Ensure good indoor air also in the home office – read Senate’s helpful hints

Now that many people have switched to remote working, it makes sense to ensure good indoor air also in the home office. This will help you to get through the working day better since poor, stuffy indoor air can cause not only discomfort but also fatigue as well as temporary skin, eye and respiratory symptoms.

Our indoor air team Siti and its leader, Senate’s Indoor Air Specialist Anne Korpi, put together five helpful hints that can help to keep indoor air in the home in good condition when working from home.

1. Dust daily

Indoor air remains good in clean, tidy homes. Now that people may be working or studying at home more than eight hours a day, the amount of dust also increases. Since dust easily sticks to the surfaces of electronic devices, pay even greater attention to cleanliness.

For daily cleaning, you can use a neutral (pH 6–8) or slightly alkaline detergent (pH 8–10). Wipe also door handles, cupboard handles, light switches, taps, tables and draining boards, remote controls, the arm- and backrests of chairs, smart devices, the computer mice and keyboards with a microfibre cloth moistened in a detergent solution.

2. Ensure adequate ventilation

Ensure that your remote workplace is in a space where there is fresh air. The indoor air will remain good if ventilation works and there is enough of it. Mechanical ventilation needs to be on 24 hours a day and must be of sufficient capacity. If needed, ask for expert help in assessing the ventilation in your home.

If there is no mechanical ventilation in your home or there is only mechanical exhaust ventilation, it’s worth combining an effective five-minute window ventilation with a small break to stretch your legs. Window pollen screens keep pollen allergy symptoms at bay when airing.

3. Remove piles of papers from your desk

Keep papers and files in order also in the home office. Papers and books lying on a desk attract dust and odour, release them into the air and hamper cleaning. Place the printer in a well-ventilated place. You can find one in surprising places such as a bathroom or utility room with good ventilation and a window!

4. Check the indoor temperature of your home

Keep your home at a suitable temperature. A temperature of more than 23°C adds to the stuffiness of the indoor air. Pay attention to lighting at your remote workpoint. Working is more pleasant when there’s enough light and the light doesn’t dazzle you.

5. Air new furniture

If you have bought new furniture for your remote workpoint, air it in a roomy, warm storage space before using it. Airing removes unpleasant smells from the materials. When removing furniture from its packaging, don’t leave packaging plastic lying around – take it to the waste bin immediately.