HOME DIY
TECHKEEP IT CLEAN
24 T3 MARCH 2020Horizon
HOW TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION
INSIDE YOUR HOME
The air inside our homes can be up to three times more polluted
than outside. Claire Davies has advice on how to breathe more freelyBreathing clean air is our right, but it’s
getting harder. That’s especially true inside
the home, where our activities can contribute
to poorer air quality. These activities can
involve cooking, cleaning, crafting (anything
where you use glue and paint), burning
candles and, of course, smoking.
The British Lung Foundation describes
indoor air pollution as “dust, dirt or gases in
the air inside a building ... that harms us if we
breathe it in”. If you have a lung condition,
such as asthma, you’re susceptible, as are
children (their lungs are still developing).
We can’t fully eliminate indoor pollution,
but there’s a lot we can do to protect our
health. That starts with cleaning...
What you use to clean your home
makes a difference to how unhealthy the air
becomes. According to the American Lung
Association, some cleaning products, like
furniture polish and bleach, can release
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that
could contribute to respiratory problems,
allergies and headaches. Choosing more
natural cleaning products – think Method
or Ecover – is a good start.
Also ensure you have an air purifier
nearby when cleaning. The Blueair Classic405 (from £529, blueair.com) creates a
purified space in rooms of up to 434 square
feet, and its use of Hepa Silent tech means
you’ll hardly hear it. Dyson’s cordless vacs,
including the Cyclone V10 (from £379,
dyson.co.uk), capture harmful particulate
matter (PM) as they clean your carpets. If
you’re unsure how much indoor air pollution
you’re dealing with, plug in the Awair 2nd
Edition (£169, getawair.co.uk) and watch it
track invisible fine dust and chemicals in
your home’s air.
Plants are nature’s weapon against
pollution, so fill your home with ‘clean air’
plants. There’s lots of choice, from Dragon
Tree to Aloe Vera (if you have pets, check to
see if your preferred plant is harmful to
animals). Sit smaller desk plants in a Lua
smart planter (£85, mu-design.lu) to help
them flourish.
We burn candles to fragrance our homes
and create a cosy vibe, but, depending on
what they’re made from, candles can
produce carcinogens. Switch to an essential
oil diffuser instead, as these scent without
creating toxins. For fragrancing larger
spaces, choose the VicTsing Essential Oil
Diffuser (£20, amazon.co.uk).LEICA DISTO D1
Gone are
the days of
awkwardly
holding a
sagging tape
measure across
a big room. The
Disto D1 laser
measuring tool
has a range
of 40m and
delivers quick
and accurate
readings on the fly. Sync it
with the Disto Sketch app to
create digital floor plans.
£66, leicadisto.co.ukDEWALT XR
BRUSHLESS
CORDLESS COMBI
DRILL
An
ergonomic
design
means this
65Nm,
two-speed
torque
combi
drill
is easier to hold, with a
rechargeable battery lasting
90 minutes at a time. A built-
in LED light helps you see
what you’re drilling better.
£99, screwfix.comBOSCH
EASYSANDER 12
Use this versatile sander to
tackle a range of jobs from
sanding skirting boards to
upcycling old furniture. It’ll
glide over large areas, but
its compact form factor also
makes it perfect for getting
into tricky corners on those
smaller surfaces.
£41, homebase.co.ukIM
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IMAGE^SOURCE:^ DEWALTIMAGE^SOURCE:^ HOMEBASEIMAGE^SOURCE:^ GETTY