With the cooler weather upon us, most of us will be putting on our storm windows and battening down the hatches at home. While that may bring nostalgic ideas of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and spending more time indoors, it also brings up a far more unpleasant topic: Indoor Air Pollution. Yuck!
On average, we spend 80-90% of our time inside buildings. And the air we breathe inside is often more polluted than the air outside! According to the American Lung Association, the air in our homes can contain molds, dust mites, pet dander, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from carpets and glues used in furniture and paints, viruses and bacteria.
What to do about it, you ask? Plug in an air freshener? NO! Most commercial air fresheners and wax-based candles only cover up the smell-- and they actually ADD to the VOCs and bad nasties that you're breathing in. Don't cover it up, clean it up-- with house plants.
