One easy and affordable way to make your own air cleaner at home is with a box fan and a furnace filter. These “filter fans” can filter out the small particles that are common in wildfire or wood smoke.
Step 1: Acquire a square fan (most air filters are squares or rectangles, so we're applying basic geometry). Step 2: Get yourself a HEPA filter (shoot for one similar in size to your fan). Step 3: Secure the filter to your fan via duct tape or packing tape, making sure to seal the connection as tightly as possible.
Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
You can build a simple but effective air purifier on the cheap with a 20-inch box fan, painter's tape, and a 20-inch by 20-inch 4-inch-thick MERV 13 (or MERV 12) furnace air filter. Just use the tape to attach the thick air filter to the back of the fan.
A few of her favorites include Peppermint, Lavender, and Lemon. “These are cleansing oils, and can be diffused in your home to help cleanse the air, and promote clear breathing and healthy respiratory functions,” she explains.
No problem. You can still make an effective filter by holding the filter to the back of the running fan and letting suction hold the filter in place. Once the fan is turned off the filter will detach. Alternately, you can use duct tape or bungee cords to hold the filter to the fan.
DIY air cleaners are a more affordable and accessible alternative to commercial versions and can be constructed using a box fan and a high-efficiency home air filter (see Figure 1 below). Securing the filter to the fan creates an effective, simple air cleaning system.
Breathing polluted air affects your lung health now and in the future. Here are some simple actions we can take to reduce air pollution and to keep the air cleaner. Walk, bike, carpool, or take public transit. Reduce heating needs by making your house more energy efficient.
Air filter media can be made from paper, foam, carbon, aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or plastic. The performance of air filters is reported by the MERV rating, arrestance, dust holding capacity, dust spot efficiency, and MPPS.
Install an Air Purifier with a HEPA Filter
A quality air purifier is one of the best ways to improve your home's indoor air quality. There are air purifiers that scrub the air in a single room and larger ones that can clean the air in your entire home.
Opening windows to improve ventilation, using essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus, and keeping your space clean by dusting and vacuuming regularly also help maintain better air quality.
Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion, dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms, diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult.
Baking soda is probably one of the most useful tools in eliminating odors from your home. Instead of masking odors like air fresheners and candles, baking soda absorbs and neutralizes them. It has a reputation for being one of the best carpet deodorizers.
Peppermint Essential Oil – Peppermint Oil's main constituent, menthol, supports healthy breathing by acting as a decongestant. Its strong antiseptic properties disinfects surfaces and removes airborne bacteria while infusing a refreshingly cool aroma into the air you breathe.
How To Make Homemade Air Freshener. Add about 25 drops of your favorite essential oil to 2 tablespoons of baking soda and stir to combine. Lemon and lavender are great choices, but eucalyptus is my favorite because of the refreshing scent.
Open a Window. Here's a great cheap solution… crack open some windows! Open your windows for a few minutes each day to ventilate your home with fresh air, and alleviate the air of any harmful toxins in your home.
I swear, simmer pots are the BEST air freshener. Better than any spray, oil, or candle I have ever bought. The simplest method, and my go-to, is to grab a small saucepan, fill it with water, and toss in a few cinnamon sticks (or a few vigorous shakes of ground cinnamon).
If you are allergic to essential oil smells and want to use something plain and basic to remove funky odours, you can place a bowl of baking soda in your home. The alkaline baking soda will purify your air and remove funky odours and foul smells without any extra scent.