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A breath of fresh air: how to improve indoor air quality at home

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The air inside our homes should be just as fresh as the air outside it, however a lack of ventilation combined with the use of heating and air-conditioning can result in poor indoor air quality. Here's how to improve the air quality in your home.

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Building & RenovatingIdeas & PerspectivesVentilationArchiPro AU

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  • ArchiPro Editorial Team

We’re all well aware of the negative effects of breathing in urban pollution, car fumes, smoke, and smog, however, it’s equally as important to consider the quality of the air inside our own homes. Increased time spent at home over the past few years has shed light on the necessity of having a space that not only looks and feels good, but also keeps you healthy.

The air inside our homes should be just as fresh as the (non-polluted!) air outside it, however a lack of ventilation combined with the use of heating and air-conditioning can result in poor indoor air quality. This, combined with often overlooked household factors such as gas stoves, conventional cleaning products, fireplaces, and wood-burning stoves, can be detrimental to our health due to them releasing a high amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Fortunately, there are effective ways to improve the quality of the air in your home.

The Barn by Paul Uhlmann Architects | Photography by Andy Macpherson Studio

Open a window

Simple yet effective. One of the easiest ways to instantly improve the air quality in your home – provided you don’t live in an overly polluted city – is to open windows whenever possible and air out rooms by leaving the doors open.

Read more: Ventilation: the answer to a healthier home

Invest in an air purifier

Air purifiers can be an effective way to reduce both VOCs and potential allergens such as dust and pet hair. To get the best results from an air purification system, place them in the most commonly used areas of your home, such as the living room and bedrooms.

Stockroom Cottage by Architects EAT | Photography by Derek Swalwell

Clean consistently

The expression “cleanliness is next to godliness” rings true when it comes to indoor air quality. Cleaning your indoor environment regularly can go a long way towards improving your air quality. Use microfibre cloths to dust surfaces like benchtops and windowsills, mop hardwood floors and vacuum carpets and rugs, and clean or replace filters and screens in rangehoods and extractor fans.

Vacuum smartly

When selecting a vacuum, ensure it’s equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which works to trap particles and dust and can potentially reduce allergens and irritants.

Keep it dry

Mould – a common cause of VOCs – thrives in damp spaces, so using exhaust fans while cooking and showering and regularly cleaning and wiping down kitchens and bathrooms can prevent this from growing.

Explore a wide range of seamless ventilation solutions on ArchiPro.

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Building & RenovatingIdeas & PerspectivesVentilation

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How much is enough? Luke Moloney's Exeter House proves that exceptional architecture is never about excess