Affluent Savvy
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

How do you purify air quickly?

Below find 8 natural air purifier options, straight from experts. Prioritize plants. ... Reduce sources of air pollution. ... Vacuum and dust regularly. ... Go burn-free. ... Open the windows regularly. ... Maintain clean filters. ... Try this box-fan hack. ... But maybe invest an air purifier, too.

wellandgood.com - Natural air purifier tips for detoxing your home on the cheap | Well+Good
What birthday is the rarest birthday?
What birthday is the rarest birthday?

Christmas Day December 25 (Christmas Day) is the least common birthday, while January 1 (New Year's Day) is the second least common. December 24...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 16, 2018
What's the most attractive feature on a girl?
What's the most attractive feature on a girl?

Below are 6 physical traits men find most attractive in women, according to scientific research. Large eyes. Getty. ... White teeth and a big...

Read More »
Last updated May 30, 2020

F ull disclosure: ull disclosure: I actually have a Dyson air purifier situated in the largest room of my home. That one machine—mighty as it may be—doesn't purify my entire living space, given that I live in a perpetually dusty space in smoggy Los Angeles with two dander-dropping cats and their particle-spewing litter box. But since I can't afford to Dyson-ify each room, I keep at least one window cracked 24/7, clean regularly (though not as often as I should), and just hope I'm not harming myself with indoor air pollution. Clearly, I could stand to better educate myself by exploring natural air purifier options. To pinpoint an effective, cost-saving solution, I began investigating different ways to naturally clean the indoor air. Below, clean living experts offer eight tips for detoxing your (and my) home the natural, cost-saving way.

Below find 8 natural air purifier options, straight from experts.

1. Prioritize plants

As evidenced by her uber-green office, Well+Good Council member Sophia Gushée is a plant fanatic. Her obsession isn't simply aesthetic, either. "Some plants have been proven to convert harmful chemicals, like formaldehyde and benzene, into oxygen," Gushée tells me. Her favorite plants that have natural air purifier powers are Sansevieria trifasciata (or snake plant), peace lillies, and the Zamioculcas zamiifolia (or ZZ plant). "They are low maintenance plants that can survive my dry NYC apartment and hectic lifestyle," she explains.

Related Stories

And for a deeper dive into detoxing your home, watch the What the Wellness episode below that's dedicated to just that. Becky Rapinchuk, the voice behind Clean Mama and author of Simply Clean, also recommends adding plants to your space if you're looking to naturally detoxify the air, and her favorites are the areca palm, the lady palm, and rubber plants. That's great, but I currently have exactly three barely surviving plants in my home, and Gushée insists this isn't even adequate air purification. "You really do need a ton of plants for them to make a meaningful impact on indoor air quality, so I have a ton but it's probably not even enough," she says. So, if this natural air purifier option is for you, stock up on that green goodness—and use this full guide to the green cleaning machines.

2. Reduce sources of air pollution

What fruit is good for high blood pressure?
What fruit is good for high blood pressure?

Citrus fruits, including grapefruit, oranges, and lemons, may have powerful blood-pressure-lowering effects. They're loaded with vitamins,...

Read More »
Last updated Dec 4, 2022
Where was the Ark of the Covenant last seen?
Where was the Ark of the Covenant last seen?

Much of Jewish tradition holds that it disappeared before or while the Babylonians sacked the temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. But through the...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 26, 2020
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Promotion

"Just as we exhale and excrete waste, so do most of our things," Gushée says, noting that many household products are made of chemicals that get released into air and dust, and some of these chemicals make their way into our bodies. The best way to minimize indoor air pollution? Reduce the sources. "Start with reading ingredient labels for 'fragrance' in spray products. Fragrance can contain hundreds of ingredients, including toxic chemicals," she says. "Spray products spread the chemical formulas into the air so that you can inhale them (a fast way for chemicals to enter your lungs and bloodstream), and those formulas can also settle onto surface areas that become absorbed or ingested later." Opting for non-toxic cleaning products can help, too, whether those are at-home mixes or virtuous store-bought varieties like Blueland.

