or harmful air environment. Additionally, you can use a combination of air purifiers, ventilators and humidifiers to take full control of the air you breathe. Talk with an IAQ specialist to come up with a comprehensive plan to improve your home’s air quality.

For more information about how you can improve the air inside your home and protect your respiratory health, consider these solutions for allergies or contact us at (903) 200-4584.