Turn your home into a zen-den from the city
It’s no surprise that living in London is stressful, so it’s important that we city-dwellers are able to get away from it all and retreat to our homes to recuperate. The bad news is air pollution inside the average home can be up to five times worse than it is outdoors¹ and, given we are now reported to spend 90 per cent of our life indoors, it’s about time we turn our homes into a cleaner haven from the city.
But how do we go about transforming our living space into an oasis of cleaner air within a city already over and above legal air pollution levels? Owing to lifestyle choices and technology advancements, we are now billed as the “indoor generation”, so in order to adapt to our new internal habitats, we need to provide balance and be mindful of the actions we can take to minimise the bad stuff and replace it with the good.
INVEST IN AN AIR PURIFIER
There are myriad sources of indoor air pollution, for example, chemicals from cleaning products, pet dander and odours from cooking. A Dyson Pure Hot & Cool™ purifying fan heater helps remove 99.95 per cent of these indoor allergens and pollutants², so let it do all the hard work for you and be sure they won’t escape back into your atmosphere. Simply set it to ‘Auto’ and it will whirr into action each time there is an air pollution event. You can even check up on your home’s air quality while you’re out and about, thanks to the free and easy-to-use Dyson Link app.
SNUFF IT OUT
Candles are often the go-to when it comes to creating an intimate, cosy atmosphere or disguising bad odours, but the truth is they could be contributing to increased indoor air pollution. Scented candles contain limonene, a chemical found in the peel of citrus fruits, which is released into the atmosphere when the candle is lit.
THE NATURAL WORLD
Short of going “homemade” (which is entirely possible and surprisingly easy), you can reduce airborne particles from aerosols, sprays, and even cloths and sponges, by choosing products which boast natural ingredients and are free from synthetic dyes, fragrances and preservatives. Many plant-based alternatives clean just as well as their chemical variant, and let you breathe much more easily.
SHOE AWAY POLLUTANTS
When your brood arrives home from a trip outdoors, asking everyone to remove their shoes at the door will not only promote good manners, but may also help keep indoor pollution from getting underfoot. Firstly, you won’t have to mop up any mud traipsed through the hallways, and pollen, dust or mould which has hitched a ride, or chemicals from soles, won’t find a new home in your carpet.
LICK OF PAINT
If you think the easiest way to turn your home into a haven is to give those greying walls a fresh coat, unfortunately, you are mistaken. The problem of the chemical fumes which are given off is amplified by a lack of ventilation in our insulated London abodes, so instead of cracking open a can of paint to touch up your home, opt for wall hangings and pictures to give it a face-lift instead.
