How To Reduce VOCs At Home

Many big corporations and manufacturers use harmful chemicals with no regard for the consequences. Many people are not aware that a lot of those harmful chemicals can be present in their homes in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). You’re not alone if you want to cut back and reduce the VOCs in your home to improve the air quality.

The easiest way to cut back on VOCs at home is to stop using commercial cleaning products containing harmful chemicals. Instead, clean your windows, mirrors, countertops, and appliances with distilled white vinegar and water. It’s also important to use essential oils in a diffuser rather than using aerosol sprays and air fresheners, which contain many harmful VOCs.

VOCs are toxic, and many of them are known carcinogens. Reducing VOCs at home is especially important for homeowners with asthma and other respiratory issues. Follow along as we explore how to reduce VOCs at home to avoid unnecessary health consequences.

Examples Of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals released into the air at room temperature. As they evaporate, particles can float suspended in the air and travel throughout your home. In this gaseous state, you can easily inhale the vapors and gases, and they can harm you.

Some VOCs are heavier than others, and they’re more likely to settle on the surfaces in your home. This is partly the reason why VOCs are so dangerous, as they may be unknowingly released into the air when you touch household items after they’ve settled on the surfaces. Common VOCs include:

• Benzene
• Toluene
• Formaldehyde
• Acetone
• Methylene chloride

Formaldehyde and benzene are among the most dangerous VOCs, as they’re both carcinogenic and found in many household products. As dangerous as they are, they may remain present in countless household products for years. Until reforms are made, it’s important to do your best to minimize VOC contact.

How To Reduce VOCs In Your Home

Eliminating all VOCs at home is difficult, but you can at least reduce them at home by making a few key changes.

Use Low-VOC Paints And Adhesives

There’s a good chance you’re familiar with the smell of fresh paint at home. VOCs are a big part of that smell, and that’s not such a good thing. However, you can reduce VOCs at home by using low-VOC paints to minimize harmful airborne chemicals. These paints still have some VOCs, but they’re much safer than traditional paints you find at the store. The odor isn’t nearly as strong because the chemical levels aren’t nearly as high as they would be.

Paint with less than 50 grams of VOCs per liter is considered low VOC. Keep in mind that this kind of paint can still contain toxins, so it isn’t completely safe. However, you’re less likely to notice the smell and suffer headaches and dizziness. 

Avoid Commercial Cleaning Products

Commercial cleaning products are responsible for most VOCs in American households. Many brand-name cleaners contain the VOCs xylene, toluene, benzene, ethanol, and chloroform. Some VOCs, like 2-Butoxyethanol, can cause liver and kidney damage, among other problems.

Many VOCs are carcinogenic, especially when ingested at high concentrations in small spaces. That’s almost unavoidable with commercial cleaning products, as you typically spray and scrub them, for example, when cleaning your toilet and bathroom sink.

Lock Your Chemicals Away

You may think cleaning products only release VOCs when you use them, but that’s not the case. Commercial cleaners, paints, and other chemicals can slowly emit fumes while sitting on a shelf or countertop. You can reduce airborne irritants by sealing and storing products containing VOCs. Never keep solvents, paints, and cleaning chemicals in any common area at home. Otherwise, there is a risk of off-gassing VOC fumes, which you may unknowingly inhale.

That’s why you shouldn’t store them in your kitchen or bathroom unless you put the chemicals in an airtight bin. You’ll need to store each chemical in its own container and bin to prevent dangerous chemical reactions. For example, storing bleach and ammonia in the same bin can release chloramine gas, which is dangerous. Otherwise, you can research which chemicals are safe to store together to maximize storage space.

Boost Airflow

Increased ventilation won’t eliminate VOCs, but it will help reduce their levels in the air. The better the airflow, the more you’ll dilute the amount of circulating VOCs. For example, run the exhaust fan while cleaning your bathroom, as it’s such a small space. Otherwise, you can easily inhale the fumes, and the fumes can even spill out of your bathroom.

It also helps to open some windows and run box fans and oscillating fans when using chemicals. Air your house out after painting the walls or installing a new carpet. Not only will this help the paint or adhesive dry, but it will also help exchange unhealthy air for fresh air. Create cross-ventilation by opening windows and doors at opposite ends of the house.

Use Natural Alternatives

Most of the VOCs in the air at your house come from commercial cleaning products. You can cut back on VOCs at home by using safer alternatives to commercial cleaning products. Nothing is more effective than distilled white vinegar mixed with water. You can clean mirrors, countertops, the stove, fridge, small appliances, floors, and clothing with distilled white vinegar and water, and replaces the need for at least four or five commercial cleaning products.

Not only does this help reduce VOCs at home, but it can also help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. Instead of using commercial degreasers, you can scrub greasy surfaces with lemon juice. Unclog your drains with vinegar and baking soda rather than corrosive, dangerous drain cleaners. There’s no need to make your home’s air unhealthy when you can use common household items to clean your home.

Replace Your Mattress (Or Cover It)

Your mattress may be a source of VOCs in your house. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is, considering that you rest your body on your mattress all night. Chlorinated tris are flame-retardant chemicals found in many common mattresses. As you sleep, this chemical can be released into the air in your bedroom, and you will likely inhale the fumes. The other chemicals in mattresses come from artificial dyes, adhesives, and foam, all of which can release vapors.

That’s why you may notice a strong smell in your home when you buy a new mattress. You may not be able to easily justify replacing your mattress, especially if you just got one. In that case, you can at least reduce VOCs in your bedroom by covering your mattress with a low-density polyethylene cover. This will help prevent harmful off-gassing and keep the air in your bedroom clean.

Use Natural Scents

Many people use aerosol sprays, air fresheners, and Glade plug-ins to make their homes smell nice. While that’s seems smart in theory, each of these artificial air fresheners can significantly worsen the air quality in your home.Those pleasant fragrances are accompanied by harmful VOCs, such as ethanol, limonene, formaldehyde, and acetone, among others. Many commercial candles are also far less healthy than they seem, as they typically contain many chemicals.

You cannot reduce VOCs at home if you continually use air fresheners and aerosol sprays. Instead, invest in a diffuser and use natural essential oils to make your home smell nice and fresh. You can also find natural candles without any artificial additives. Carefully research incense before buying it, as many store-bought incense sticks contain harmful additives. Natural scents smell better and won’t do nearly as much harm as the VOCs in commercial air fresheners.

Summing It Up

The best way to cut back on VOCs at home is to avoid using too many commercial cleaning products. Instead, use natural cleaning methods, like white vinegar and lemon juice, to avoid releasing VOCs in the air. It also helps to improve airflow at home, lock your chemicals in airtight containers, and use low-VOC paints and adhesives.

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