Home sweet home – with curtains that clean the air?

Curtains often contribute to indoor air pollution.

Curtains are often a major source of indoor air pollution in the home, especially when they are made out of treated fabrics.

They can release a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen and irritant.

Now, a Chinese firm has introduced a new curtain fabric that can become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.

Their new curtain fabric is made with photocatalyst fiber, which can decompose some hazardous particles like formaldehyde and xylene (another VOC) from the surrounding air and thus help reduce indoor air pollution.

The photocatalyst fiber is the main raw material in the new fabric and it can absorb the air in the presence of sunshine and other light, separating it into carbon dioxide and water.

It also decomposes the odor, the company says, and its strong affinity for water will also help keep the fabric clean.

The company plans to sell the new curtain fabric to curtain and home textile fabric companies in China, so it’s not clear when and if the material will become available in North America.

Source: Fibre2fashion

Air purifiers for VOCs and other pollutants

Volatile organic compounds and other chemicals may come from a wide range of sources in the home or office, including

• Building materials
• Carpets
• Furniture (esp. wood-pressed products)
• Mattresses
• Cleaning products
• Personal care products
• Air freshening products
• Electronic equipment
• Printers
• Pesticides

AllerAir's air purifiers feature activated carbon
and HEPA air filters.

Air-purifying curtains won’t be enough to handle all those contaminants, but source control, good ventilation and a portable air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can help provide cleaner and healthier air.

AllerAir offers the deepest activated carbon beds on the market, more than 40 different carbon blends and the most features and options to provide custom-built systems for homeowners and workplaces.

For VOCs, chemicals and odor-causing contaminants opt for one of AllerAir’s air purifiers for odor and chemical control (D or DX models as well as Vocarb air purifiers).

General purpose air purifiers such as the 5000 Exec or AirMedic Exec also provide great overall protection with their multistage filtration system.

Not sure which air purifier is best for you? Consult AllerAir’s model selection and sizing guide or contact AllerAir to speak to one of their knowledgeable IAQ experts.