3. Vacuum and dust regularly

You can lessen the impact of aforementioned dust and dander by ensuring surfaces are as clean as possible. Carpet and rugs are especially good at collecting air pollutants, so be sure to clean them regularly. "Carpets are tricky,” Gushée says. "They’re a reservoir of dust and allergens, and if you have carpet that is wall-to-wall, or really large so it’s under heavy furniture, it’s really hard to clean properly." To make this easier, she recommends investing in carpet tiles.

4. Go burn-free

Consider dialing back a bit on your smudging and candle-burning habit. "Burning anything probably releases fumes that aren't great," says Gushée. If you can't quit completely, she suggests swapping paraffin candles for beeswax varieties, noting that while there's a lack of scientific data supporting the air purifying capabilities of beeswax, it's still better than petroleum (aka paraffin) to burn indoors. "Consider the material of the wick as well," Gushée adds. Some, it turns out, contain metals such as lead and zinc, which are emitted into the air when burned. One study showed that burning four such candles for two hours resulted in airborne lead concentrations that pose a health risk to humans.

5. Open the windows regularly

Which zodiac signs are good at everything?
Which zodiac signs are good at everything?

There are some talented zodiac signs who excel at everything. ... They just don't share them. VIRGO (August 23 - September 22) ... CAPRICORN...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 19, 2020
How do you avoid tax on dividends?
How do you avoid tax on dividends?

How can you avoid paying taxes on dividends? Stay in a lower tax bracket. ... Invest in tax-exempt accounts. ... Invest in education-oriented...

Read More »
Last updated Jan 20, 2021
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Promotion

If you must smudge or burn, be sure to keep your windows cracked. Rapinchuk says this simple trick to keep fresh air circulating might be easier to execute in some climates than others. “If you have the ability to open windows, and the outside air is safe, this will help to dilute out any pollution that might be stagnant inside,” agrees microbiologist and author of The Germ Files Jason Tetro.

6. Maintain clean filters

Rapinchuk also recommends changing your furnace filters regularly, in addition to cleaning and replacing your air-conditioner filters regularly, too. If you have central air, Tetro recommends investing in a HEPA filter, which is designed with a web of fibers that catches harmful air particles before you breathe them in.

7. Try this box-fan hack

This is basically a natural air purifier for the especially thrifty, and it can be utilized when air quality seems more dismal than usual (or every day, should you so choose).

8. But maybe invest an air purifier, too

Gushée and Rapinchuk both recommend investing in an actual air purifier as well as taking the above measures, when possible. There are models available in a range of price brackets, and given that our environment isn't getting cleaner anytime soon, consider bumping up the investment on your priority list. Your paint job may also be affecting your home's health, but luckily a new clean paint company aims to remedy that. Plus, IKEA's making air purifying curtains, FTW.

wellandgood.com - Natural air purifier tips for detoxing your home on the cheap | Well+Good
How do you prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?
How do you prevent bed bug bites while sleeping?

How can you prevent bedbug bites? Wash and dry your bedding on high heat. ... Vacuum and steam clean furniture and floors. ... Get a mattress and...

Read More »
Last updated Sep 23, 2020
How can I maximize my Social Security benefits?
How can I maximize my Social Security benefits?

7 Tips to Help Maximize Your Social Security Benefits Check your earnings record. ... Consider delaying your claim. ... Work longer – even for a...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 3, 2020
How long does the brain last after death?
How long does the brain last after death?

About six minutes after the heart stops, the brain essentially dies. Mar 23, 2022

Read More »
Last updated Jun 10, 2021
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
Promotion
What does God say about insecurities?
What does God say about insecurities?

We can conquer insecurity the same way we do any temptation of the flesh. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that God will not allow us to “be tempted...

Read More »
Last updated Jun 24, 2019