Why Indoor Air Quality Matters More Than Ever
Take a deep breath. And then think about this: how clean is the air inside the house? While we all assume that the minute we move inside the house, the air quality changes and our breathing becomes safer and cleaner. Here’s the thing: the air inside the house is two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Yes! And since we are all trapped inside our buildings and stay there for close to 90% of our active lives, indoor air quality is one of the most important topics today!
Dust, dander, pollen, mold spores, and microscopic particles: your home’s air is continuously being bombarded by allergens. Poor indoor air quality is much more than just an annoyance—it’s responsible for creating allergens, irritating asthma, causing headaches, fatigue, and even affecting lung health. This is where vacuum cleaners come into play. We only think about them as floor cleaners, but is it possible that vacuum cleaners could be our secret heroes when it comes to our breathing air?
This is far from a cleaning question; now we are talking about health, comfort, and quality of life. Can a regular vacuum clean up the air we breathe? Does a regular vacuum ever increase air pollution or does it just blow dust around? These are questions that cannot be answered with just a simple “yes” and “no,” and that is exactly what we are going to get into throughout this guide.
By the end of this article, you will learn about the impact of vacuums on home air quality, which vacuums are best suited, and tips on using them effectively to ensure you have a healthy home. Let’s clear up some air.
Understanding Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality, often shortened to IAQ, which stands for indoor air quality, is a term that is defined as the status of indoor air in relation to the health and comfort of building occupants. Air pollution is a problem that has effects although it is not easily visible. The status of indoor air is affected by the presence of indoor air pollutants in addition to other factors.
Common indoor pollutants include dust mites, pet dander, pollen, spores of the fungus that causes mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), bacteria, and even small amounts of matter released from cooking, smoking, or lighting candles. These kinds of pollutants settle onto carpets, furniture, and clothing in homes unnoticed until each time a person enters a room, occupies the couch, or opens a door in enough instances for these matter particles to be released into the air.
The problem with radon is prolonged exposure. Indoor air pollution may cause health effects such as sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, dizziness, and feeling weak. Over a period of time, it may result in lung diseases, heart ailments, and weakened immunities. These are mostly witnessed by children, senior citizens, and those with asthma and allergies.
This is why maintaining good indoor air quality isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. And while ventilation and air purifiers help, cleaning practices play a massive role. Vacuuming, when done correctly, can significantly reduce the buildup of pollutants that compromise the air inside your home.
Can Vacuums Improve Indoor Air Quality?
“But do vacuum cleaners really work to improve indoor air quality?” The answer is a clear “yes” if a vacuum is properly used and if a vacuum of the right type is selected. A good vacuum will allow the removal of dust, allergens, and even microscopic particles from surfaces in a manner that prevents them from being suspended in the air as indoor pollutants.
This can be achieved through regular vacuuming. This will prevent the buildup of dust reservoirs. As a result, fewer dust particles will be available in the atmosphere. For those who suffer from respiratory conditions such as asthma, this will improve airflow in the respiratory tract.
A poor-quality vacuum cleaner or even misusing a good one could have just the opposite effect. Rather than containing pollutants, they might blow even finer dust back into the atmosphere. This is why filtration systems and HEPA filters are so valuable.