{"id":18310,"date":"2020-04-09T08:01:48","date_gmt":"2020-04-09T13:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.abodo.com\/blog\/?p=18310"},"modified":"2020-06-03T14:55:18","modified_gmt":"2020-06-03T19:55:18","slug":"7-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality-for-apartment-dwellers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/7-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality-for-apartment-dwellers\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Apartment Dwellers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you ever think about ways to improve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/apartment-air-quality-concerns\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">indoor air quality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? What do you see when you think about air quality? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The infamous smog clouds in LA or something similar, probably. Most of us think of the outdoors and how much we as a species are impacting the environment we live in. With subjects like Global Warming and Arctic Ice-melt top of mind and heavily reported on, it\u2019s hard not to think of what\u2019s happening out there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a society, we\u2019re looking at greener ideas to reduce further impact. Governments around the globe are initiating strict carbon taxes and continuously trying to source cleaner energies. Every day you hear more and more companies announce these huge endeavors, like<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/16\/microsoft-will-be-carbon-negative-by-2030\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft\u2019s announcement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be carbon negative <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in under a decade.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same mentality can be applied in your home. Indoor air quality actually has the potential to be deadlier than the air outdoors. Your home is your humble haven and you should be safe to breathe the air in your home.\u00a0 Whether your apartment is small or large, the advice in here will make an impact on any living space. These ways are directed mainly at those living in apartments or condos because they\u2019re so much more mobile than the standard advice to install this or that contraption. No, these solutions are a bit craftier than an installation<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The list I made consists of some conventional ideas and some you might not have thought of before. They all have rental living in mind, so no need to worry about holes in your walls or crazy timelines, you can likely start the whole list today!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>7 ways to improve indoor air quality for apartment dwellers:<\/b><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clean the Air You Breathe<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bring the Right Greens Inside<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clean Your Soft Surfaces<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adjust Your Cleaners<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tidy Up Clutter<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep Air Circulation Top of Mind<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Natural Renovations<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That was a bit rapid-fire, so I\u2019m going to break these handy tips down <\/span><b>a lot <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">further below!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Clean the Air in your home<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomingair.com\/\">BloomingAir.com<\/a>, &#8220;There are so many options out there when it comes to air purifiers. How can you be sure you\u2019re getting what you need from your air purifier? Whether you have <\/span><a href=\"\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">concerns about mold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and dust, have fur-babies at home, intense allergies, or maybe you\u2019re a smoker, there\u2019s a solution out there for you.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Someone has almost always bought the product before you. Do your research and read credible reviews like the ones above. With widely varying options, each air purifier is different. According too <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the aesthetics and functionality of a Dyson stand out but just make sure the one you buy has enough coverage to manage your needs at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several models feature a compact size and can be ultra-lightweight. So if moving is always on your radar, you should watch out for something that gives you the flexibility you need. With some models not much bigger than the average houseplant, there\u2019s almost no excuse not to pick one up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which brings me to the greener things in apartment living, PLANTS!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Choose the right greenery for your home<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s conflicting information out there surrounding whether plants are good for your home or not. Choosing plants that don\u2019t like to remain wet will ensure that you have a solid watering routine so you can do your best to avoid mold building up. With the biggest risk being mold growth, you have to be wise about your green thumb decisions. Often the plans that work best are the easiest to care for!<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>House Plants remove toxins.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Houseplants can remove toxins and pollutants from the air in your home as they give you and your family a boost in oxygen. Through a process called photosynthesis, houseplants can turn CO<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> into the oxygen we need to breathe. You would have to have a ridiculous amount of plants to fully cycle your oxygen, but try to invest in some plants that will grow in the conditions you have at home. We all know how dark a north facing city view can be, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t have plants.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>7 Plants to Improve Indoor Air Quality<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do some thorough digging and find the plant or plants that are going to do their best in your care. To go with the seven ways to improve your air quality, I\u2019ve selected 7 plants that not only help you out, they\u2019re stunning too!<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bamboo Palm (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dypsis Lutescens<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a showy plant great for an apartment with a bit more space.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">English Ivy (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hedera Helix<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is a timeless, easy to grow vining plant. Put it in a hanging basket or let it drape from the top of your fridge.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gerbera Daisy (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gerbera Jamesonii<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is the pop of color your apartment deserves. Hailing from South Africa these daisy-like flowers will add a little pop of joy to your home.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Janet Craig Dracaena (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dracaena Deremensis \u2018Janet Craig\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)\u00a0 makes the perfect plant for a bright corner or nook. Growing to a decent height, this stunning plant adds a lot of drama to the room.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Red Edged Dracaena (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dracaena Marginata<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) will add a touch of flair to your home with its leaves edged in red.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mass Cane\/Corn Plant (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dracaena Massangeana<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is probably the easiest to grow on this list. It\u2019s wide and draping leaves often have a highlight of lighter green down the middle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Warneckii Dracaena (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dracaena Deremensis \u2018Warneckii\u2019<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) is another stunning plant from the dracaena family. The sturdy plant is shown off in offices because it can tolerate such a wide range of growing conditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whicher plants you buy, don\u2019t forget to dust them, they\u2019ll perform better, produce more oxygen, and you\u2019ll reduce the build up of any allergens.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Deeply Clean those Soft Surfaces<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From your couch to your carpet, try to clean your soft surfaces multiple times a week like you would your kitchen counters. Pet hair and dander can build up to intense levels for those with allergies if you avoid this.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider a vacuum with a HEPA so that you aren\u2019t blowing around everything you\u2019re trying to vacuum up. Another product where Dyson shines, I promise it\u2019s because they\u2019re just <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> good. Even a simple choice between carpeting and hard-surface flooring can go a long way. Since you can mop up the dust that vacuuming can miss, hard-surface floors can readily aid in keeping a high level of air quality in your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget about your bedding and drapes! Change and wash your sheets at least every two weeks so that they stay fresh and your bed stays properly protected from the oils and cells your body loses at night. Investing in a mattress protector is a great next step to ensure that your mattress is as protected as possible from building up unwanted allergens.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind that mopping really only needs to be done with simple water, I\u2019ve got more cleaning tips next.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Adjust your cleaners<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Switching away from chemical cleaners will make a huge impact on your life, especially if you\u2019ve got tiny humans or fur-babies at home. A simple<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will change your world. I\u2019m not saying get rid of all your cleaners now, that\u2019s not economically smart, but instead consistently make the effort to see what vinegar cleans to your standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personally, I opt to use vinegar all over my kitchen as a daily disinfectant. It\u2019s perfect in a simple spray bottle 1:4 with water, try your sink, stainless steel appliances, counters, and so much more. This simple switch saves our environment and our lungs from harsh chemicals and aerosols, so it\u2019s a no brainer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Baking soda is another great adjustment to your cleaning routine, adding that extra scrubbing power you look for in harsh cleaners, baking soda can be just what you needed to keep to natural cleaners. Did you know that you can put baking soda in your kitchen drain and add vinegar for a burst of drain cleaning power? It really does the trick to manage kitchen pests like fruit flies!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A clean home goes a long way to reducing allergens.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Clear away unwanted clutter<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The things in our home that sit on shelves collecting dust can really hinder the holistic health of your living space. We often forget about cleaning or dusting our nick-nacks and this can mean they harbor a ton of dust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate some of your unused or unwanted items if they have no sentimental value. Stuff for stuff\u2019s sake isn\u2019t worth it. If you can give someone the opportunity to brighten their home with a discounted decor item, share the wealth!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6. Circulate every chance you can<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to have good air quality you have to avoid stale air, which means air circulation is crucial,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/ceilingfancomparison.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you can use a ceiling fan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or a tower fan for some nice air circulation. Even just opening your windows to regularly circulate the air in your apartment will do some good. By cracking a window open you\u2019re<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lung.org\/clean-air\/at-home\/ventilation-buildings-breathe\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bringing fresh air in<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and reducing your indoor air pollution. If you\u2019re in a crowded city aim for traffic off times so that this isn\u2019t counter-productive! There are also<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fresh air has a number of health benefits, too, so it\u2019s a smart choice to let the air circulate regularly, you can . The increase in oxygen is good for your lungs, digestive system, and even your mood! Even if it&#8217;s absolutely freezing outside, popping open a window for just a few minutes can make a huge impact on your wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every time you\u2019re cooking on the stovetop, try to use your hood fan, too. Basic ventilation tips like this seem standard, but we can all forget sometimes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And finally:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>7. Aim for an all-natural renovation<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your standard house paints and carpets contain harsh gases that can linger long after your reno. Even the furniture you choose could contain toxic fumes from industrial glues and plastics. Thankfully researchers are doing their best to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/releases\/2018\/Q3\/is-your-furniture-putting-you-at-risk-for-cancer-underwater-glue-could-provide-safer,-sustainable-solution-for-100-billion-industries.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">improve the adhesives we use<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but we can do our part as consumers and ask the questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Making these good decisions early on is key so that your result is a sustainable and healthy foundation. I know you\u2019re not likely to be able to renovate an apartment, but this can go for any DIY projects you intend to have inside your home. Whether that\u2019s updating an antique dresser or low and behold your landlord actually lets you paint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These tips are not only effective, but they can be <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">incredibly cost-effective <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">solutions for any budget. You can improve indoor air quality in your home inside of a day and prepare your lifestyle for a shift towards healthier air to breathe.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you ever think about ways to improve indoor air quality? What do you see when you think about air quality? The infamous smog clouds in LA or something similar, probably. Most of us think &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"7 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Apartment Dwellers\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/7-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality-for-apartment-dwellers\/#more-18310\" aria-label=\"More on 7 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality for Apartment Dwellers\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":18311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[149],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18310"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18310"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18693,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18310\/revisions\/18693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}