Rethinking Wellness in 2021
How Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool makes at-home health a priority
Ah, January. That time of the year where we make steadfast resolutions to improve ourselves, many of which are health and wellness related. This year, however, these goals look somewhat different than previous ones; we can’t go to the gym, try out a nearby yoga studio, or join a meditation class. Many of our solutions for taking care of ourselves just don’t work during a global pandemic, where social distancing has become the norm.
Instead of looking outwards this year to improve our wellness, many of us are taking the opportunity to make our homes as conducive to healthy activities as possible. Some have decided to invest in an at-home gym, be it with an increasingly popular Peloton, or, in my case, something a whole lot simpler (a yoga mat counts!). No matter the type of health-related journey you are hoping to embark on in 2021, transforming your physical home to be a space that inspires wellness is an important part of the process. As our days are spent increasingly in a single space, having a place that feels healthy is of the utmost importance.
Part of making one’s home feel this way has to do with more than what fitness equipment you have or what app you’ve recently subscribed to. Rather, a big part of at-home health has to do with how comfortable you feel within your own space. Feeling at ease and content at home greatly contributes to a sense of overall wellness. As a result, smart home products — as much as the next workout app — can help us to create a healthy environment at home. That is, smart home products help us to shape our spaces to our preferences, whether that be in relation to temperature or humidity, lighting, or other types of household automation. Decisions that can be made through these products are reflective of what we need to feel ‘well’ in our homes. This is especially significant given the challenging times that we live in. The health crisis has shown how much smart home products can aid in our overall quality of life. Naturally, these products can also create unwanted stress (from difficulties installing a new product, to figuring out how to use it!), but the overall promise of these products — to help us to rethink what wellness means in 2021 — is exciting.
There are a plethora of smart home products, from smart wall plugs to robotic vacuums. Some of these devices truly deliver on improving upon the comfortable home experience. I recently had the opportunity to experience the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool — which is one of the products that makes at-home health a priority. The Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool serves multiple purposes, from purifying the air of an entire room to adjusting humidity and temperature. The Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool uses Air Multiplier technology to circulate clean air and push dirty air back to the device for purification. When purifying the dirty area, the Humidify+Cool uses a fully-sealed filter system with HEPA media and activated carbon, meaning that 99.97% of pollutants, particles, gases, and odors — even those as small as 0.3 microns — can be captured. Beyond its essential functionalities, the Humidify+Cool can also be controlled via remote control (which is fairly inaccessible due to its lack of tactility) and voice (with both Alexa and Google). In a world where we are increasingly suspicious of what surfaces we might touch, being able to operate a device in a touch-free way has become valuable.
While my home has its fair share of smart home products, I was delighted to discover that the capabilities of the Humidify+Cool — from air purification to humidity and cleaning — to be incredibly impactful in creating a sense of ease and content in my home, from both a psychological and physical standpoint.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality that people experience in and around buildings. Indoor air pollutants can cause a variety of health implications, with both immediate and long-term consequences. As Melanie Carver, Chief Mission Officer for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America notes, “poor indoor air quality can trigger asthma symptoms including chest tightness, coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Poor indoor air quality can also negatively impact quality of life. Better air quality inside of your home, place of work, school setting, and even the car you drive can reduce allergy and asthma triggers.” In my research, I was surprised to find that indoor air pollution can come from a variety of sources — including those that are less suspect, such as newly-installed flooring or carpeting, and even excess moisture in the air. With the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool, you can watch your IAQ ebbs and flows in real-time either via the Dyson Link App, or the LCD screen on the device itself.
The above gif showcases the metrics (and other info!) of the IAQ in my home. You can see that there is average air quality that you can view — but this is also broken down into different units, such as PM 2.5 which looks at the finest airborne particles, to PM10, which refers to pollen in the air. While the breakdown does leave me with some unanswered questions — for example, I thought that tapping through the “i” icon would tell me more about what each unit means, and how it might affect me — the opportunity to see the IAQ in a visually-appealing graph is quite useful.
