Oftentimes, we take the act of breathing for granted and forget that what we breathe inside our own homes is not always as clean and clear as the air outside. Sometimes what we think we know about outside pollutants and chemicals can cause us to remain indoors, because we think we’re sparing our lungs by doing so. But now that we know that such thinking is, at best, faulty, we can take measures into our own hands on improving our indoor air quality.

So how can we improve the quality of the air we breathe in our homes? Well, here are 5 extremely important tips to help you clean up the interior air at home without going too crazy. The steps themselves are, for the most part, simple and easy to execute and with minimal equipment to purchase and use, making these air quality improvements truly a cinch to accomplish.

Knowing these things is the first part of the IAQ improvement process; implementing them is the next. Some of these ideas will seem so “common sense” once you read them, you may have an “ah ha” moment to yourself and wonder why you didn’t think of them to begin with.

1. Open your windows.
A simple act as opening the window to allow fresh air into your home might seem like a counter-intuitive step but it actually allows all that open air to circulate inside your home while also allowing any stale or allergen laden air inside to escape. Low cost and effective.

2. Purchase several houseplants.
This also seems like a no-brainer, but the simplicity of nature is what every home needs to have better air quality. Plants ‘inhale’ carbon dioxide and other pollutants and ‘exhale’ oxygen, which we all obviously need. This gift of nature purifies the air around us and makes breathing that much easier. In addition, you are building your ‘green thumb’ cred.

3. Replace the HVAC filters regularly.
For those of us with Central Air Conditioning, it can be a bit annoying having to wonder why you’re sneezing uncontrollably every few minutes, especially when you’ve just installed a brand new filter into your AC 8 months ago. So therein lies the problem and the solution: change it. It is always best to check your filter every month for how clean or dirty it is and as a rule of thumb, change the filter every 45 days. This will also save you money on repairing your AC if it begins to break down because the filter became too full and the AC has to work that much harder.

4. Consider carpet removal – or invest in a HEPA filter vacuum.
One of the places in which allergens, dust, mold and other pesky nuisances can and does reside is within your carpet. If it is possible and not too costly, purchase a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and a strong brush to suck up the particles which threaten your IAQ.

5. Buy a portable HEPA air filter
If your home does not have Central AC and you want to lessen the air pollutants within your busiest areas, or to relieve any allergies your family may have, getting a portable HEPA Air Filter will help immensely.

These 5 tips for improving indoor air quality are not ‘law,’ but they will make your home an easier place to live, breathe and relax in – just as it should be!