Clear the air: how to improve the air quality in your home, from houseplants to purifiers

The dangers of pollution are well documented. Accelerated ageing and respiratory problems are among the most serious health impacts of air pollution across the UK and worldwide.

London reached the legal pollution limit for the entire year just a month into 2018, yet air inside our homes and offices can often be more polluted than the air outside.

Earlier this year, The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan commissioned a report on indoor air quality in London's schools.

The Indoor Air Quality Report, published on May 23, found that "the average person spends over 90 per cent of their time indoors" yet we tend to be "far less aware of indoor air pollution than outdoor air pollution".

The UK has the highest prevalence of childhood asthma out of all European countries, according to the report, with indoor air quality described as particularly important as it "may affect the health, performance and comfort of school students and staff."

Allergens such as moulds and house dust mites can worsen symptoms usually associated with asthma – wheezing, shortness of breath – and in extreme cases can result in seizures.

So what can you do to minimise the impact of these indoor pollutants? Whether you live in a pollen hotspot or in a small city flat near a polluted zone, here are some top tips for improving the air quality in your home.

PURIFIERS

Air purifiers trap dust and pollen particles, reducing the impact of allergies, asthma and hay fever. This one from Vax removes 99 per cent of potentially harmful particles down to 0.3 microns (for scale, the human eye can't see anything smaller than 40 microns in size).

It's advisable to turn air purifiers off and open windows in one room at a time for at least 10 minutes, to ensure a new supply of air for the purifier to clean.

Get rid of major dust collectors such as old cushions and heavily upholstered furniture.

And, in really polluted areas, it's a good idea to use a purifier-fan combo to make sure the clean air reaches the entire room rather than concentrating in one part. Some purifiers have indicators on them so you can track, and improve, your home's most polluted areas. Dyson's hard-working Pure Cool fan has been QVC's top-selling fan of the summer, with air quality sensors and a hi-tech filter that removes 99.95 per cent of microscopic particles.

PLANTS

"Indoor air is up to ten-times as polluted as outdoor air so, as we sit in our offices breathing recycled, air-conditioned air we are also exposed to many common toxic chemicals," says Freddie Blackett, founder of London houseplant supplier Patch.

"Plants have been shown to be the most viable way of reducing these chemicals in a domestic or office setting."

NASA's Clear Air Study, conducted in 1989 but widely regarded as the most comprehensive to date, found the top air-purifying houseplants to include Weeping Fig, Devil's Ivy, Flamingo Lily, snake plants, bamboo palm, spider plants, peace lillies and ferns.

DIFFUSERS

"Ultrasonic essential oil diffusers can help to combat some pollutants in the home if used correctly," says the director of British lifestyle brand MadebyZen, Kajal Bhayani. "Die-hard aromatherapists believe that essential oils can help with breathing difficulties caused by chemicals, pollutants and other allergens.

"However, for some users, essential oil use can exacerbate certain conditions caused by air pollution as even 100 per cent natural essential oils contain some allergens."

"We find that oils can help ease some of the discomfort caused by pollution and allergens. Eucalyptus and peppermint can help to ease the symptoms of hay fever and nasal congestion."

CLEANING PRODUCTS

"You should be as careful about the products you use in your home as the ones you use in your beauty regime," says Sophie Lavabre-Barrow, co-founder of KINN Living.

Cleaning products, paints and printers all contain organic compounds which can worsen symptoms for sufferers of common breathing problems.

"Use eco green cleaning products that are open and transparent about the ingredients they use. You don't need products that have been dyed hot pink to know that they work," says Lavabre-Barrow.

"An airborne pollutant that can commonly be found in cleaning products is bleach, so choosing products that don’t rely on harsh chemicals to do the cleaning is a great way to swap out the bleach."

OTHER WAYS TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY

1. Invest in your vacuum cleaner

Allergens can build up in household dust so it's a good idea to invest in a powerful vacuum cleaner which can help minimise the amount of chemicals and pollutants found in our homes, but also pollen, pet fur and dust mites too. Don't forget to clean walls, carpet edges and furniture too.

2. Leave your shoes at the door

Use doormats to make sure dirt from the outside world stays there. Or, even better, leave your shoes at the door.

3. If you have a pet it's time to banish it from the bedroom

Clean regularly, and make sure to brush pets outside as often as possible to decrease the amount of dander in your home. If you shampoo your pets, use lukewarm water. Hot water dries the skin and actually increases the flaking. Wash their bedding regularly, in hot water.

4. Ditch the fake fragrances

Air fresheners cover up smells rather than eliminate them, releasing nasty chemicals in the process. As an alternative, try dipping cotton balls in essential oils and leaving them around the house. Another top tip is to choose fragrance-free laundry products.

5. Stop using aerosols

Use roll-on, preferably aluminium free, deodorants. Microwave sliced lemons, water and baking soda to cut through cooking smells and get your kitchen smelling fresh again.

6. Clean (the air) as you go

Use an extractor fan in your bathroom and in the kitchen when cooking