7 Useful Tips for a Healthy Microclimate

If you often get sick or can't relax at home, check the microclimate in your apartment. We've put together a special checklist.

Measure Light Levels

Why is this important? Proper lighting affects our health and mood. Darkness in a room brings sadness, while glare and brightness irritate.

How to measure light levels? Invite a specialist with a lux meter.
If the readings are much higher or lower than 500 lux, then the lighting is out of order.

It's too dark or too bright at home. What to do? If there isn't enough light (e.g., windows are poorly placed), buy energy-saving bulbs, change the wall and curtain colors to lighter ones, repaint the ceiling white, and add mirrors.

If there is too much light, apply sun protection film to the windows, buy blackout curtains, and experiment with furniture color and material: to scatter excess light and prevent surfaces from heating up.

Check Humidity

Why is this important? Excess moisture makes the house constantly damp, wallpapers swell, and residents often get sick. Lack of moisture damages furniture, cracks parquet, and causes skin problems, especially in children.

How to measure humidity levels? The optimal humidity for a living room according to standards is 40–60%, and for a child's room — 50%. Set a hygrometer for a day to see where the readings deviate.

The air in your home is too dry or too humid. What to do? Buy a humidifier or set up a large aquarium with fish. For humid rooms, an air dehumidifier will do.

And Temperature

What should the optimal air temperature be? Let’s look at the SanPin document: in cold weather, it's 20–24°C; in summer — no more than 25°C. But it’s not that simple: many houses are built with technical violations — there are drafts and gaps, and construction materials are chosen without following GOSTs.

It's too cold in winter and too hot in summer. What to do? You can get by with simple methods: in winter, insulate walls, install a warm floor, and call a specialist to check windows for air tightness. In summer, an air conditioner, fan, and indoor plants will help. There's also an option: install a thermostat to control the temperature in your apartment with one button. More tips can be found in our article on heat.

Check Ventilation

Why is this important? If there's a constant hum and drafts in the apartment, everyone gets sick, and if air doesn't circulate, it’s hard to breathe, headaches occur frequently, and chronic fatigue accumulates.

What should the speed be? According to standards, air movement in summer shouldn't exceed 0.25 m/s, and in winter — 0.15 m/s.

How to measure it? Using an electronic anemometer — it will tell you what’s wrong with the ventilation. A specialist can suggest how to solve the issue.

See How Much Dust You Have

Where does dust come from? It doesn't only come from outside. Dirt from shoes, mold, bacteria, and skin flakes are also sources of dust.

How to deal with it? You can install air purifiers with powerful carbon filters. But don’t expect miraculous effects. It’s better not to forget about the classic deep cleaning once a month: wipe surfaces with damp cloth, shake out carpets, wash floors, wash soft toys, and vacuum floors more often.

Measure Oxygen Level

Why is this important? Lack of oxygen reduces immunity, causes oxygen starvation in the body, and decreases work capacity.

What is the standard? The generally accepted norm is 21%.

How to deal with low oxygen levels? An air ionizer will help: it saturates oxygen with ions, making breathing easier. But remember: the room should be ventilated at least occasionally. A mini-garden also helps: plant aloe and a couple of palms.

And Noise

Why is this important? Noise affects our mental and physical health: it causes stress, neuroses, and irritability.

What is the acceptable noise level in an apartment? According to standards, daytime noise should not exceed 70 dB, and evening noise — 60 dB.

How to deal with noisy neighbors? Sound insulation and noise-absorbing panels will help. If renovation is only planned, think ahead about buying acoustic foam: the house will become as quiet as a recording studio. If neighbors are constantly noisy, read our article to resolve the issue legally.