If you thought air pollution is just the haze and smoke from vehicles and cigarettes that we are so familiar with when we step outdoors, you’re wrong. Many of us don’t realise that our indoor air could be 2 to 5 times worst compared to outdoor air quality on a normal day. In fact, 60% of Malaysians are currently suffering from poor indoor air quality, right in their very own home.

 

Many of us don’t realise that our cleaning products, our furniture and walls can damage the quality of air in our home leading to health ailments such as asthma, respiratory infections, allergies and tuberculosis that can affect you and your family.

 

A recent survey by Nippon Paint Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Allergy and Immunology (MSAI) revealed that the living room and bedroom are the unhealthiest spaces at home while the kitchen is the cleanest. They also found that 75% of respondents who live in urban areas have unhealthier homes*, which bring use to these questions. Are we not cleaning our homes frequently enough? Are we so engrossed in our busy and hectic lifestyle that we overlook things that can affect our overall health and wellbeing?

 

If you care about your family’s health and wellness, it’s time to look into the quality of air in our home and improve it by keeping our home clean and free from harmful chemicals. Immediate steps and measure can be done to improve your indoor air quality. Take note at these easy-to-do cleaning and paint tips to start creating a healthier home for you and your family.

 

LIVING ROOM

The living room is probably the area where you and your family spend the most time in. It’s our entertainment area, our kids’ playground and even classroom. Health treats in the living room include dust that live in the carpets, fabric covered furniture and even walls. Other air pollutants include Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from furniture such as plywood, wallpaper, floorboards and lots more.

 

Tips for the living room:

• Vacuum at least twice a week
• If you have pets at home, it’s best that you vacuum daily to remove dirt and allergens.
• Swap chemical cleaners for milder disinfectants. Try to use homemade, natural alternatives such as vinegar, lemon juice and baking soda.
• Instead of curtains, hang blinds you can dust often.
• Air out new furniture that contains heavy amounts of VOC (commonly found in fabrics, wood and construction) for at least a week before use.

 

BATHROOM

Pretty much everyone uses the bathroom in their home more than twice a day. According to the Indoor Wellness Survey, mould is the number one source of air pollutant in this area due to excessive moisture and dampness. In fact, 55% spot mould in their bathroom an only 40% clean the bathroom floors once or twice a week!

 

Tips for the bathroom:

• Remove mould by cleaning the surface with eco-friendly products such as baking soda and water. Keep surfaces dry by leaving windows and the door open.
• Install an exhaust fan. It improves cleanliness by sucking out moisture from the air, allowing the polluted indoor air to move outdoors.
• Wipe your toiletries dry frequently to prevent the growth of bacteria.

 

KITCHEN

The kitchen is most often the heart of the home, where we spend time cooking and sometimes gather to eat. Moulds on walls or tiles especially near the sink area, greasy floors and uncleared garbage in the kitchen can all be harmful. Another common threat in the kitchen is carbon monoxide poisoning from gas stoves which is odourless and tasteless. Breathing in too much carbon monoxide can actually starve our body of oxygen-which can become deadly after a prolonged period of time.

 

Tips for the kitchen:

• Mop the kitchen floor with hot, soapy water to prevent built-up of oil
• Place a lid over your trash can to prevent bacteria from escaping into the air.
• Empty your trash can daily.
• Clean the inside and the outside surface of the trash can because that’s where the bacteria resides.
• Use a smoke or exhaust fan in the kitchen for better ventilation.

 

BEDROOM

Did you know that throughout our lives, most people spend 26 years of it sleeping? Bedding, rugs, curtains and fabric headboards are places that harbour the most dustmite. Sadly, only 51% of Malaysians vacuum their bedroom floor once a week or less*, while only 48% clean the furnishings in the bedroom such as storage units, fabric floor mats, curtains and others.

 

DID YOU KNOW?
Contrary to popular belief, scented candles (especially paraffin ones) are actually unhealthy as they could release harmful toxins such as benzene, toluence, formaldehyde and soot into the air.

 

Tips for the bedroom:

• Clean your storage units, sofas and mattresses every week.
• Invest in a good air purifier.
• Ventilate rooms daily by opening windows.
• Place some plants to increase oxygen levels such as snake plants, bamboo plants and golden pothos.
• Remove scented candles and potpourri as they infuse the air with harmful chemicals.

 

For Indoor Wellness Tips, visit to www.nipponpaint.com.my/indoorwellness.