5 ways to improve indoor air quality for a healthier living

Air pollution continues to be a growing concern, impacting us in various ways. Recent findings from the 2023 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute, reveal that fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is projected to reduce the life expectancy of the average Indian by 5.3 years. In Delhi, often termed the world's most polluted city, this reduction can be as high as 11.9 years compared to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Notably, indoor air quality can be up to five times worse than outdoor air. With an increasing amount of time spent indoors, the quality of the air we breathe becoming an increasingly common concern, given its potential to cause various short- and long-term health issues. While discussions on air pollution frequently center on outdoor environments, it is crucial to recognise its profound impact on our indoor spaces and take proactive measures to safeguard our well-being. Muzaffar Izamuddin, an engineer from Dyson's Environmental Care department, offers valuable insights on steps to reduce indoor air pollution and enhance indoor air quality in your home.

Start fresh

It is entirely likely that your home is already full of indoor air pollution sources and contaminants. The best way to start fresh is with a thorough deep clean. Begin with the basics like vacuuming carpets and hard floors, mopping where possible, and dusting easily accessible surfaces.

Upholstered surfaces like mattresses, bedding, and sofas, as well as curtains and other cloth accents, are commonly overlooked but can be loaded with contaminants. Launder what is possible and take a vacuum and attachments to larger, permanent surfaces.

Remember to clean underneath and behind furniture as dust can accumulate in these spaces as well. If you have the time, it is helpful to remove items from shelves and other decorative objects and clean those as well.

Keep outdoor pollutants outdoors

Many common indoor air pollutants can be attributed to outdoor sources. These include allergens like pollen and mold spores that can travel through the air. The best way to eliminate them is by not letting them in to begin with.

Properly sealing doors and windows will not only help create a barrier between these outdoor pollutants and your home's interior, but it can also help regulate temperature and humidity. Home supply stores sell inexpensive solutions for sealing cracks and gaps in window and door frames.

Control indoor humidity and temperature

Mold and bacteria love warm, dark, damp environments. And if you provide one for them, they will happily occupy your home. While it is ideal to strategise for proper humidity and temperature control during the planning and construction phases when building a new home, there are many ways to improve your home's existing environment to limit mold and bacteria growth.

As mentioned earlier, sealing doors and windows not only helps keep out many common pollutants but can also help maintain your preferred heat and humidity levels. While you will want to have some sort of ventilation in spaces that can become wet, like bathrooms, the kitchen, and the basement, a properly sealed living space is ideal.

A breath of fresh air

With all the ways discussed to control indoor air quality and eliminate indoor air pollution sources, the most common-sense solution can sometimes be to simply open your windows. Fresh air can help remove existing pollutants and circulate uncontaminated air throughout your home. Improving ventilation in bathrooms and the kitchen using an exhaust fan can also be helpful.

From the simple act of opening windows to welcome fresh breezes to the introduction of air-purifying indoor plants and the implementation of meticulous cleaning routines, we delve into these strategies, intertwining them with the urgency and the air quality challenges we face. Each step we take, each action we commit to, contributes to the greater cause of ensuring that our indoor spaces remain sanctuaries of clean, revitalising air-a promise of improved health, longevity, and enhanced well-being.

Purify your air

Air purifier technology is becoming increasingly advanced and can drastically help reduce indoor air pollution. Dyson purifiers are engineered to effectively sense, thoroughly filter, and powerfully project:

Sensing: Formaldehyde is a common indoor pollutant and one that is notoriously difficult to sense and capture. By developing new sensing technology, Dyson sought to overcome issues associated with conventional formaldehyde sensors, including cross-sensitivity and a short sensing lifespan.

Capturing: In Dyson’s new purifiers, it’s not just the filter that meets the HEPA H13 standard, but the whole machine. It captures 99.95 per cent of particles as small as 0.1 microns such as allergens, bacteria, and dust. Dyson engineers took a forensic approach to achieve a fully-sealed machine, creating high-pressure seals at an additional 24 critical points to prevent dirty air from bypassing the filters and carrying pollutants back into the room.

Projecting: Using Dyson Air Multiplier Technology, the machine can project purified air to every corner of the room. The auto mode enables the machine to maintain a preferred room temperature and air quality levels, while the machine can be entirely controlled by the Dyson Link App and activated by voice control.

Acoustically engineered to be 20 per cent quieter: Dyson engineers increased efforts to further reduce the sound output of the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde air purifier while maintaining purification performance. Through an iterative design, test, the machine was re-engineered to be 20 per cent quieter.