Healthy home is wealthy home

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• The air indoors is now thought to be more polluted than what it was earlier. The culprits remain the same, but new ones are getting included in the list. Some major pollutants that affect indoor air quality are: contaminants like moulds, mildews, allergens, odours, cooking fumes (oil), certain building materials and furnishings, household products and outdoor pollutants that remain in the air like carbon monoxide.
• In order to have a house with good indoor air quality, it is important that we take a look at the things to avoid. Certain building materials emit volatile components into the air that causes allergies, irritation of the eyes and respiratory problems. Some of these toxic pollutants or VOCs (volatile organic compounds) like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene are found in commonly used products.
• Apart from pollutants that affect the air quality, lack of ventilation also creates unhealthy interiors. Natural ventilation can be facilitated by proper placement of doors and windows.

• Ideally, south and east facing windows let in cool air. Also, big windows on one side of the house when complemented with smaller openings on the other side facilitates cross-ventilation. If opening windows or doors in the evenings and nights becomes a problem due to mosquito menace, invest in mesh screens. Louvered shutters or doors aid in ventilation of air. Install exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to vent pollutants to the outside. Kitchens can also be ventilated with electric chimneys. Have electric fans to help circulation of air. Air conditioners must be frequently cleaned for improving the quality of air.
• Earlier, paints were made from petroleum based solvents. Today, paints with low VOCs are made using water as a solvent. These paints contribute to healthy interiors as offgassing (emitting of toxins) is reduced to the bare minimum. Be aware of this when selecting paints for your house.
• Wooden boards like plywood, particle boards and medium density boards often use formaldehyde based resins to hold the wood components together. The strong fumes of the (VOC) volatile organic compounds results in watery eyes if it comes in contact with the eyes. Check the adhesive used before taking a call on the choice of boards.
• Wall-to-wall carpets are like a breeding ground for bacteria, mould, mildew dust mites and also animal hair. With such allergens rampant on these carpets, it is advisable not to have them in homes. Otherwise, regular, thorough and professional cleaning is required. Smaller carpets are easier to clean and are therefore more desirable. Carpets of wool and other synthetic fibres are harder to clean than cotton.
• Furnishings of cotton are easier to clean and maintain. This reduces the problem of dust allergens considerably. Choose furnishings that can be washed and dried rather than those which can only be dry cleaned. Dry cleaned articles may emit certain chemicals that can cause short-term allergies.
• Indoor air quality can be considerably improved by keeping plants in the rooms. Study has proved that certain plants can combat specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). On the whole, plants like spider plants, philodendron species, Boston ivy and rubber plants are good air purifiers. Ensure that the moist top soil is free of moulds. Since plants are major dust collectors, wipe or wash the leaves regularly to keep them dust free. Also, use organic pesticides like neem cakes rather than chemicals.