Your kitchen is a hotspot for poor indoor air quality. What else can you do to ensure you help maintain good indoor air quality, especially in the kitchen?
If you are looking for a great excuse to improve your old kitchen, then we have one for you. We all know that the kitchen is a usual hot spot for poor air quality inside the house. This is since this is a place where moisture, heat, and everything in between collides.
Molds, mildew, and pests can quickly make a home out of the kitchen. When you have these types of air pollutants inside the kitchen, your indoor air quality suffers. The same goes for how often you clean the area and the kinds of cleaners you use to clean the space.
The activities we do in the kitchen also contribute to poor indoor air quality. Cooking involves fire and smoke, which pollutes our indoor air. Renovating with indoor air quality in mind will help you make the kitchen into a healthier space.
But the question is, what projects should you consider taking? Here are five tips to get you started.
Choose Low-Maintenance Upgrades
Many people would choose beautiful kitchen upgrades for the sake of beautifying the space. Many fail to realize that the materials you choose to invest in can make a whole difference when it comes to your indoor air quality. If you are, for instance, one who can’t afford to do regular cleaning in the kitchen, then you ought to invest in low-maintenance upgrades.
This is since dirt, dust, oil, and other contaminants can stay in the kitchen, further soiling your indoor air quality. With a low-maintenance kitchen renovation, it will be easier for you to keep it clean even with your busy schedule. One worthy project homeowners can make is replacing old countertops with quartz countertops.
Countertops made from quartz are essentially low maintenance. These are durable, built to last, and come in a wide variety of gorgeous types. Investing in such a countertop will allow you to easily clean up after a busy day in the kitchen.
Fix Leaks
Getting into an accident because of a slippery floor is one reason why you need to prioritize fixing leaks in the area. A leaky faucet, dripping dishwasher, and leaks in your fridge’s water line can invest pests and molds inside your kitchen. You don’t want to invite pests and molds in the kitchen and risk your family’s health.
Certain types of molds release dangerous spores. Long-term exposure to this can cause health problems. This can cause allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms, especially to people sensitive to mold spores.
By fixing leaks, you can stop molds from growing. Remember that even one-time water leaks can already make your kitchen and other parts of the house susceptible to mold growth. Fix even your minor leaks asap to stop molds from ruining your indoor air quality.
Invest in the Right Storage
The proper storage can make a big difference in how you can make your kitchen life easier. For one, investing in the appropriate storage can help you keep the kitchen clean, which enables you to reduce indoor pollution. Start by investing in the correct garbage bin with lids.
Not all homeowners have time to empty their trash cans and clean each one every night. Since trash cans are keepers of physical pollutants, you want to make sure all trash cans, especially in the kitchen, have their own lids. This way, you can keep your garbage out of sight and stop pests from ransacking your trash.
As for your cabinets, make sure you keep these closed and clean. Use warm soapy water to clean cabinets. Go for air-tight containers to store open food items.
Don’t Take HVAC Maintenance for Granted
How you manage HVAC maintenance can also contribute to your home’s indoor air quality. So, make sure you don’t skip vent and filter cleaning. Mark your calendar to ensure you won’t forget when you should call a pro to take care of HVAC maintenance.
Regular HVAC maintenance helps in improving indoor air quality. You can rely on your system to only allow clean air to circulate inside the kitchen. This also helps reduce the emissions of other indoor air pollution sources inside the kitchen.
Learn What Cleaners to Avoid
Artificial cleaners are often packed with harmful chemicals. If you want to improve the air quality in the kitchen, choose unscented or natural homemade cleaners. The fewer chemicals used in cleaning the area, the better.
It also helps if you stop using aerosol cleaning products. There are natural cleaning products that will help you effectively clean and make the kitchen smell good. Being mindful of your product choice will help you improve the kitchen environment at home.
The quality of your indoor air quality lies in your own hands. Improving your kitchen can be a great way to start improving your home’s indoor air quality. You can use this list as your guide to improving the indoor air quality inside your kitchen.