3M Filtrete for Your Home

Many of us have been taught about the dangers of outdoor pollution caused by cars, soot, smoke, and so on, but how many of us think about the pollution that may be indoors – with us all the time? The pollution that may be indoors can be anywhere from two to five times higher than the pollution outside and is considered by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to be one of the top five urgent environmental risks to health!

With allergy season, you want to do everything you can to keep your home clean and reduce the number of allergens present. Did you realize that your home can be a breeding ground for pollen, dust mite debris, mold spores, and other airborne particles? These can worsen allergies!

So how can you give your home a healthy boost? Dr. Neil Schachter (one of the leading experts on respiratory disease in the United States) and Filtrete have teamed up to bring you 8 ways you can improve the air quality in your home:

(1) Avoid using cleaning products with chlorine and ammonia. These chemicals can irritate people who are sensitive to them, causing watery eyes and sore throats and even causing shortness of breath or coughing.

(2) Bring out the houseplants. A natural way to fight indoor pollution is through the use of indoor houseplants such as the Peace Lily, Bamboo Plants, and English Ivy. Did you know that in eight hours a six-inch potted green plant can clean a room of excess carbon dioxide?

(3) Use area rugs instead wall-to-wall carpeting. Wall-to-wall carpeting can attract and hold indoor pollen, pet hair, dirt, and mold spores, as well as contain many chemicals. Vacuuming helps to remove some of the surface dirt, but it can actually end up pushing the pollutants deeper into carpet fibers. Area rugs, however, can be picked up and cleaned thoroughly whenever you want.

(4) Use high performance air filters. Using a high performance air filter, such as the Filtrete 1 Advanced Allergen Air Filter from 3M, can help to capture particles such as dust mite debris, smoke, pollen, and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. To get the best results, change your air filter at the beginning of every season.

(5) If you have allergies to pet dander, keep dogs and cats out of the bedroom and off the beds!

(6) Turn onthe air conditioner. Air conditioners cool your home, as well as help to reduce the humidity levels. During the warmer times of the year, turn up your air conditioner to help keep the humidity levels lower, thus preventing mold from growing.

(7) Turn the humidifier off. Humidifiers generate moisture, which can spread mold spores, bacteria, and chemical deposits into the air in your home. To prevent mold growth, keep the humidity levels between 30% and 50%.

(8) Leave your shoes outside. Leaving your shoes outside can prevent bringing contaminated outdoor pollutants into your home, such as animal dander, pollen, bacteria, and mold spores.

Thanks to Mom Central, I was able to learn about the 3M Filtrete Air Filters and learn about how to keep the air cleaner in my home this season. You can also win a bamboo plant by registering to join the Clean Air Club at Filtrete now!