Let's talk about air quality.

Why? I mean, it's not like I'm writing from Beijing, right?

It's a bigger deal than you might think, especially in the winter when you spend more time inside. Did you know that the air outside of your house is probably cleaner than what's inside?

This is actually true for most of the US, despite what you may be thinking about smog. Think of all the stuff floating around inside your house: dust, fumes from cleaning products, paint, synthetic fragrances. . .maybe mold, pesticides, foam and insulation that continually emits chemical fumes. . .(see the EPA for a more comprehensive list.)

I bring this up, because you never know when air quality's going to become a problem for you. I lived 23 years on this planet with carefree, unaffected lungs. Breathing problems? What are those?

And then last summer I choked.

I didn't what was bothering me --still don't, actually, though it's subsided a lot. At the time, I thought it was the raging wildfire season we were experiencing in Colorado. Then they put out the wildfires, and I thought maybe the pesticides sprayed inside my apartment were the problem? (Pretty sure they gave me hives, anyway.) They ought to have dissipated by now, though, so maybe I'm just allergic to my apartment in general. It DOES develop dust quicker than anywhere else I've lived. Could there be mold?

So, you see, indoor air quality problems can be tricky to pinpoint.

What can a poor, frugal breather do??

First, if you know or suspect you're living with a severely toxic problem (toxic mold, for instance,) take action right away, whether this means educating yourself and hiring professionals to deal with it immediately, or making different living arrangements until you can get a handle on the situation.

If your position isn't that dire, here are some simple ways to improve your indoor air quality.

Do you notice the air quality in your house?
Share your tips!

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It's a Hodgepodge Life: Hodgepodge Friday // The Thriftiness Miss: Weekend Wonders // Liz Marie: "Clean it!" Link Party //
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