With the cold weather here our sleeves are rolled down and windows are rolled up. This is great for keeping our houses warm but it’s unfortunately terrible for keeping the air we breathe clean.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the air inside our homes and work environments can easily be several times more polluted than the air outside. Dust, dander, toxins, allergens and chemicals are what we expose ourselves to every day and aren’t even aware of it most of the time. Many people suffer with sensitivities or allergies from products like detergents, perfumes, cleaners and other household items and cosmetics. We filter water we drink, we even go so far as to filter cigarettes, but how often do you think of filtering and cleaning the air that we breathe? Other than filters installed in your home, here are a few ways you can cleanse your breathing space:

 

Grow Some Plants

Think plants were only good for providing oxygen? According to a NASA study, many plants are also effective at clearing contaminants in the air like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, just to name a few. Some of the best plants to have in your air-cleaning arsenal are English Ivy, Peace Lily, Variegated Snake Plant, Red-edged dracaena and Chrysanthemum.

Use a Himalayan Salt Lamp

Himalayan salt lamps emit negative ions into the air. Negative ions help to neutralize contaminants in the air (which are in the form of free radicals) such as allergens and toxins, chemicals and even electromagnetic activity. The blue light emitted from TV’s, computers and phones interfere with our ability to fall asleep, but the light coming from salt lamps has the opposite effect. This makes it the ideal source of light to use in your bedroom when preparing to sleep.

Only Burn Beeswax Candles

Just like the Himalayan salt lamps, pure beeswax candles emit negative ions that clear the air while ignited. Beeswax is the only candle material that does not have to be processed or altered in order to be utilized. Many paraffin or soy wax candles also have colours, fragrances and materials added that can release undesired chemicals into the air.

Open Your Windows

I’m not saying you have to have your windows open all the time, especially if temperatures are below zero, or at night when you’re trying to sleep, but opening your windows for at least 10 minutes a day will help to improve air that you breathe and increase oxygen levels. Remember this doesn’t just apply to your home. If it’s possible, encourage this in your work environment as well. There have been recent diagnoses of what is now identified as SBS or Sick Building Syndrome, which is a correlation to the lack of fresh air, circulation, and ventilation in any given indoor environment.

Diffuse Essential Oils

Essential oils are great for uplifting your mood and also for helping to disinfect the air around you. Essential oils have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties so they are great for disinfecting any space. They can be utilized as easily as adding a few drops to a diffuser or atomizer. Great for preventing colds in your home, they are especially beneficial for this time of the year. Some of the strongest germ fighting essential oils are Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Pine, Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary.

 


References

https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality

https://archive.org/details/nasa_techdoc_19930072988

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq

http://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/TranslationSchwindetal1994.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994788/