By this point it’s well known that air quality impacts our health. Indoor air quality is no exception. It’s also common knowledge that a restful night’s sleep has benefits like improving your mood and lowering the risk for long-term health problems. But did you know that good indoor air quality and restful sleep go hand in hand? Yes, it’s true, and this is how (and why) your indoor air quality affects your sleep:

Dry Air

Your body naturally loses moisture as you sleep, but you may have noticed you’ll wake up with excessively dry skin or nasal passages when your air conditioner or heater has been running all night. Having this level of dryness makes you more susceptible to feeling fatigued and catching a cold. 

The best way to prevent the dryness from affecting you is to purchase a humidifier. However, it’s important to remember that there is a sweet spot for humidity; too much humidity can create a breeding ground for mold. And plus, we all know how difficult it can be to fall asleep inside a stuffy bedroom. If you have questions about how to achieve the right amount of humidity, our team will be happy to help

Pollutants

Many regular household items can increase the pollution inside your home. Cleaning products, scented candles, paint, and even printers can produce harmful airborne pollutants. 

Breathing in these pollutants during sleep can create respiratory problems like sleep apnea. Having proper ventilation in your bedroom will eliminate any possible pollutants from disrupting your breathing as you sleep.

The most common way to ventilate a room is to open up the windows, but this could bring in some unwanted noise and light. Depending on where you live, bringing in the outside air with an open window could actually increase your indoor air pollution. Fortunately, there are fresh air ventilators out there that bring in fresh air while also allowing you to have an undisturbed sleep.

You may be disappointed to hear that candles and air fresheners can be harmful, but this doesn’t mean you have to ditch your comforting scents. Many aromatherapy brands have started to use less chemicals and bi-products in their products. 

Allergens

Our homes often have many allergens in them like dust, ragweed, and pet dander. These allergens can impact the deep and regular breathing that’s necessary for a restful sleep. Plus they can worsen symptoms for those with severe allergies or asthma. The best way to tame all of the allergens in your home at once is with an air purifier.

Dust mites are a common allergen found in our beds. Unfortunately we cannot completely rid ourselves of dust mines. However, you can combat them by using dust-mite proof bedding and regularly changing your sheets.

To prevent pet dander from disturbing your sleep, you should try to keep pets out of your bedroom. But we know it can be difficult for many to resist those puppy eyes, so another solution is to clean any bedding, curtains, and rugs in your bedroom more frequently. (You’ll also deal with dust mites by cleaning these areas!)

Final Thoughts

Regularly washing the fabric surfaces in your bedroom is one of the solutions that can solve many of your problems at once. Investing in a good air purifier and humidifier is beneficial for you as well. Once you manage the indoor air inside your bedroom, you should finally get the sound and restful sleep that we all need to function our best everyday. If you’re not quite sure what the quality of your indoor air is, we offer brief but helpful indoor air testing