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We are battling against the hazardous COVID-19 by staying indoors. In this fight, it’s imperative to stay healthy within the four walls of our home; but certain invisible enemies are lurking inside your house and need your immediate attention.

Air Pollution is not limited to the outdoors. Indoor air quality can in fact be up to 10x worse than the air outdoors. These days as we find ourselves spending all of our time indoors, it may affect your health and the health of your family members. This may be especially if one of your loved ones is an allergy sufferer or if you have infants or elders in your family who may be more prone to pulmonological issues.

The potential sources that contribute to Indoor Air Pollution can be found in just about every corner of the room. From the teeny-tiny fumes you ignore while lighting a matchstick/dhoop/agarbati, to the unseen hair of your beloved dog—everything plays a major role in aggravating the indoor air pollution. Ovens, furnaces, water heaters, and such devices are guilty of releasing gases and particulate matter (like PM2.5, PM10) in the air. Pet dander, dust mites, debris, human skin & hair further transform into airborne particulate matter (like PM2.5, PM10) and pose a health risk.
Ironically, even the cleaning products that we use to get rid of the dust also contribute to indoor air pollution as they also contain VOCs. Hence, people with allergies are often asked to stay away from scented cleaning sprays or air fresheners.

Air pollution indoors may trigger chest tightness, irritated eyes, sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath or even a full-blown asthma attack. Airborne allergens such as dust mites debris, pollen, indoor mold and spores may further lead to itchy eyes and runny nose, paving the way to chronic issues. If your house has chronically poor air quality then you might find yourself having regular headaches, lasting colds, and chronic asthma as well.

Its imperative to stay healthy within the four walls of our home but certain invisible enemies are lurking inside your house and need your immediate attention.

The good news is there are excessively simple and affordable steps that can reduce the indoor pollution levels drastically. Here are a few of them to follow on a daily basis.

•Clean under sinks and behind toilets often where mold and other allergens may build up.
•Keep pets off your sofas and beds,
•Don’t let wet and damp clothing pile up for too long
•Replace mattress in every 10 years and pillows in every two years
•Fix leaks in or near sinks, toilets, tubs, etc.
•Wash sheets once a week in hot water
•Vacuum floors, mattresses, curtains and all upholstery weekly
•People with pollen allergies should shower and shampoo their hair every night before going to bed to remove pollen from hair
•Allow the towels and washed clothes to completely dry after cleaning
•Switch to AC Filters which allow you to use your existing Split AC to get cleaner air
•Use certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly products including AC Filters

Although some of these points you may already be familiar with, the AC Air filter is an increasingly popular concept being adopted by many households these days. AC Air filters are thin filter sheets that are installed over the AC filter mesh with an objective to capture air pollutants like dust, pet dander, chemicals, smoke, etc. It allows you to use your existing wall-mounted air conditioner devices to get cleaner air. Nonwoven material are preferred components for air filtration application. Its basic function is to clean the air that circulates through your Air conditioner system. Electrostatically charged Nonwoven filter media are designed with a mechanism to capture and retain particles almost like a magnet, attracting both positively and negatively charged particles and trapping then well. The structure is such that it filters the air in multiple passes while allowing for sufficient air flow, so the cooling function of the Air Conditioner is not hampered. These are easy to install, require no tools and are to be replaced once they turn black (time taken will depend on the air quality in your home). Note that windows and door should remain shut in order to obtain best results.

To conclude, the time, cost, and effort involved is minimal and is easily compensated by health benefits and energy savings.

AC Filters with asthma & allergy friendly Certification are best for families that have allergy sufferers. Over 60 percent of asthma and allergy sufferers find it difficult to choose appropriate products for their homes. The asthma & allergy friendly mark helps consumers make better buying decisions.

Indoor air quality plays an important role in respiratory health since even without the lockdown, we spend maximum time at home or in office. Thus, taking steps towards ensuring cleaner air will keep you and your family healthier.