Mailbag! Do You Need an Air Purifier? (A Must-read!)

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted August 3, 2021

What’s your opinion on home air purifiers? Are they worth the price tag?

–Annie from Gary, IN

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Annie,

Buying an expensive air purifier can seem like a gamble—I don’t blame you for asking about them!

If you’re like most people, you spend 90 percent of your day indoors. And study after study has shown that the air inside any building is much worse than the air outside – except for a few exceptions in very polluted areas of the world, or when smoke from forest fires fill the air.

In fact, indoor air can be two to five times worse than the air outside. This is thanks to the materials that make up our homes—adhesives, solvents, paints and more—that “off gas” chemicals into our homes.

Then there’s the other major source of indoor air pollution: household cleaners.  Bleach, laundry detergent, and toilet bowl cleaners can all be dangerous.

And that’s not even mentioning your everyday dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander!

All of this makes a pretty good case for an air filter.

The problem is, most air purifiers are too small for the area they’re supposed to filter. And on top of that, folks often forget to change the filter as much as it needs to be.

With all of that in mind, here’s a plan to keep indoor air quality the best:

• Keep your windows open as often as possible.
• Clean with only natural cleansers. Even when using natural products, make sure you open some windows.
• Vacuum floors and furniture often. Do the same with bedding.
• Most heating/cooling systems (HVAC) have a fan that can be set to run all the time: do that. You should change your HVAC filter every 30 days or so, depending on use.

The bottom line: choose an air purifier if you have allergies or asthma, but make sure to change the filter often.

Dr. Scott Olson, ND

P.S. Have a health concern that’s worrying you? Click here to submit your questions and get featured in the weekly mailbag!

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND