Want to know how to improve you air quality at home naturally? These are the best cost effective ways to help your family breathe easier all year round.
Air pollution is becoming an increasingly serious problem all over the world. It will take a collective effort by everyone to fix the air quality in our major cities. The one place you can have a major impact on the air quality that you breathe is in your own home.
You probably spend 90% of your time indoors, breathing air that could slowly be damaging your health without you even knowing it.
Breathing in bad air could lead to negative health effects such as asthma, heart disease, lung cancer and increase the risk of infection. This could be the air you, your children, your elderly parents and your friends are breathing in every single day.
This is an invisible problem that is affecting your sleep, your focus and your long-term health.
In this post, I am going to show you exactly what to measure, what to fix and what products can help you to improve air quality, creating a healthier home today.
8 Pollutants That Could Be Impacting Your Families Health
Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5)
What is PM 2.5?
PM 2.5 is fine particles which are smaller than 2.5 micrometres.
Where does PM 2.5 come from in your home?
- Cooking
- Cleaning
- Burning Candles
- Fireplaces
- Smoking
- Pets
- Mold
- Printers
- Outdoor Air Pollution
What does PM 2.5 do to your health?
PM 2.5 can increase the risk of lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes and can cause complications during pregnancy.
What is the safe level of PM 2.5 in your home?
Annual level of less than 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
What is CO2?
It is the main product when other animals and we breathe out. It is a gas that can build up over time in your home.
Where does CO2 come from in your home?
- Human Respiration
- Animal Respiration
- Fuel-burning appliances, e.g., gas stoves and water heaters
- Fireplaces and heating
- Attached garages
- Smoking
What does CO2 do to your health?
If you have elevated CO2 levels in your home, even at low concentrations. This can affect your cognitive function and decision making, cause respiratory symptoms, especially in children and disrupt cardiovascular and autonomic systems.
What is the safe level of CO2 in your home?
Less than 1000 parts per million over 24 hours. The closer you get to 400, which is a healthy outdoor level, the better.
Temperature
What is temperature?
This is the ability of your house to keep warm air inside. Because the warmer and drier your home is the harder it is for sicknesses to spread.
Where does warmth lost from in your home?
The highest amount of heat is lost through the roof in your home, followed by walls, windows and then the floors.
What does temperature do to your health?
The temperature in your home can also affect your health. If your house is too hot or too cold, this can increase the risk of heart disease, breathing problems and mental health issues. Elderly and low-income households are the most vulnerable to these effects.
What is the safe level to keep the temperature between?
The recommended range to keep your house between is 18 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius.
Humidity
What is Humidity?
Humidity is the amount of moisture the air can hold. Air acts like a sponge for moisture. Warm air can hold a lot of water vapour, making hot days feel sticky and uncomfortable, while cold air quickly becomes saturated even with small amounts of moisture. This is why cold homes are prone to condensation and dampness, as everyday activities like cooking and showering release moisture that cold air simply cannot hold.
Where does Humidity come from in your home?
- You, your family and your pets are breathing
- Cooking
- Washing
- Drying clothes inside
- Plumbing leaks
What does Humidity do to your health?
Air that is too dry irritates your eyes, skin and airways, which can increase infection risk. While air that is too humid encourages the growth of mould, dust mites and bacterial growth.
What is the safe level to have Humidity between?
Try to keep the humidity between 40% and 60% for optimal health and warm your house to 18 degrees.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
What are VOC’s?
VOCs are human- made chemicals which stand for Volatile Organic Compounds. Carbon-based gas that has a high vapour pressure and low water solubility.
Where do VOC’s come from in your home?
Volatile organic compounds are gases that are emitted from many sources, such as:
- paints
- cleaning supplies
- fuels
- pesticides
- printers
- craft materials
What does VOC’s do to your health?
They can irritate your airways, worsen asthma, and increase your risk of cancer with long-term exposure to these chemicals.
What is the safe level of VOC’s in your home?
The lowest levels are the best.
Mould and Biological Pollutants
What is Mould and Biological Pollutants?
These are bacteria, moulds, viruses, dust, pollen, mildew and animal dander.
Where does Mould and other Biological Pollutants come from in your home?
- Plants
- Animals
- Soil
- People
What does Mould and other Biological Pollutants do to your health?
Mould and other biological pollutants can cause the development and worsening of asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory infections in children and adults. Also increased risk of allergic rhinitis, eczema and coughing and wheezing.
What is the safe level of Mould and Biological Pollutants?
It is impossible to get rid of all the mould and other biological pollutants in your home. Mould can be controlled by controlling your humidity levels inside and cleaning any active growths.
Radon
What is Radon?
It is a radioactive gas which naturally forms from radioactive metals breaking down in rocks, groundwater and soil.
Where does Radon come from in your home?
It comes up through cracks in your home. If you have the type of rock underneath you that breaks down into radon, you will always be exposed to it. You can check the radon levels through this map (Only has North America and Europe measured).
What does Radon do to your health?
It is scientifically proven to be the second leading cause of lung cancer worldwide after cigarette smoking.
What is the safe level of Radon?
There is no safe level of Radon, so the less the better. If you test and your home has over 4 picocuries per liter then your home should be fixed.
Dust Mites
What are Dust Mites?
Dust mites are microscopic organisms that feed off the dead skin cells that we shed every day. Their fecal matter and dead mites are what cause allergies in some people.
Where do Dust Mites come from in your home?
Dust mites like to live in places that have high humidity above 75%. So they are found in places close to the equator.
