Breathing in clean air sounds like a very basic right, but unfortunately it is not something we can take for granted living in China’s smoggy metropolises. With China’s air pollution frequently surpassing international standards and even partially shooting off all existing air pollution charts, as well as the drastic rise of respiratory illnesses in recent years, there has never been a greater need for tips on how to make your living experience in China that much healthier. While our individual actions for combating the air pollution outside may seem small, there are a number of measures you can take for significantly improving your living environment at home. Here are four essential do’s and don’ts for surviving China’s miserable winter, indoors. 

The Do’s:

(1) Do replace the filters in your air filter regularly and install filters in your air conditioner  

The filters in air purifiers collect dust, pollen, dead skin cells, dust mite droppings and other allergens. If they are not cleaned regularly, all of this can buildup, making your machine work harder and pushing less air through. Most home air conditioners have very rudimentary filters that only catch large particles, but can be replaced with finer mesh ones (ie. 3M’s Filtrete) that clean your air much more effectively. Follow your air purifier manufacturer’s guidance on filter changes and depending on your location in China, replacing air conditioner filters should be done about once every six months. 

(2) Do add indoor plants to produce clean air, remove toxins, and increase humidity

NASA research has found that certain species of plants excel at removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that build up at dangerous levels indoors, especially during the winter, when we keep windows closed. The plants absorb pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide, where microbes in their root system convert this into food. Meanwhile, they improve air quality by producing oxygen and adding humidity for comfort. 

(3) Do use a HEPA vacuum and wet wipe surfaces that collect dust frequently

All surfaces can collect dust, particles and other air pollutants, so if they are left they can become airborne again leading to asthma and allergies. Wipe everything with water or use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which filters out particles down to .3 microns, about 150x smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Without HEPA filters, vacuums just spray the particles back out into the air where they can be inhaled.

 

(4) Do open the windows for ventilation, but not during rush hour

Even in winter, ventilation with outdoor air is important to dilute stuffy, polluted indoor air. It’s best to do this when levels of outdoor pollution are lowest. Shanghai’s Environmental Monitoring Center (SEMC) publishes hourly reports and forecasts on air quality on its website. In general, the best times are early morning or evening. It is also generally a good idea to run an air purifier for an hour or so after ventilating to remove outdoor pollutants common in China’s air.

The Don’ts:

(1) Don’t use a humidifier without cleaning it frequently

If you must use a humidifier, make sure that you clean it frequently with several drops of vinegar or a baking soda solution. Bacteria and mold can grow in the reservoirs and then become aerosolized and spread into the air you breathe.

(2) Don’t take long, hot showers without a chlorine filter

 No better way to warm up in winter than with a nice hot shower, right?  Chlorine, when absorbed through the skin or inhaled is thought to cause certain types of cancer as well as asthma. The higher the heat and length, the greater the vaporization and inhalation.  Although you can take quicker, colder showers, inexpensive shower filters (as little as 400 RMB) are a better choice.

 

(3) Do not use portable combustion heaters indoors

As the temperature drops, it’s tempting to use portable space heaters to keep warm.  Electric ones are fine (assuming there’s no fire hazard), but any running on butane, propane, gas or otherwise using some sort of combustion should never be used indoors.  These are silent, annual killers, and tragically, carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. Even if you don’t have this in your home, be aware of your surroundings, as charcoal and coal are used to heat many Chinese stores and restaurants, exposing you to the same noxious fumes.

 

(4) Don’t allow condensation and wetness to form indoors

During the winter, the temperature difference between the outside and inside air leads to condensation forming. In the same way that your eyeglasses will fog up when you come indoors on a cold day, water will form on cold objects such as windows or the concrete walls commonly found in China. Dampness leads to mold and insect growth. The best way to avoid this is to reduce indoor air humidity, increase indoor air temperature, increase ventilation with fans where water condenses and wipe up around window frames.
 

This is a guest post by Louie Cheng, founder of PureLiving China (http://purelivingchina.com).  PureLiving China is an indoor environmental services company that is focused on helping Shanghai residents assess and improve the quality of their air and water.

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Keywords: Surviving China winter indoors improving indoor environment China do’s and don’t indoors China