08/25/2025
We had so many Air Quality Alerts Issued in Minnesota and Wisconsin over the summer, due to wildfire smoke.
While it's important to stay inside during the worst air quality days, it's equally important to not trade one toxin for another. So here is our general advice for better indoor air quality, naturally.
First realize that artificial fragrance is the modern-day version of secondhand smoke. You might be surprised just how much of that is lurking in your home and that there are options to reduce the toxic load, so your family can enjoy the benefits of the good health that comes from clean air.
What can you do?
If you don't have a whole house HEPA filtration, or you live in an apartment, we recommend investing in tower style air filters with HEPA filters, even better if it also has a UVC light for killing bacteria. You can find these at a place like fleet farm. They will tell you what size room they are designed for. So you may need more than 1, depending on your living space.
It's Ideal to get an air filter that does NOT have wifi or bluetooth. A non "smart" one.
As any wireless tech works on microwave emissions, which harm health in many ways. You don't want an unnecessary EMF burden on your body.
**Ditch artificial fragrances (think wall plug-ins, and sprays that come in a can) that merely cover up foul odors. Instead, clean the home regularly. Vacuuming high traffic areas as least once a day or every other day makes a big difference. Do a detail clean once a week, Get the kids involved, make it routine.
If you don't have time to clean your own home regularly, consider hiring someone to do it. We know a few people that do this for a living and their rates are reasonable.
Open Windows whenever possible, especially during/after cooking a meal. Opening windows early in the morning and during the evening is also a good idea, provided the air quality outside is good.
**If you have cats, use Unscented clumping cat litter that has activated charcoal.
**Use Unscented garbage bags.
**Use wool dryer balls, instead of dryer sheets.
Laundry detergent brands, like 7th Generation or similar products are preferred and effective for laundry.
**Vinegar or Baking Soda go a long way, they are economical, effective and hypoallergenic.
For window cleaning you can use undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle and a squeegee. I promise after vinegar dries, there is no odor.
Get rid of clutter. - Donate or toss items you are not using. Go room by room, or if you have way too much clutter, do one closet, or one corner of the room at a time. You'll fee so much better!
Try to follow the rule that if you bring something home, you give something else away.
You'd be surprised what bacteria, mold and mildew grow under the piles of clothes laying on the floor with trapped moisture. - If you sort things like this out, it'll remove foul odors as well.
When people enter the home, ask people to remove their shoes, to prevent tracking undesirable things into the home. No one wants dirty public restroom floor germs in their living room.
Bad bacteria causes foul air, so if something is cleaned the odor will go away. Chemical fragrances only hide the problem.
Keep indoor plants, aloe and spider plants are some of the best plants for cleaning indoor air.
With supervision: pure beeswax candles(without added fragrance) can be burned, because unlike paraffin, beeswax purifies the air.
**Ditch chemical air fresheners in the car. If you need something else, try a homemade essential oil mix instead.
**Natural cleaning products without fragrances are ideal.
**Ditch Cologne and Perfume. Clean has no Scent.
*Look for companies that disclose all ingredients, that are free of synthetic fragrance.
*Dr. Bronner's makes excellent personal care products, they have the best ingredients that I have found from any company.
Some people are more sensitive to the immediate effects of artificial fragrances than others, they have adverse reactions such as hives, headaches, irritability, asthma and allergies. Because "fragrance" ingredients are considered trade secrets, no one knows what is in them and there have been cases where people have gone into anaphylactic shock from things like axe body spray.
That's why the one of the kindest things you can do is decide to be fragrance free. It keeps spaces accessible for all people. That's also why we ask our clients to be fragrance free for in-person sessions because many experience health effects from these chemicals.
But even if someone doesn't have the symptoms listed above, their overall health is still impacted in the form of hormonal imbalances, cancers and more. Fragrances enter into the lungs and from there, enter the bloodstream. If applied to the skin, it goes into the bloodstream by penetrating dermal layers.
At present, it may affect a person's friends and other members of their family the most, such as kids, a spouse, and even their animals. Think how sensitive the noses of cats and dogs are. Many people don't like confronting people they love about this issue and many people simply don't realize that artificial fragrances are damaging to health.
Remember chemical fragrance is the modern-day version of secondhand smoke.
