Spring Cleaning Indoor Air
A variety of indoor air pollutants and particles can be irritating and potentially harmful.
Liz Weiss, a contributing editor for Health magazine, stopped by The Early Show Tuesday with advice on the best ways to keep indoor air as clean as possible, and tips on the best spring cleaning techniques and air filter options.
The magazine's latest issue discusses the problem and solutions.
Weiss points out to co-anchor Julie Chen that Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, yet most people don't realize that the air in their homes can contribute to health problems.
Clean air is just as important inside the home as out.
Among the indoor air pollutants Weiss cites that can irritate the airways and cause health problems are pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and smoke particles from tobacco and cooking. They can lead to problems such as asthma attacks, itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny noses.
Radon and tobacco smoke can cause even more dangerous health effects, including lung cancer.
Even flame retardant chemicals used in things like mattresses and TVs can show up in household dust, although no one knows whether these chemicals cause harm.
Here is Weiss' advice on spring cleaning the air inside your home and also for keeping it clean with filters:
Vacuum and dust once or twice a week, using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA). HEPA filters trap small airborne particles and irritating allergens that may cause problems for allergy and asthma sufferers. Try to avoid sweeping: That only circulates dust. Open your windows when the weather allows you to. It's especially important to open windows when you're vacuuming. Fresh air and ventilation dilute indoor air pollutants.
Of course, if you suffer from allergies, you'll want to keep the windows closed and the pollen out. When the temperature, pollution index or pollen count are high, use an air conditioner to allow the windows and doors to stay closed. When using your air conditioner, use a filter with a high MERV rating. MERV stands for "minimum efficiency reporting value." Basically, it's an industry rating system that measures the ability of the filter to trap particles. Read the manufacturer's instructions, so you know how often to change your A/C filters.
You can also filter indoor air with a non-ionizing HEPA air purifier. Don't bother using an ionizing or ion-generating stand-alone air purifier. Research shows they are unlikely to reduce particle concentrations and may generate ozone, which is a respiratory irritant.
Other ways to improve indoor air quality include dehumidifiers in hot and humid climates to help reduce the chances that mold will develop in the home. Mold spores can become airborne allergens and irritants. If you suffer from allergies, it's important to determine the cause of their cause or causes, and make sure that the indoor environment doesn't contain the source of the allergy, i.e. pet dander from dogs or cats, certain flowers, etc.