Iconic host and cancer survivor Choo Mei Sze shares her personal tips on keeping the air in your home fresh.
Contrary to popular belief, indoor air quality at home isn’t clean and good for you. The biggest culprits for that are polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), two chemicals commonly found in most everyday consumer products that contain plastic such as your TV, furniture, and your computer. Other sources of indoor air pollutants include mould, pollen and chemicals from household cleaning supplies.
Now that we’re spending all our time at home, it’s vital that we improve the air quality at home. Fresh air may be hard to come by since we can’t exactly head out for a hike, but not all hope is lost — there are ways for you to improve your air quality at home.
We spoke to Choo Mei Sze – host, Youth Ambassador for the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, and a cancer survivor herself on what she personally does to improve the indoor air quality of her home. Take these tips to heart and you too can enjoy your time at home comfortably with cleaner air.
1. Invest in an air purifier
You’ll need help to clean the air at home and you can do that with an air purifier. Choo herself has two Coway air purifiers for a good reason. “You have to ensure that it covers the proper square footage,” she advised. “I placed the air purifier that covers 1,600 sqft in my living room and another in my master bedroom which covers 800 sqft.” A smaller air purifier will not work as effectively as it should in a large space, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding on which model to get.
2. Open your windows
You might think that keeping your windows closed means keeping out the virus, dust, and any other air pollutants. However, that might work against your favour as you’re keeping stale air indoors. “Open the windows and ventilate your home. Make sure that there is airflow from the front to the back,” said Choo.
3. Get more windows
If you’re renovating your place, get more windows if possible! Otherwise, open your doors to let the indoor air out, said Choo. “Don’t keep your home all closed up — open the curtains as well to bring in light.”
4. Get indoor plants
It’s time to hop on the indoor plant bandwagon. “Have plants that purify the air. Not only does it look good, but it helps with oxygen levels,” she said. Her personal collection of indoor plants
include money plants, bamboo plants, and cacti. “I’m not certain of their ventilation levels, but I like having them there.”
Read more: 11 cheap and fail-proof edible plants you can grow on your balcony
5. Make it smell nice at home
“Air fresheners or candles help enhance the smell of rooms and spaces,” said Choo. “I place a candle in toilets to make it smell nice, plus it helps when I take hot baths too — it relaxes me.”
She also personally places scented candles and reed diffusers in the living and dining areas of her home. “When guests come by, they always say my house smells like a vacation home and it makes them want to stay longer.”
Read more: 5 ways to make your home smell nice