Winter poses a higher risk of indoor air pollution. The biggest factor is the increased difficulty in ventilating rooms, including the kitchen, since windows can’t be opened as in warmer months. Heating systems also emit pollutants, especially when they’re old or faulty.
“Indoor air is not as healthy as we may think,” explains Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse and chairman of the Change the Air Foundation. The podcast host calls out several overlooked contaminants that pollute the air in our homes.
According to James Langer, a materials science engineer and CEO of Colorfil, “Indoor air can be five times or more polluted than outdoor air, which can have health consequences ranging from nuisance-like headaches to more serious issues like chronic allergies, asthma and even cancer.
Air purifiers and dehumidifiers make a difference, but knowing where pollutants come from and minimizing is your best guard against air quality issues. I spoke with experts about surprising things in your home that may contribute to poor air quality and what changes you can make to control them.
1. Gas stoves
It doesn’t matter whether you have a gas or electric stove, or if you do the majority of your cooking in a contained space, such as the oven or microwave. “The No. 1 contributor to indoor air pollution is definitely cooking,” says Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, certified indoor environmentalist and licensed HVAC contractor. “We tend to be concerned about smells, but high-heat cooking, especially over open heat, is a significant source of p.m. 2.5, a type of particulate matter that can easily get into our lungs.”
However, this isn’t necessarily an excuse to order more takeout or a directive to invest in sous vide equipment. “Cooking with induction makes a tremendous difference to help the air quality,” says Dolphin Hammes, as does installing a true exhaust fan. “I emphasize that word ‘true’ because we don’t realize that 99% of all exhaust fans actually recirculate the air indoors,” she says. Simply opening a window can also help reduce cooking pollution.
Read more: Gas Stoves Are Here to Stay, but Are They Safe? Here’s What You Need to Know
2. HVAC systems
In that same vein, the very system in your home that circulates air, known as the HVAC system — heating, ventilation, and air conditioning — can also be a source of unseen mold and dust, recirculating polluted air within your home rather than moving it outside. “The push for net-zero energy efficiency has led to more tightly built buildings with minimal airflow between indoor and outdoor environments,” says Rubino. “The result is that most contaminants that make their way inside the building will remain until they are actively removed.”
“Have the system serviced twice a year,” suggests Rubino. “Change air filters on time and upgrade to the highest-rated MERV filters your particular unit can handle.” The higher the MERV rating, which stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, the smaller the particles it can pull from the air.
Read more: How to Properly Clean Your Air Conditioner
3. Cleaning supplies
Surely keeping a clean house is key to clean air, right? Well… “Usually, the cleaning supplies that make the highest claims about killing germs or removing smells have a high amount of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs,” says Dolphin Hammes, which are other harmful particles in the air we breathe indoors.
“VOCs are known to cause nausea and can similarly have deleterious effects on health when exposed to higher levels or for extended periods of time,” says Langer. Instead, “look for low/no-fragrance cleaning products that do their job without covering up smells,” he says, and use a clean, damp cloth to wipe up dust wherever it collects on surfaces in your home.
To combat unnecessary VOCs, try making this all-natural cleaning solution with three ingredients you may already have.
4. Wet appliances
Most people understand that damp rooms, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, can harbor mold, but your kitchen is also a significant source of water, and spores may come from elements other than spoiled food. “Appliances like ice machines and refrigerator water spouts can also hide mold,” says Rubino, in addition to your shower and washing machine. Mold spores can trigger respiratory problems, regardless of whether one has allergies, and contribute to odors that compel us to try to cover them up.
Instead, cut them off at the sources. “These should be regularly cleaned,” says Rubino. “Allow them to dry out between uses and keep up with normal maintenance.”
Read more: Mold Growing Inside Your Washing Machine? Use This Secret Trick to Get Rid of It
5. Candles and incense
The very things you employ to make your home smell fresher are actually more than just masking other pollutants; they are also contributing to poorer air quality overall. This is especially true if those things also emit smoke, such as candles and incense, even in seemingly small amounts.
“More often than not, candles and incense are actually a source of pollution within your home,” says Dolphin Hammes. “People want to make their home smell fresh, but they’re most likely introducing high amounts of p.m. 2.5 with these.”
6. Air fresheners
The same goes for other products where scent is the goal. “Air fresheners, essential oils, and other highly fragranced products are frequently used to cover up bad smells, but this may serve to simply make indoor air pollution even worse,” says Langer.
These products are also bad news for the non-human residents in your home. According to Langer, “there is a vanishingly small amount of data related to the safety of using these products around pets. Given their unique biology, dogs, cats, birds, and other small animals may be much more susceptible to negative side effects from these products.”
In place of fragranced options, consider an air purifier or look for air fresheners made with baking soda or activated charcoal.
An air quality monitor can help find the culprit
If you’re concerned about air quality, a monitor provides real-time data so you can determine and remedy the causes. We’ve tested several, including the $60 SwitchBot’s Meter Pro, which tracks carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity, and the $300 Airthings View Plus, which monitors VOCs, radon, particle and fine particle matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity. Both send alerts when dangerous levels are reached.
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