Poor air quality is common in cities with high traffic and bustling activity. Prolonged exposure to smoke, dust particles and even viruses that stay airborne can affect our long-term health by causing breathing and lung problems.

You can’t control the environment, but you can take charge by finding everyday solutions that improve the air you breathe.

Invest in an air purifier

Pollution exist indoors at home as well, from everyday sources such as cooking fumes, paint, furniture that emits formaldehyde and pets. There are many types of pollutants that stay in the air, including micro-particles, bacteria and allergens, which are all invisible to the naked eye.

Investing in an air purifier can ensure that nasties in the air are captured, and a circulation of fresh air is projected around the room all day. This will benefit the whole family, especially younger children and the elderly who are more sensitive to air pollution.

While it’s hard to avoid exposure to pollution when you head out, you can give yourself peace of mind that you have purified air to come back to, in a healthy home.

Deep clean your home often

Dust, dirt and even pet dander can accumulate and linger at home easily. Deep cleaning your home often will not only reduce visible dust, but also remove airborne nasties which can trigger allergies or affect respiratory health.

To ensure a truly clean home, you need powerful cleaning tools that remove even invisible dust that can’t be seen with the naked eye, including viruses and allergens. The Dyson Gen5detect™ and Dyson V12 Detect Slim™ vacuums come with a Fluffy Optic™ cleaner head that uses a green light to illuminate invisible dust, so you leave no dust behind.

As you clean, be sure to cover even the hard-to-reach areas, such as behind cupboards and beds, curtains, upholstery and corners. These spots are where dust accumulates and is often neglected.

Don’t burn anything indoors

Fumes from cooking, burning candles or incense can contribute to poor air quality at home because they’re trapped in an enclosed space and can’t escape.

This is especially so during winter or the rainy season, when people shut their doors and windows to keep the cold out. This traps the pollutants indoors as well.

If you do need to light up anything, be sure to turn on your air purifier for healthy circulation.

Limit chemicals, sprays and fragrances at home

Air fresheners and sprays may help a room smell pleasant, but they often contain toxic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Similarly, household essentials such as paints, varnishes and disinfectants are also made of organic chemicals which are detrimental to long-term health.

Although you can’t stop complete usage of these everyday items, you can take steps to reduce harmful exposure. For a start, keep the windows open or use an air purifier for ventilation.

If you’re engaging closely with VOCs – for example, doing a paint job at home, make sure you have an air purifier around that filters the air you directly breathe.

Bring along a portable air purifier

Outdoor conditions are unpredictable, depending on weather and seasonal changes, but there are ways to protect yourself wherever you go.

In summer, there could be pollen or haze in the air. When temperatures are at an all-time high, forest fires may occur, creating long-term smog that can last months. Acts by humans such as forest burning and incineration can also impact the air quality negatively.

With today’s technology, there aren’t only home air purifiers available in the market – there are portable air purifiers that you can take on the go. You can then filter the air you breathe everywhere, even in the least ideal conditions.

The Dyson Zone™ headphones with air purification capture pollutants as you move, so you can commute everywhere while a continuous stream of purified air is delivered to your nose and mouth. Whether you’re walking on crowded streets, or facing haze, you can still safeguard your respiratory health. The headphones also come with high-fidelity audio and Active Noise Cancellation technology, so you can stay focused on your entertainment as you move around between locations.