With the transboundary haze a current and recurring issue in Singapore, it is time to talk about indoor air quality. Haze or not, we spend more than 12 hour a day indoors, and so we felt it was fitting to piece together an indoor air quality toolkit on our SaferSkin Pinterest page. Besides avoiding air fresheners, perfumes, fabric sprays and insecticide indoors, there are some ways to improve the air quality in your living space. While an air purifier with a HEPA filter helps significantly, having air cleaning plants around the home help filter  common volatile organic compounds (VOC), as discovered by NASA in the 80’s. Best Denki has a good guide on buying air purifiers here. Also worth reading is this article by Channel NewsAsia on best and worst performing air purifiers in Singapore. Do note that air purifiers that emit ozone might not be a good idea in the case of haze, as explained here by the US Embassy in Beijing. Beeswax candles and Himalayan crystal salt lamps are also said to be able to purify the air, with the former giving off the scent of honey, and the latter providing a comforting warm glow when switched on.

A quick search online will show beeswax candle retailers, be sure to go for pure beeswax where possible, and Himalayan crystal salt lamps are available at some of the shops at Bras Basah Complex at ground level. vicks nursery true hepa air purifierYou might find the salt lamp sweating on humid days, so it’s good to err on the side of caution and house it on a plate.honeywell air purifier model htt-022 Of course it’s very important to keep the body well hydrated, and make sure to consume lots of fruit and vegetables to keep healthy and stave off any health ailments. bell and howell ionic whisper air purifier and ionizerAnd other than keeping yourself entertained with the television or online reads, why not snuggle up with a book on natural living, in this case we are recommending Jessica Alba’s The Honest Life, and don’t forget comfortable pillows or cushions, ideally ones that are hypoallergenic and natural, meaning no toxic chemicals.

See this Apartment Therapy post on natural pillow alternatives. Remember to always keep a stash of N95 or HEPA-filtered masks in your first aid kit. The cloth or paper ones are good at filtering out bigger particles, but where chemicals and PM2.5 particles are concerned, it’s best to invest in a mask with a HEPA filter, like TOTOBOBO or an N95 mask by 3M. TOTOBOBO is available on their website and on Qoo10, while N95 masks are available at pharmacies islandwide. Product Review: Aroma Bar Rose Geranium Lip Smoothie – Romance Me Product Review: Aroma Bar Peppermint Energizing Shampoo and Conditioner World Environment Day Special: Make Your Own Green Cleaning Products Product Review: Warbotanicals Moroccan Rose Shampoo and Conditioner Dyson Cinetic Vacuums (4) Dyson Upright Vacuums (4) Dyson Canister Vacuums (3) Dyson Stick & Handheld Vacuums (7) Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal + Allergy Upright Vacuum The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal + Allergy takes deep suction power and allergy cleaning to a new level.

Using Dyson’s new cinetic technology, which removes allergens, dust, and dirt without the use of filters, it won’t lose suction across different surfaces. It’s easy to maneuver, provides a great value with nearly $200 worth of extra tools, and has an automatically adjusting cleaner head. Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal Upright Vacuum A powerful upright geared towards pet owners and recently recommended by a top consumer reporting agency, this Dyson vacuum makes quick work of cleaning any type of carpet, as well as hard floors. Using cinetic technology, it sucks up all dirt, debris, and pet hair in its way without using filters or bags--so it's maintenance-free too. A turbine tool is designed for removing pet hair from stairs and furniture, while an adjustable cleaner head and ball technology makes for quick cleaning across multiple surfaces. Dyson Cinetic Animal Canister Vacuum Never lose suction, never change a bag, don't worry about replacing filters. That's what the Dyson Cinetic Animal Canister Vacuum ensures as it quickly cleans your home from floor to ceiling.

Ideal for low-pile carpet and hard floors, this vacuum has an automatically adjusting cleaner head to catch even the tiniest dirt particles from your space. It includes multiple pet- and allergy-friendly attachments to remove dust, dirt, and pet hair from floors, stairs, pet beds, upholstery, and more. Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Multi-Floor Upright with Bonus Tool KitReceive more than $150 worth of upgraded accessories with your purchase of the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Multi-Floor Vacuum. This powerful upright blends Dyson's suction and new filter-less cinetic technology that removes even the smallest dirt and dust particles from your space. Easily move from hard floors to carpet with this self-suctioning head, something few uprights can do. Clean your whole home from top to bottom with these included accessories: carbon fiber tool, reach under tool, wide nozzle, and flat out head. Dyson Ball Animal Upright Vacuum Cleaner Lightweight yet powerful, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal uses the Radial Root Cyclone technology for optimal cleaning power.

