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Steps to Get Rid of Bad Air
Concerned about your air quality? Have a Lennox® dealer evaluate your home’s air for potential problems.

Steps You Can Take to Get Rid of Bad Air

Dirt, dust and other particles

  • Dust your home regularly with a damp rag so you don’t stir up particles. Afterward, vacuum at least once a week using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
  • Always remove shoes at the door to avoid tracking in dirt, pollen and lead particles.
  • When weather permits, keep windows slightly open during the day and in the bedroom at night to let bad air out. If you’re concerned about safety or energy loss, consider a ventilation system.
  • Keep pets outdoors as often as possible and off the carpet. Make sure to frequently bathe them and wash their bedding materials.
  • Keep your heating and air-conditioning system well maintained, and have your ducts cleaned.
  • Wash bedding frequently. Because you spend most of your hours at home in your bedroom, it’s the most important room for allergen control.
  • Use hot water (at least 130 degrees) and high heat to clean sheets once a week, and mattress pads, blankets and comforter covers once a month.
  • Wash children’s stuffed animals in hot water; another option is to place them in a plastic zipper bag and then put in the freezer overnight to kill dust mites.
  • Use airtight plastic covers or allergen-proof fabric covers to encase mattresses, box springs and pillows and protect them against dust mites. Mattresses can be cleaned with a vacuum designed for allergen filtration, or treated with an allergen spray available from home stores.
  • Regularly change the filters on your heating and air-conditioning system.

Mold, mildew and other living organisms

  • Keep relative humidity within a range of 30% and 60%.
  • Make sure your home is properly ventilated.
  • Stop any water leaks before you try to clean mold to limit its future growth.
  • Remove mold from hard surfaces such as ceramic tile by cleaning it with dishwashing liquid and then following with a solution of bleach and warm water.
  • Water-damaged carpets, bedding and furniture should be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours, or replaced. Increasing air circulation and ventilating your home with fresher outside air can help.
  • Check around air-handling units (air conditioners, furnaces) for stagnant water.
  • Turn on your air conditioner and/or dehumidifier during summer months, and use the “auto fan” setting to reduce humidity and save energy.
  • Regularly wipe down shower curtain liners.
  • Avoid the use of carpets/rugs in rooms below ground level. 

Odors and chemicals

  • Store household cleaners, paint solvents and chemical products in tightly sealed containers. If possible, keep them outdoors.
  • Avoid using scented deodorizers and odor-masking air fresheners, which may contain toxic chemicals.
  • Air out your dry-cleaned clothes before hanging them in your closet.
  • Plan craft and home-improvement projects during mild seasons, when workspaces can be easily and comfortably ventilated.
  • Choose furnishings that emit the smallest possible amount of chemical vapors.
  • Do not allow smoking inside your home and make sure all gas appliances are properly vented.
  • Keep the basement area dry.
  • Keep your house clean and adequately ventilated.
  • Vacuum pet hair and launder animal beds.
  • Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom.
  • Place an open box of baking soda on a table or other surface to rid a room of smells.
  • Another option is to soak a cotton ball with pure vanilla extract and place it on a shallow dish.
  • When choosing a humidifier or other air-treatment system, choose one with no ozone emissions. Ozone is a known lung irritant.
 
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