Dust mites can be found in:
- Pillows
- Bedding
- Carpet
- Clothing
- Soft toys
What do Dust Mites do to your health?
The allergy caused by dust mites is allergic rhinitis. This can affect sleep, worsen asthma and eczema, cause headaches, sinus infections in adults and ear infections in children.
What is the safe level of Dust Mites?
While you can’t remove dust mites completely from your home, you can do many things to reduce the amount of dust mite allergens. From vacuuming regularly, to using mattress and pillow protectors.
8 Simple Ways To Increase Your Indoor Air Quality This Week
1. Open Your Windows, But Check First
Ten to fifteen minutes of fresh air each day can lower CO2, humidity, and VOC levels in your home. Plus, it’s free and works well.
However, on days with high pollution, opening your windows can make air quality worse, especially if you live near a busy road or in an area with smoke from chimneys in winter. Before opening your windows, check the outdoor air quality in your city using the World Air Quality Index. I love this website! It is what my teachers and I use in science reports. It’s free and provides real-time readings from monitoring stations across New Zealand and the world. It uses colour codes to show the quality of your city’s air, from green (which is great, you can open your windows) to burgundy (keep windows closed today).
2. Know What’s Actually in Your Air
You can’t fix what you can’t see, which is why having an indoor air quality monitor is one of the best things you can add to your home. Think of it as a baby monitor for your air. Once it’s there, you’ll wonder how you lived without it.
Wynd Air Quality Tracker
I have heard amazing reviews about this tracker!! This small device stays in your home and constantly tracks your air quality based on AQI. You can connect it to the free Wynd app to see your indoor and outdoor air quality ratings. This device helps you know if it’s safe to open doors and windows for natural ventilation.
Air Things
This indoor tracker measures Radon, PM 2.5, CO2, temperature, VOCs, air pressure, and humidity. You can also connect this device to an app to see your home’s air quality. It also gives suggestions on how to improve it.
3. Check and Clean Your Filters Monthly
Your heat pump, air purifier, and ventilation system all have filters that catch particles from your air. If those filters get clogged, they may stop working and push pollutants back into your home.
Set a reminder on your phone to check them once a month. Most filters just need a quick wipe or vacuum. Also, remember to clean your air ducts every three to five years to remove any built-up dust.
4. Protect Your Mattress and Pillows Tonight
As you learned above, you don’t want to have dust mites accumulating in your house. This change can make a big difference, especially if anyone in your family has asthma, eczema, or allergies, or if your kids wake up stuffy.
MiteGuard is a New Zealand brand that offers dust mite barrier covers for mattresses, pillows, and duvets that are proven to block dust mite allergens to undetectable levels. Both Allergy NZ and Asthma NZ recommend them. Made from natural cotton in New Zealand, they are breathable and comfortable, so you won’t even notice they’re there. Wash your bedding weekly on a hot cycle and replace regular pillows every 12 to 18 months.
5. Tackle the Dampness
New Zealand homes, especially older ones, often have issues with dampness. Damp air leads to mould, dust mites, and respiratory problems. The good news is there’s a lot you can do.
Start with free solutions: run your kitchen and bathroom extraction fans whenever you cook or shower, open windows for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily, and avoid drying clothes indoors if possible. If dampness is a chronic issue in your home, consider getting a dehumidifier. De’Longhi has been rated the number one dehumidifier brand by Kiwi consumers in Canstar’s 2025 award. Earning high ratings for effectiveness, value, and performance.
Aim to keep your home’s humidity between 40% and 60%. Your air quality monitor will help you track this in real-time, so you’ll know when to take action.
6. Swap Out the Harsh Cleaning Products
This is one of the easiest changes you can make, yet it has a big impact. Many conventional cleaning products, especially bleach and synthetic air fresheners, release harmful VOC’s into the air your family breathes.
Fortunately, we have some great New Zealand-made alternatives that work well. Figgy & Co offers concentrated, non-toxic cleaners made from simple, safe ingredients like soap, baking soda, and essential oils. There are no harmful chemicals or synthetic fragrances, and they smell fantastic. The Good Change Store is another brand that I have heard lots of good reviews about! They have the cutest starter kits with glass bottles and refillable tablets for kitchen, bathroom and all-purpose cleaners. Both brands are available online and make switching feel exciting rather than a compromise.
7. Bring in an Air Purifier
A good air purifier with a HEPA filter will capture PM2.5, dust, pet dander, mould spores, and more while your family goes about their day. Think of it as the last line of defence after making other changes.
There are many options available, but some are overhyped. For an honest review of what performs well across different rooms and budgets, check out this video from HouseFresh on YouTube. For Kiwis, Snap Air stocks Smart Air purifiers that are independently tested, genuinely effective, and reasonably priced. Meaning no gimmicks, just clean air.
8. Add Some Plants (But Don’t Overwater Them)
Plants bring life to a home and help create a healthier, calmer atmosphere. They can support air quality and add beauty to any space.
The key is to avoid overwatering them. Soggy soil raises indoor humidity and can promote mould growth, which is what we want to avoid. Use well-draining pots, water only when the soil is dry, and place them in rooms where you spend the most time. Snake plants, peace lilies, and spider plants are easy to care for and thrive indoors in the New Zealand climate.
This post was all about how you can improve air quality in your home naturally. So you can help create a happier and healthier home for your whole family.
Thank you so much for reading!!
Let me know in the comments what the first change you are going to make in your home today is to help your family breathe easier!
If you want to learn more about air pollution, check out this blog post next:
Air Pollution, Human Health and ways to Increase Air Quality
I hope you have a lovely rest of your day!
Georgia xoxo
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