Outdoor PM2.5 enters through gaps around windows and doors, bathroom vents, kitchen hoods, and any time we open windows. Once inside, dust can stay suspended for hours, and indoor sources like cooking make things worse. The aim is not a perfect seal. The aim is to cut peaks and keep bedrooms calmer and cleaner.
Start with priorities
- Breathe cleanest where you sleep.
- Ventilate smart instead of long.
- Reduce dust that keeps floating around.
Ventilation timing that works
- Ventilate in short bursts during the cleanest hour you can find, often early afternoon. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough if there is a cross breeze.
- Avoid wide open windows during red hours in the morning and late evening.
- When cooking with gas, always run the exhaust fan. If the outdoor number is acceptable, crack a window slightly to move fumes out fast.
Seal the big leaks with simple materials
- Use weatherstrips around window frames and door bottoms. Foam tape or rubber strips are affordable and available at hardware shops.
- Add a thick curtain over drafty windows. It acts as a second barrier and helps with winter heat loss.
- Check the gap around kitchen and bath exhaust ducts. Seal obvious cracks with silicone or tape.
Cut indoor dust the easy way
- Wet mop and damp wipe instead of dry sweeping.
- Keep shoes at the door. A simple mat and a shoe rack reduce what you carry.
- Wash bed linen weekly to remove fine dust that settles on fabric.
- Vacuum sofas and rugs if you have a vacuum with a fine filter.
Where a purifier makes sense
- If you can buy only one unit, put it in the bedroom. Run it on higher settings overnight and early morning when outdoor levels usually spike.
- Choose a HEPA filter model that fits your room size. You do not need extra features. Clean pre-filters on schedule so airflow stays strong.
- Close windows while the purifier runs. An open window dilutes its effect.
Room by room quick plan
Bedroom
Seal the biggest gaps, add a door sweep, place a purifier near the bed, and keep clutter low so dust has fewer places to settle.
Living room
Use heavier curtains, keep one window as your controlled vent for short clean air bursts, and plan family time in the day’s better hour.
Kitchen
Use the range hood every time you cook. Boil with lids on. If you fry, ventilate more and wipe surfaces after.
Bathroom
Run the exhaust during showers to clear moisture, then close it so outdoor air is not pulled in for hours.
Help children and older family members
- Keep a water bottle nearby.
- Plan indoor activities on very poor days.
- Encourage short breaks from chores that create dust, like sweeping or shaking rugs.
Monitor your air quality, manage pollution, and master allergies with AllerAid
AllerAid makes home decisions simple.
Why choose AllerAid
- Live AQI and PM2.5 near you with clear trend alerts.
- A diary to log headaches, cough, or itchy eyes and link them to daily air changes.
- Reminders for medications and for tasks like ventilation time or purifier filter checks.
- An Allergy Free Score to see progress week by week.
A simple routine to try
Open AllerAid at noon, find your cleanest 60-minute window, and set a daily reminder to ventilate at that time. Log how everyone feels in the evening. Adjust for the next day.
The bottom line
You do not need expensive gear to make a home safer in smog season. Seal the big gaps, ventilate at the right time, control dust, and put your purifier where it matters most. Use daily data to guide your choices and protect the people you love.