It’s time to take the chemicals out of your indoor air and take control of what you breathe in; because chemicals and healthy indoor air do not mix.
This Clean Air Day, 15th June 2023, people and organisations all over the world are taking part in activities to promote cleaner air. They are working hard to reduce pollution, plant trees, walk instead of drive and use renewable energy instead of fossil fuels.
Pollution is now so engrained and widespread you may feel that the task to reduce it is too big; that nothing you do will make a difference. But it’s not true. You are more in control of your own air quality than you may think. You can improve the quality of the air you breathe most – the air inside your home – right now.
Clean Air in Your Home
Clean air is essential for good health and for the environment, but reports show indoor air pollution is now far times worse than outdoor air pollution. Four million people die from indoor air pollution each year. This is expected to rise to 5 million by 2050 unless changes are made. This is because indoor air often contains many contaminants, including dust, allergens, mould spores, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more.
Which is a problem, because indoors is where you do most of your breathing…
An average man breathes in 12 – 15kgs of air every day and spends 95% of time indoors, mostly at home. This means he breathes in 11 – 14kgs of air (far more than he eats!) into his bodies when inside buildings. The figures are proportionately the same for women, children and pets.
Which is good news in a way, because this is the air you have most influence over.
The average man breathes in 11 – 14 kg of indoor air every single day.
Cleaning Products and Indoor Air Quality
A key contributing factor to poor home air quality is chemicals from cleaning products.
Regular cleaning is crucial for good indoor air quality and a healthy indoor environment. But conversely, cleaning with products that release pollutants into the air during cleaning has the opposite effect…
Many conventional chemical cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that have a detrimental impact on indoor air quality. Chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances release harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs contribute to indoor air pollution and are known to affect health in a negative way.
When breathed in, tiny VOC particulates can enter the lungs and blood stream and cause a multitude of diseases. In the short term they can trigger respiratory irritation and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure is linked to child obesity, cancer among cleaning operatives, low fertility, hormone disturbances, lung damage and more.
Many common chemical cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that have a harmful impact on health and indoor air quality.
How Probiotic Cleaners Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
When choosing cleaning products, the choices you make can directly affect your health and that of those around you. Even your pets can suffer! Consider their potential impact on indoor air quality and only chose products that reduce the level of VOCs in your indoor space.
Although designed for cleaning surfaces, the special probiotic formula means that regularly cleaning with our Provilan probiotic cleaning products helps to maintain better indoor air quality.
Seven Ways Probiotic Cleaning Improves Indoor Air Quality
Regularly cleaning with probiotics helps reduce potential health risks linked to exposure to pollutants in seven ways:
1. Reduces exposure to harmful chemicals
Provilan probiotic cleaning products are environmentally-friendly, non-toxic bio-detergents with added live ‘good’ bacteria (probiotics). They do not contain the harmful chemicals that evaporate and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.
2. Restores microbial balance
Probiotic cleaning products introduce beneficial bacteria that compete with and suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms. Indoor environments have their own microbial ecosystems, the ‘home biome’ or community of microorganisms that co-exist there. When the balance of these microbial communities is disrupted, it can lead to the growth of harmful bacteria, mould and other pathogens. Probiotic cleaning helps to restore a more balanced and diverse microbial environment, which helps to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria, fungi, and other allergenic particles.
3. Reduces bio- allergens
Probiotic cleaners break down and eliminate common airborne particles like pet dander, pollen, and dust mite waste that can build up and trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
4. Breaks down organic matter
Probiotics improve cleanliness by breaking down and consuming organic matter, such as food residues and dirt.
6. Prevents biofilm formation
Biofilms are slimy layers formed by colonies of bacteria on surfaces. Biofilms can trap dirt, dust, and other particles, serving as a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mould. Probiotic cleaners help prevent biofilm formation by outcompeting and inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria. This reduces potential air pollutants associated with biofilms.
5. Enhances odour control
Probiotic cleaners help to control unpleasant odours by consuming organic matter that serves as a breeding ground for odour-causing bacteria. This eliminates the source of bad odours rather than masking with chemical air fresheners.
7. Keeps working for longer
Probiotic cleaners have a residual effect as the introduced beneficial bacteria continue to work for up to 72 hours after application. They colonise surfaces and provide ongoing cleaning and protective benefits. This extended action helps to maintain cleaner surfaces and minimise the accumulation of pollutants over time. In contrast, chemical cleaners provide more temporary results; recontamination can happen within as little as twenty minutes.
Green Seal and Eco Label certifications show our Provilan products meet specific environmental and health standards.
Clean Air Purifiers
If you need more intense air purification, consider using a high grade indoor air purifier. These have four filtration stages to neutralise all serious indoor contaminants including dust, pollen, pet dander, plastic particulates and airborne bacteria and viruses. Contact us to find out more.
Further Reading – Cleaner Indoor Air
The Child’s Right to Breathe Clean Air . This action plan highlights the need to reduce home cleaning chemicals, mould and moisture, cooking practices and cigarette smoke.
The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people
Infants exposed to air pollution have less lung power as adolescents – study
The British Lung Foundation – Support for indoor air pollution
Next Steps…
Remember, clean air is not just for Clean Air Day! Let’s make healthy cleaning decisions all year round…
Discover the probiotic cleaning product ranges for home, commercial and fitness centre use: SHOP NOW
Questions? Call 01268 544530 or email enquiries@pure-ingenious.com to find out more.
