Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Clean air starts at home. The air inside your home can be several times more polluted than the air outdoors, due to trapped contaminants like dust, pet dander, cleaning residues, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With a few simple daily habits and a bit of HVAC maintenance, you can create a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone in your household.

Start With the Basics — Open the Windows

Before anything else, remember the simplest way to improve air quality: ventilate your space. Opening your windows for 5–10 minutes each day helps lower concentrations of CO₂ and toxic chemicals. You should also ventilate after painting, assembling new furniture, or cleaning—times when indoor pollutants spike.

Tip #1 – Ask Smokers to Step Outside

Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 harmful chemicals and can linger in the air and HVAC system for days. The safest choice is always to quit smoking, but if that’s not possible, ensure all smoking happens outside to prevent pollutants from spreading indoors.

Tip #2 – Keep a Clean and Tidy Home

Dust builds up everywhere—on floors, furniture, and inside vents. Regular cleaning prevents allergens and fine particles from circulating. Use a doormat to trap dirt, vacuum weekly with a HEPA filter, and mop floors to remove lingering debris. Ask guests to remove shoes to minimize tracked-in pollutants.

Tip #3 – Avoid Synthetic Fragrances

Air fresheners, candles, and laundry detergents often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that degrade indoor air. Many of these chemicals aren’t even listed on product labels. Instead:

• Use baking soda to neutralize odors naturally
• Choose fragrance-free or naturally scented products
• Skip aerosol sprays that release fine mist particles

Tip #4 – Add Air-Filtering Plants

According to NASA’s Clean Air Study, certain houseplants can help filter small amounts of toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. While they won’t replace a purifier, they can complement your HVAC system.

• English Ivy – filters benzene and formaldehyde
• Snake Plant – removes trichloroethylene and toluene
• Peace Lily – filters ammonia and multiple VOCs

Tip #5 – Maintain Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system plays a major role in indoor air quality. Replace filters every 1–3 months, clean ducts as needed, and consider adding a whole-home air purifier for continuous filtration and virus reduction.

Final Thoughts

With consistent cleaning, fresh airflow, and proactive HVAC care, you can dramatically improve indoor air quality. Small habits—like opening windows and choosing cleaner products—add up to a healthier home and a better quality of life.

Breathe Easier with Quality Control Air

For a full evaluation of your home’s air quality or to learn about filtration and purification options, contact Quality Control Air today. We proudly serve Sarasota and Southwest Florida with trusted HVAC and IAQ solutions.