Volatile organic compounds—also known as VOCs—are chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can be harmful to your health.
But also, VOCs are an inseparable part of our day to day lives.
They are in the paint you use to refurbish your walls, in the wood coating of your new sofa, and even in the moth repellent you put in your wardrobe.
So yes, it might not be easy to remove them altogether. But the next logical step is to try and reduce them.
Let’s look into some ways you can do this.
Identify and Remove Sources of VOC
VOCs are found in many building supplies and household products. So the first step in reducing them is to identify products that emit these compounds.
You can do this by going through two main categories:
- Household products: Limit the use of paints, varnishes, solvents, air fresheners, and cleaning products that contain VOCs. opt for low-VOC or no-VOC alternatives when possible.
- Building Materials: When renovating your home, choose materials that are low in VOCs. For instance, select solid wood furniture over composite materials when possible, since the latter often off-gas more VOCs.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, you’ll also find VOCs in hobby supplies, dry-cleaned clothing, and even moth repellents.
And for more precise prevention, Department of Health states that common VOC examples include: benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.
When unsure, you can always check the product label and look for these particular chemicals.
Improve Air Circulation
To dilute indoor pollutants, it’s sometimes enough to just increase airflow.
Simply opening windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate can do wonders in reducing VOCs. Especially if you’re using VOC-heavy products at that moment.
Also, make sure you have exhaust fans installed in most areas where air flow is limited or where moisture and pollutants can accumulate quickly.
Finally, you can install or upgrade your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to include better filtration and ventilation options which improve indoor air quality.
Use an Air Purifier
An air purifier can be an effective strategy for reducing VOCs in your home.
Their effectiveness, however, depends on the type of technology employed in the purifier.
For instance, air purifiers equipped with activated carbon filters are specifically designed to adsorb VOCs from the air.
The porous structure of activated carbon provides a large surface area for VOC molecules to operate, which effectively traps them as air passes through the filter.
Rabbit Air’s MinusA2 has a BioGS HEPA filter in addition to activated carbon filter—which can both help reduce VOCs, as well as other pollutants in the air.
The only downside of activated carbon filters is that they get saturated over time—which means you need to replace them from time to time to maintain high effectiveness.
But that’s not a huge issue—as you can always get an activated carbon replacement filter with us and keep your household as VOC-free as possible.
Store Chemicals Properly
Whether you use chemicals for cleaning, or for various hobbies, you should keep them in well-ventilated areas and away from living spaces.
Ideally, store them in a shed or garage where they are less likely to impact indoor air quality.
If you’re keeping most of the chemicals downstairs in the basement—and the ventilation is sub-par, you might consider getting an air purifier for the basement to keep the VOC levels low.
Look For VOC-Compliant Products
When buying new items for your home, check if they are VOC-compliant.
First, investigate the VOC content of paints, carpets, furniture, or any other product that might contain these chemicals before you buy them.
Most importantly, look for certifications indicating low or zero VOC emissions if possible. If not, check whether they comply with the federal regulations—which they usually should.
Another thing you might do is consider second-hand items.
Not only is it better for the environment to reuse older items, but for instance reused furniture might’ve already off-gassed a lot of its VOCs, making it a safer choice.
Conduct Regular Maintenance
Believe it or not, routine cleaning can help you maintain low levels of VOC.
If you clean surfaces regularly, you'll minimize dust and other particulates that can interact with VOCs and potentially bring health hazards to your living space.
Moreover, you can keep track of your indoor air quality—and VOCs in particular—to help you identify when levels rise and you might need to take action.
Sometimes all it takes is opening the windows.
Other times it means cranking up the power of your air purifier.
Keep the VOCs low
Reducing VOCs in your home is achievable—but you have to be mindful and proactive.
Select low-VOC products, improve ventilation, and conduct regular maintenance and you can significantly improve your indoor air quality.
Moreover, you might want to add an activated carbon purifier to your home inventory which can also help reduce VOCs in the air and contribute to a better living environment.