You can also see that there are significant changes in the overall air quality over time. According to Dr. Mckeon, CEO and Founder of Allergy Standards Ltd. these changes can be a result of a number of factors, including lack of ventilation (causing pollutants to accumulate), dust mites, poor cleaning (or poor maintenance of filters), presence of pets, and even cooking (and other types of combustion). I personally noticed changes when cooking dinner — or when my new ‘pandemic puppy’ (yes, I got a dog during quarantine!) is shedding more heavily. The knowledge that the Humidify+Cool is tackling these pollutants gives me peace of mind, particularly during the current pandemic, when we are all at risk of contracting an airborne disease. Knowing that the IAQ of one’s home is safe creates a psychological sense of comfort — especially when one compares their IAQ with the air quality outside (as you can do with the Humidify+Cool). As Kenneth Mendez, the Chief Executive Officer of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America points out “we already spend about 90% of our time indoors. Due to the global pandemic, most of us are spending even more time inside of our homes. Indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, so during this time it’s important to be conscious of the air quality of your living space.”
Dr. Mckeon, the CEO and Founder of Allergy Standards Ltd. speaks to the importance of maintaining a Relative Humidity (RH) of 30–60% for optimal comfort (as is recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers). It is important to note that RH of above 50% provides conditions that will support the growth of dust mites, but greater than 60% will support the growth of mold. Mold isn’t the only concern when the RH is above 60%. If the RH is too high, as Dr. Mckeon notes, it’s harder for “sweat to evaporate, the body works harder to keep itself cool and this can result in the body overheating and also loss of water, salt, and chemicals the body needs.” On the flip side, you can also have RH that is too low, causing dry skin and airway irritation. Either way, as Melanie Carver points out, “humidity levels that are too high or too low can irritate the airways and trigger asthma symptoms. When the air is too humid, it can feel heavier and harder to breathe. High humidity can increase ground-ozone levels, dust mites, and mold — all of which can be asthma triggers.” Naturally, we can see that the proper humidity within a home has an enormous impact on one’s sense of wellness.
Having grown up with humidifiers, I can attest to the dance-like game that must be played in order to get things ‘just right’ — not unlike a sort of Goldilocks situation. Like the experts have outlined, high humidity creates uncomfortable environments, whereas low humidity creates dry — and itchy! — skin. With the Humidify+Cool, finding that sweet spot has been natural, creating a sense of physical comfort in my home. The typical discomfort that follows the winter season — from allergens to stocking up on soothing skincare remedies — has been replaced by an effortless solution that supports my personal humidity needs.
Another differentiator with the Humidify+Cool is how ridiculously easy it is to clean. A humidifier works by allowing water dispersion in the air to increase Relative Humidity, so they need a source of water in order to function. Unfortunately, this also means that they can become a ground where bacteria and mold thrive, impacting the air you breathe. As Melanie Carver suggests, “if you use a humidifier or dehumidifier, it is important to clean its fluid reservoir at least twice a week to prevent mold growth”. With the Humidify+Cool, not only do you get a reminder to do the cleaning — via the app and the LCD screen’s clear orange and then red warning lights — but the cleaning is, essentially, hands-off. It’s as simple as removing parts of the device, dissolving citric acid powder in water in the base, setting the machine, and rinsing everything once you are finished. For me, the immediacy of knowing that the Humidify+Cool was back in action — the warning lights disappear — was a comfort. In between cleaning, the Humidify+Cool uses UV-based disinfecting technology, which as Dr. Mckeon points out, helps to “sanitize the water in the receptacle and to prevent the dispersion of those microbes.” Dr. Mckeon also recommends that when looking for a humidifier, try to select one that has been independently tested and demonstrated its impact on micro-organisms. When you bring a device into your home to help you to create a sense of wellness, the last thing you want to think about is the fact that the product might actually be a cause of illness in and of itself. With the Humidify+Cool, not only is there peace of mind in this regard, but also a sense of relief in how easy it is to know, and do the right thing.
From air purification to humidity control and cleaning capabilities, the Humidify+Cool is certainly paving the way for me to create a healthier 2021 at home. Kenneth Mendez has a few tips for those looking to improve their IAQ: “Small steps can make a big difference. These include making sure you have an efficient HVAC filter. You should also be sure to look for the asthma & allergy friendly® certification mark when choosing an air purifier or other products.” These devices have been designed to reduce indoor air pollution — and can create a sense of wellness in your home. Products like the Dyson Pure Humidify+Cool can help you make at-home health a priority — and create some much-needed peace of mind in the new year.
Written with the advice from the experts behind the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program (backed by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and Allergy Standards Ltd.)
