The 7 Essential Air Filtering Methods That You Need to Know

When we think about living a non-toxic life, we tend to think about the food we eat, the water we drink, the cleaning supplies we use and the things we put onto our body. But we often forget about the most essential thing that we use every day and literally need to survive- the air. There are TONS of pollutants and toxins in the air we breathe, especially indoors. While we can't control the air outside, there are certainly some solutions for the air inside our home.

The air contains contaminants like carbon monoxide, pet dander, mold, radon, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and VOC's, to name a few. It can be toxic not only to you and your family members, but to your pets as well. Here are a few of the aforementioned contaminants and the effects they can have on your health:

Carbon Monoxide: Can cause fatigue, confusion, headaches and dizziness due to inadequate

oxygen delivery to the brain.

Pet Dander: Can cause things like contact dermatitis, skin rash, hives or contribute to asthma

symptoms.

Mold: Can cause things like watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and other respiratory issues.

However, long term exposure to mold can cause more severe issues like migraines,

insomnia and even memory loss.

Radon: This one is sneaky, because it usually doesn't cause any significant, noticeable symptoms up front. However, exposure to radon has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer.

Formaldehyde: Can cause irritation to your eyes, nose and throat, while also causing irritation to

the respiratory system. Formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen.

Nitrogen Dioxide: Can cause damage to the respiratory system, and has even been linked to lung

disease.

VOC's: Can cause irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, headaches, loss of concentration, nausea

and even damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.

So now that we've covered the side effects of some of the major air pollutants and toxins I'm sure you're wondering... okay, so what do I do to avoid this? Filter the air in your home!

Below are 7 air filtering methods that we recommend implementing to get those toxins out!

Air Filters

The most obvious, of course, is an air filter or an air purifier. These work by pulling in the air in your home, passing through filters that filter things like pet dander, mold, pollen, dust, dirt and allergens, and then they push it back out into your space- clean and toxin-free! We highly recommend the Air Doctor. We personally use Air Doctors in many rooms of our home and recommend them to all of our clients. You can check them out here. If you're looking for a more cost effective air filter, you can use charcoal bags. Those work by attracting the pollutants to the charcoal, and then you can just "recharge" them in the sun! It's also extremely helpful to be sure that you keep the humidity inside of your home to a minimum by using a dehumidifier.

House Plants

House plants tend to be considered a nice aesthetic addition to a living space, but did you know they actually have MANY health benefits and act as a living air filter? Not only are they a great way to add style and personality to a space, but they're a much more affordable way to enhance the toxin-free breathability of your home. Plus, plants are a lot easier to grow indoors!

Below we'll dive into a few easy-to-maintain house plants you can add to your space.

*Note: The plants mentioned below are mildly toxic to dogs and cats, so be mindful when bringing them into your home!

Peace Lily - Peace Lily's evoke a sense of "calm" in your space as they're one of the most elegant looking plants. They are known for removing harmful toxins like benzene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air.

Golden Pathos- The Golden Pathos is known as one of the most effective indoor air filters. These plants eliminate toxins like formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene and carbon monoxide.

Rubber Plant- The Rubber Plant is extremely easy to care for and is known to filter toxins like carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene.

Snake Plant- The Snake Plant is known for filtering the air, and can be extremely effective against allergies. They purify the air by removing chemical particles and they also store oxygen during the day to release at night, which is why it's a great plant for the bedroom! It's also known as the "good energy" plant in feng shui.

Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils has so many benefits, but did you know it's also a great air purifier? This works because the diffuser creates a vibration that mixes the water and oils, turns it into a vapor and pushes it into the air. While it's in the air it grabs ahold of particles of certain toxins and contaminants and rids the air of them. The most beneficial essential oils to use are lavender, peppermint or citrus, like lemon, grapefruit or orange. Be sure you're using therapeutic grade essential oils as well!

Salt Lamps

Salt lamps are a beautiful and easy way to purify your home. There are a TON of benefits, and air purification is certainly one of them. This works because salt lamps emit negative ions, which helps to remove positive ions from the air. Positive ions can lead to things like headaches, fatigue, breathing issues, irritability, and insomnia. Salt lamps are also extra beneficial because of something called hygroscopy. This is when the salt particles absorb contaminated water particles that are in the air (think pet dander, mold, dust, etc.) and removes it. A super affordable way to purify while also adding to the aesthetic. Win, win!

Beeswax Candles

Beeswax candles are a great detoxifier and work a lot like salt lamps. They help to purify the air by releasing negative ions which bind to the positively charged airborne particles. So think things like dust and pollen. Basically it's neutralizing the toxins in the air and creating a less polluted space. Plus, beeswax candles are MUCH healthier for you and your family than the fragranced, chemical ridden candles. Be sure the candles you purchase are in fact 100% beeswax, and if they have a scent, be sure the scent is therapeutic grade essential oils and not chemical fragrance!

Cleaning

A simple solution! Make sure you're dusting, vacuuming and cleaning your home often. This will help to keep pet dander, mold and dust to a minimum. We recommend using only non-toxic cleaners when doing so. We love Rowe Casa Organics for this! You also want to be sure you aren't using any toxic air fresheners or plug-ins, as those completely defeat the purpose and only add to the toxins in the air. In fact, many plug-ins and room sprays are loaded with the chemicals we're trying to get rid of! Use either a diffuser with essential oils or non-toxic beeswax candles in place of these.

Ventilation

Last but not least, if you aren't able to do any of what we have listed above, you can always ventilate! Open some windows, turn on your fans and get the air moving in your house. This helps to keep the air from getting stagnant, and helps to move some of the toxins out. It's also beneficial because it can stop the contaminants from settling into your walls, flooring and furniture permanently.

In Closing

Do what you can with what you have. If you have the means to invest in a few of the items we mentioned, we highly recommend it! If you aren't able to right now, there are SO many free things you can start doing today for better air quality. Unplug those plug-ins, turn on your fans, open your windows and give your house a nice non-toxic deep clean! It truly can be a game changer for your health and it will change the energy of your home.

Please feel free to follow us on Facebook at The Refine Company, or on Instagram at @therefinecompany. We're so grateful to connect with you.

Thank you for being here and we will see you next week!