How to Improve Indoor Air Quality for People with Respiratory Issues

October is Indoor Air Quality Awareness month, and while the air you breathe indoors can have a major impact on people with allergy and asthma, in the wake of COVID-19, many people with residual symptoms are also experiencing the need for clean air in the home as we head into fall allergy season. We’ve put together a few quick tips to help you breathe a little easier this fall.

Quick Air Quality Fixes You Can Make Now
The changing of the seasons is a great time to do a deep clean to get those allergens out of your house. Be sure to thoroughly clean drapes, area rugs, and sofas, as well as pillows and comforters. Pay extra attention to your bath, shower, and sinks to remove any mold or mildew. Finally, don’t forget to swap out your air filters. Check out our air quality calendar for tips you can follow every month!

Improving the Air with Houseplants
During the pandemic, houseplants have become one of the latest design crazes, with many people working from home and adding a little greenery to their space. But did you know that the snake plant you’ve been eyeing filters out VOCs (volatile organic compounds), including formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene, which are known to have short- and long-term effects on health? Find some of our favorite air purifying plants here.

Choosing the Right Floors
At LIFECORE, we believe clean air starts from the ground up. If you’re an asthma and allergy sufferer, you’ll want to avoid carpet, which can be a major trap for dust, pet dander and other allergens—opting instead for a floor that’s a bit easier to clean. You can get a full breakdown on carpet vs hardwood here.

Indoor air quality goes beyond avoiding seasonal allergens. Many home flooring options contain added formaldehyde. Some flooring materials, like laminate, require coats of adhesives and finishes that can significantly increase the VOC’s in the end product.

Thanks to LIFECORE’s proprietary ZERO-ADD® technology, our floors have no added formaldehyde, giving them VOC safety levels well below the strictest regulations, making them safe for the whole family, especially those with respiratory issues, as you can see below:
• Carb 2 Acceptable Level: 0.05
• EPA Acceptable Level: 0.04 – 0.05
• LIFECORE® Flooring Products level: 0.005 – 0.015 (range based on the natural level of formaldehyde in the wood)

It was this level of safety that recently led designer Erika Ward to select LIFECORE for her kitchen remodel. “My 6-year old is one-year post chemotherapy so I’m way more conscious about exposing him and our other four children to harmful materials,” she explained.

Upgrade Your Floors this Fall
Ready to make an update your lungs will thank you for? Find a LIFECORE dealer near you to get started today!