Picture this: You’re sitting at work, you can’t concentrate, and you begin to notice a slight headache… then a colleague comes back in from outside and says, “Jeeezzzz, it smells like a puma cage in here!” … Believe it or not, it’s a familiar scenario at the Amazingy office during the wintertime. The heating is on, the windows are closed, and the office is full of people; time to let some fresh air in, ‘cause the oxygen is finished. And the indoor climate is worth taking a better look at. It’s not only the lack of oxygen that gives us a headache; there’s also more particles floating around in the air that can influence our health & well-being. As with love, indoor air is also a battlefield. (Wise words from Pat Benatar… ♥)

You might not have thought about this (and what I’m talking about could even make you feel a little paranoid), but sometimes it’s good to know about things that freak you out, ‘cause it might move you to take some action. The air that remains inside the spaces we occupy from day to day is generally more polluted than the air outside, even if you are living next to a moderately busy street producing a lot of carbon emissions. Take that in for a moment And then take a deep breath – ‘cause in any case, polluted air is still better than no air, right?

I always thought that those Waldorf-esque schools being built & decorated with natural materials like wood and wool were just the results of a bunch of hippies’ misguided overreaction to everything “modern”. But since I’ve learned more about indoor air quality and how serious we should take it, I see that those Waldorfers are onto something. Cleaning products, furniture, lead- or aluminum-based paints, heating and cooling systems that lead to mold formations in the bathroom, smoking, burning food in the pan, even blowing out all of those romantic candles. The list of ways we are unknowingly polluting the air we breathe indoors is endless. There are so many objects and surfaces in our homes we never even think about that are constantly emitting air pollutants or toxic agents into the air; they ail us with symptoms like dry, sore throats, respiratory problems – worsening existing asthmatic issues and wreaking havoc in so many other areas of our health.

Modern or renovated buildings are often sealed airtight, preventing drafts and cold from coming in, which at first you’d think is a good thing – you save on heating costs and that’s great, right? We all like to be cozy & warm. But the draft that those old-fashioned windows are allowing into your home is actually not such a bad thing. A permanent source of fresh air is good for our lungs and is often better for your house, as proper ventilation helps prevent against the colonization of fungi in the walls and other enclosed areas.

What can you do to improve the quality of air when indoors?

Firstly, open the windows often. The air quality outside is best in the morning, because there is normally less car traffic throughout the night and most trees also emit oxygen after dark. What I like to do after waking up: open the windows in the kitchen and the living room whilst taking a shower or getting dressed in another part of the apartment. Most rooms need at least 10 minutes to be fully aired through and properly ventilated. After my family is finished in the bathroom (which can be a lengthy process, let’s be honest), we open the window in there to allow the humid air to disperse. Otherwise, fungi might start having a feast on your window sills and inside your walls – not pretty, and also not very healthy, as mold and other forms of fungi can cause lung problems, fatigue and are even known to cause sick building syndrome.

When I get to work and open the office door, I often and almost immediately notice the air is stale, so I keep the windows and doors open for as long as possible (as long as we can tolerate it when it’s freezing outside) and repeat that a couple of times throughout the day. It’s a great way to lengthen your concentration span and fight against that stuffy, tired feeling you sometimes get when you’re stuck in rooms with lots of people in them for long stretches of time.

Some helpful tips:

• This should go without saying, but smoking indoors is of course a bad idea if you don’t want to walk around in a toxic cloud at all times.
• Only have the heating on when it’s absolutely necessary! The heating dries out the air, so it’s a good idea to put a cup of water on top of the radiator – just make sure to clean and refill the cup regularly.
• Is your apartment dark? Too humid? Or does it have black spots appearing on the walls? If that’s the case, you might have mold in the building and you should get a professional to check it out for you.
• Did the bacon burn while cooking? Opening the window for a while might give you the shivers, but it’s definitely a good idea – if only to get rid of the smoke and stench!
• As romantic as those dinner candles might be, blowing them out causes fumes that are highly carcinogenic (and really stinky, if you ask me). So whenever it’s time to blow out the candles, I take them onto my balcony and leave them there until the smoke ceases. You can also do this at the window (keeping the direction of the wind in mind), or get yourself a proper candle snuffer which can stop the smoke immediately. Buying quality, paraffin-free candles as well as keeping the wick trimmed can also help against the build-up of candle smoke & soot. Personal experience tells me that the candle snuffers that look a bit like scissors are a good option 😉
• Next time you’re renovating, think about the materials you want to use. For example, PVC flooring isn’t a great idea, as it is often full of chemicals that never stop releasing foul odors and other particulates into the air. So you might want to invest a bit more, maybe in linoleum or wooden panels. Water-based paints are a healthier alternative to regular paints which usually contain chemical solvents. In general, whether we’re talking about furniture, paints or flooring, we should all try to choose the most natural option that can be found, be it wooden, made from bamboo, water-based, etc.
• Have a look at plants that help improve the quality of indoor air. There are some that are really good at this, like English Ivy (Hedera) and Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum) – both of which filter benzene, toluene, formaldehyde and similar chemical substances out from the air.
• Have a look at your personal care cabinet. Chemical spray deodorants, synthetic perfumes, hair sprays, etc. turn you into your very own personal air polluter the entire day through! And if you’re interested in putting that to an end, you can find some pretty good alternatives on Amazingy’s online shop 😉
• The same goes for the cleaning products you may (or hopefully, may not) be using. Often containing harsh chemicals and perfume-y scents that bite at your nostrils. They don’t do much good for the air nor the general environment around you. Natural alternatives are widely available – just check your local bio shops.

While this can literally be a fresh start for some, the information presented above doesn’t even come near to covering all of the many, many facets of indoor air quality. Educate yourself a bit more on the topic (perhaps starting with this article). The internet really is a treasure trove of information, and we should try to share the wealth as much as possible 🙂

Cover photo: Carson Arias