5 Cleaning Mistakes That Harm Your Air Quality & What To Do Instead

How many of these are you guilty of?

Tfoso

Mar 21, 2023 - 21:03

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5 Cleaning Mistakes That Harm Your Air Quality & What To Do Instead

Mold Remediation Expert

By Michael Rubino

Mold Remediation Expert

Michael Rubino is an international authority on mold remediation and the author of The Mold Medic: An Expert’s Guide on Mold Removal.

Image by Studio Firma / Stocksy

March 21, 2023

The way that many buildings these days are constructed makes regular cleaning an absolutely essential part of any healthy home.

Thanks to modern building practices that (rightfully) push for high energy efficiency, there’s very little airflow transfer between indoor and outdoor environments. This means that a majority of the microscopic particles that manage to make their way inside our homes like allergens, mold spores, and mycotoxins, will remain there until they’re actively removed. If you don't take steps to eliminate them, they’ll continue to build up and reduce your indoor air quality.

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Spring is the perfect time to get into the habit of deep cleaning your home on a consistent basis. As you do, avoid these five common cleaning mistakes to make the process easier and much more effective.

Mistake # 1: Using bleach

Mistake #2: Not being proactive

There’s no better time to go through your home with a fine-tooth comb than when you’re giving it a solid cleaning. Things to look for include microbial growth, water damage, and structural issues with the interior and exterior of the home. The sooner you catch a problem, the faster you can get started on resolving it so that your home doesn’t become a toxic hazard zone.

So, grab a flashlight and check for any visible issues or noticeable odors that could indicate a problem. Mold growth often creates a damp, musty, earthy, cigar-like smell due to the release of gasses called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC). Here are some other signs of mold to be aware of.

Areas to pay close attention to include:

The atticThe basementCrawlspacesGrout and caulkWindowsills and doorframesAppliances (coffee maker, dishwasher, refrigerator water spout, blender, laundry machine, etc.)Exhaust ventsShowerheadsSink faucetsMattressesHouseplantsFireplaceThe exterior of the building structure

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Mistake #3: Cleaning, but not decluttering

Turns out, being a minimalist is really good for your air quality. The more belongings we have, the more surfaces there are for dust and microscopic particles to settle. To welcome spring's fresh start, I recommend evaluating your belongings and asking yourself if you truly use each item before deciding whether to ultimately keep it or move on from it. This comprehensive guide to decluttering can help get you started.

Getting rid of clutter will stop dust from collecting on your belongings, ultimately translating to cleaner indoor air quality and improved well-being.

Mistake #4: Dealing with mold incorrectly

While cleaning, it's possible (and not uncommon) to stumble on mold growth somewhere throughout the home. A common mistake is using the wrong process to get rid of it. To properly remediate mold, you’ve got to resolve the issue that led to its growth in the first place and handle all of the contamination present. (This includes the active colony, dead mold particles, roots, spores, mycotoxins, and bacteria.) If anything is left behind, exposure continues, and any chronic health issues can persist.

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Mistake #5: Neglecting your HVAC filters

Air filters are the first line of defense for the HVAC system and indoor air. They help eliminate dust and contaminants so that they don’t continue to circulate throughout the indoor space. If they’re due to be replaced, chances are that they’re packed full of all sorts of particles. This will affect their ability to filter, leading to lower indoor air quality. It can also put a strain on the HVAC system as it works overtime to pull air through the clogged filters.

Changing them on time will help avoid this situation and ensure as much dust and particulate matter are removed as possible.

Spring—when many people transition from heat to air conditioning—is also a good time to schedule an HVAC technician to come out and service your system to ensure it’s running properly and is not contaminated. They'll also test for mold to ensure that when you switch your unit, you’re not accidentally blowing microscopic particles throughout your home. Condensation can build up in the unit with the temperature change, allowing hidden mold to begin growing. The technician should also clean the coil, make sure the blower, furnace, and cabinets are clean, and ensure that everything is operating correctly.

The takeaway.

Even if scrubbing isn't the most enjoyable way to spend a weekend, a clean home will be well worth it. Just avoid these five mistakes when doing your spring cleaning.

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