Indoor Winter Tips from Tammy! 

A new study recently revealed that people spend more time indoors during winter than any other season. It’s true! It’s on the Internet. All kidding aside, when you keep your windows and doors closed and repair cracks in your insulation in preparation for the coldest season, you seal off the structure from fresh air, which raises the concentration of indoor allergens and pollutants in your home. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that during winter, indoor air can be as much as five times more polluted than outdoor air. So much for trying to be energy-efficient! What’s mucking up your air? Carbon monoxide courtesy of your furnace and animal dander from pets are just a couple things that may be keeping you company throughout the winter months. And who wants uninvited guests for the holidays, unless they come bearing gifts! Fear not, though: there are some fairly easy measures you can take to improve the winter air quality of your home.

Dust regularly. We’re more than happy to take care of this for you. But for those times in between our visits, decrease those allergens by dusting with a damp cloth rather than a feather duster. Try to get those places you should be dusting but never think of, like vents, ceiling fans and on top of the refrigerator. It doesn’t hurt to vacuum with a bit more regularity, either.

Consider changing cleaners. To avoid potentially harmful vapors, you can purchase non-toxic, non-aerosol, unscented cleaning products (or, if you’re really resourceful, you can make your own with relative ease).
 

Wash your pet! Just like you, your pet is indoor more often in winter. Counteract the extra fur and dander by washing and grooming your furries regularly. Wash bedding with hot water too, and keep your bedroom pet-free if possible.

Circulate That Air. Yes, it’s cold, but don’t forget to open your windows periodically to let in fresh air. If you have ceiling fans, don’t be shy about using them. When cooking, flip on your oven’s exhaust fan to disperse any noxious vapors, grease and smoke.

Do The Large Laundry. To be more specific, large pieces of fabric, like bedspreads, drapery and fabric shower curtains harbor more dust mites and allergens the anything else in your home. Wash (or have them cleaned) regularly to keep them fresh.

Care For Your Fireplace. Use cured or dried wood instead of pressure-treated wood to eliminate toxic vapors, and have your chimney and flue cleaned before the season begins.

Change Your Filters. Your furnace and air filters can get pretty grimy pretty grimy. Changing them may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how often this goes unnoticed. These are very inexpensive, and spending a few bucks more on a higher-quality filter can make a big difference.

Get Your Furnace Serviced. Regular furnace maintenance by a professional not only saves you money by ensuring peak efficiency, but they can diagnose any issues, such as carbon monoxide leaking into your air.

In between doing all that, hopefully you can cram in some holidays and merriment!
 

--Tammy