A hygienic dust bin and whole machine filtration makes it a great choice for those affected with allergies and asthma. With a large cleaning radius, and multiple tools, removing pet hair, dust, dirt, and other allergy triggers has never been easier. Dyson Ball Allergy Upright Vacuum Remove dust, dirt, and allergens from your space with the powerful Dyson Ball Allergy. An adjustable cleaner head digs deeper into carpets, while a strong suction and powerful motor traps away dirt and debris. Various extra tools, bagless convenience, and the ability to clean hard floors, tight spaces, and all carpet types make it a top choice. Dyson Small Ball Upright Vacuum Cleaner A compact upright with a powerful punch, the Dyson Small Ball thoroughly cleans all flooring types, including bare floors. Its self-adjusting vacuum head, cyclonic filtering, and hygienic dust bin removes stubborn dirt without the need for purchasing replacement bags or filters. Made to be extremely mobile thanks to Dyson’s ball technology, you’ll quickly clean hard-to-reach areas.

Dyson Ball Multifloor Upright Vacuum The Dyson Multi Floor Vacuum, recently recommended by a top consumer reporting agency, features improved suction power and durable construction to clean any type of carpet and hard floors. Its reconfigured brush bar uses 25% more power to drive bristles deep into carpet. Automatic height adjustment, bagless technology, long reach, and Dyson's ball technology make cleaning large spaces and multiple rooms quick and hassle-free. Dyson Ball Compact Animal Vacuum Clean your barefloors, low-pile carpet, furniture, and upholstery with the versatile Dyson Ball Compact Animal Vacuum (DC47 Animal). With its 2-tier radial cyclone technology, this canister vacuum is more powerful than most canisters. Additional features include its extra-long reach, a turbine tool, and bagless convenience. Dyson Ball Multi Floor Canister Vacuum The Dyson Ball Multi Floor Vacuum (DC39) is a compact canister vacuum that uses a trigger head tool, Radial Root Cyclone technology, and lifetime HEPA filter to keep every room in your home clean from floor to ceiling.

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum With double the runtime of the original Dyson Absolute Vacuum, the Dyson V8 Absolute was built for cleaning floor to ceiling in small spaces. Weighing less than 6 pounds, its lightweight design makes it easy to move. Interchangeable vacuum heads provide thorough cleaning on bare floors and low-pile carpet. Four included tools, simple storage, and HEPA filtration round out its unique features. Dyson V6 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum The Dyson Absolute is the most comprehensive cleaning system of all the Dyson stick vacuums. It's the only one with 2 floor tools: One for hard floors and one for carpet. It also provides up to 20 minutes of cleaning power, includes a mini-motorized brush for stairs and pet beds, and can be turned into a handheld model in seconds. Dyson V6 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Designed for quick cleaning for pet owners, the Dyson V6 Animal is more than just a lightweight cordless vacuum; it cleans your entire space from floor to ceiling.

Use its mini-motirized tool for pet beds, stairs, and furniture. Remove its wand to create a handheld vacuum. Additional features include bagless convenience, a Boost mode, and an updated battery for up to 20 minutes of cleaning time. Dyson V6 Motorhead Cordless Stick Vacuum The Dyson V6 Motorhead includes Dyson technology for better suction and more powerful cleaning than comparable stick vacuums. Simply charge it on the docking station for up to 20 minutes of use. Ideal for cleaning hard floors, low-pile carpet, furniture, and stairs, you can also remove the wand to use it as a handheld vacuum to clean cars and other awkward spaces. Dyson V6 Cordless Stick Vacuum The Dyson V6 Cordless Vacuum uses a motorized cleaner head with stiff nylon bristles for cleaning carpets and hard floors. This affordable model is a breeze to use and cleans everywhere from below furniture to the corners of your ceiling. Ideal for quick clean-ups around the house, you'll make quick work of large messes and small dirt and dust particles settling in your home.