Most of us think of air pollution as a factor when outdoors, and our homes as clean, safe spaces. But the air inside your home is often more polluted than the air outside, according to the EPA.(1,2) 

From the furniture we sit on, to the cleaning products we use, indoor environments can quietly fill with toxins that challenge our health. Fortunately, there are simple ways to clean up your indoor environment, and lower your toxin load with: regular infrared sauna use.

In this post, I will break down what’s in the air you breathe, how that affects your health, and why sauna therapy is a powerful tool for gentle, effective detoxification.

What’s Lurking in Your Indoor Air?

Indoor air may seem clean, but there are many sources in a home that can contribute to poor air quality, such as cleaning products, fumes from cooking (particularly cooking on a gas range, tobacco smoke, mold, and chemicals used in paints, and home furnishings can all affect indoor air quality and our health.  The air in our homes, offices, schools, gyms, and beyond often contains a surprising mix of synthetic chemicals, gases, and particles, including:

  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Emitted from paint, flooring, cleaning supplies, and furniture
  • Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen found in plywood, particleboard, adhesives, and insulation
  • Phthalates & BPA: Released from plastics and vinyl flooring
  • Fragrance chemicals: Found in air fresheners, candles, laundry products
  • Mold spores and mycotoxins: Especially common in humid or poorly ventilated homes
  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂): Can build up indoors, leading to fatigue and headaches

Many of these compounds are classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which means that they can mimic hormones, bind to hormone receptors and alter our body’s normal functioning from our reproductive health, to neurological function, to sleep, and more. They can contribute to inflammation, hormone disruption, immune system dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction, learning disabilities, and cancer. (3)

What Can You Do to Improve Your Air Quality at Home?

The good news is that while indoor air pollution is real, there is a lot you can do to reduce your exposure, starting right at home. The following steps can make a meaningful difference in your air quality and overall health:

1. Choose Safer Cleaning Products and Detergents 

Many conventional cleaning sprays, wipes, and laundry products contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, that contribute to poor air quality. Wear gloves and maybe even an N95 mask when using cleaning products, and keep the room properly ventilated. Swap out your cleaning supplies for safer products that avoid quats, sodium hypochlorite, glycol ethers, sulfuric and hydrochloric acid. 

Pro Tip: Beware of “greenwashing” with words like “fragrance free” or “natural product”  that can be misleading.

The Healthy Living App from the Environmental Working Group enables you to look up products and product labels on store shelves, and get on-the-spot ingredients information and a grading system for your everyday products.

2. Prioritize Ventilation 

Open windows whenever weather allows, especially while cleaning or cooking. Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove humidity, cooking byproducts, and airborne particles. If you can’t open windows often, consider a mechanical air exchange system or air purifier (more on that below).

3. Control Moisture and Humidity

Water damage and excess humidity create the perfect breeding ground for mold. Fix leaks quickly, use dehumidifiers in damp areas, and aim to keep indoor humidity between 30–50%. (2)

4. Choose Low-VOC Building Materials and Furnishings

Furniture, flooring, cabinets, and even wall paint can off-gas VOCs and formaldehyde for months (or years) after installation. When buying new items or renovating, look for low-VOC or zero-VOC certified products and solid wood furniture with natural finishes.

5. Avoid Synthetic Fragrances

Candles, scented plug-ins, and scented laundry products release a variety of undisclosed chemicals under the umbrella of “fragrance.” Many of these compounds are known endocrine disruptors and asthma triggers. Opt for essential oil diffusers (if tolerated) or go fragrance-free whenever possible.

6. Use a High-Quality Air Purifier

Especially helpful for bedrooms and main living spaces, a good air purifier with a HEPA filter (and ideally a carbon filter for VOCs) can significantly reduce particulate matter, allergens, and chemical pollutants.

7. Add Air-Cleaning Plants

Some houseplants, like peace lilies, snake plants, and spider plants, have been shown to help remove airborne toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. While they are not a replacement for ventilation or filtration, they are a beautiful and helpful addition to a clean-air strategy. (4,5) 

Ways to clean your air

What Else Can You Do?  

Why Supporting Detoxification Matters

Your body already has built-in detoxification systems: the liver, kidneys, skin, and lymphatic system all help eliminate waste. These organs can be overburdened with the level of synthetic exposure we face in modern life.

For many people, toxin buildup happens slowly. You might notice:

  • Feeling tired all the time
  • Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
  • Disrupted sleep or stress intolerance
  • Skin issues or headaches without an obvious cause
  • Difficultly with weight management 
Toxic fatigue

Consistent support of your body’s detox pathways can help reverse this overload and restore balance, especially when you do it consistently. Learn more about how to support your body body here: https://www.hightechhealth.com/holistic-detoxification/

How Saunas Help You Detox

One of the most effective and research-backed ways to support detox is through infrared sauna therapy. Saunas offer a relaxing, low-effort method of enhancing toxin elimination.

Passive sweating with an infrared sauna is shown to promote excretion of toxins such as BPA and phthalates, heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, and much more. Increased circulation and body temperature support the lymphatic system and overall detoxification. (6-8)

Regular infrared sauna use is linked to lowering inflammation, reducing oxidative stress, improving and cardiovascular function, all health factors which can be impacted by air quality.   This one tool can provide a multitude of benefits for lowering your toxin burden and improving many facets of your health.  

Why High Tech Health Saunas Are Designed for Real Detox

If you are using a sauna to reduce toxic load, it is essential to avoid introducing new toxins during the process. That’s why we have engineered our saunas with detox in mind. Down to the last detail:

Low-VOC, Chemically Safe Materials: No Plywood or Particleboard

Plywood is a major source of indoor formaldehyde exposure. Our saunas use low VOC woods, tongue-and-groove wood construction–  no glues that offgas formaldehyde, no manufactured woods. All Transcend saunas are built with 100% premium poplar or hemlock wood, chosen for quality, durability, and extremely low VOC profiles, making our saunas uniquely suited for individuals with chemical sensitivity.

Independently Verified Low EMF

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can be another stressor on the body, and can amplify the stress caused by other toxins. Our saunas boast the comprehensive lowest total EMF on the market, with multiple patents, published third party testing, and no misleading claims. Learn about how to evaluate EMF claims here: https://www.hightechhealth.com/low-emf-sauna/

TR3 Infrared Sauna

34% More Effective Heating

Our unique, patented heaters deliver 34% faster heating than standard panel heaters. That means better core temperature elevation, where real detox begins.

Built-In Ventilation

Fresh air makes for a more effective session. All of our saunas include an integrated fan for active air exchange, reducing CO₂ buildup up to 46%, and improving comfort during sessions.

Want to Go Even Deeper? Explore the TRS Smart Sauna™

All High Tech Health saunas are designed for safe, effective detoxification. For those looking for the most advanced wellness features, our Transcend Smart Sauna line includes:

  • Sauna Fitness™: Progress tracking to maximize benefits
  • Sauna Guide™: Individualized use guidance with a calendar to make the most of you time
  • Remote Start & Session Scheduling: True control from anywhere (not just your network) and get notified when your sauna is ready. 
  • Guided Breathing, Adjustable Backrest, YouTube, Amazon Music, and More

The most capable and user-friendly infrared sauna available, built to fit seamlessly into your life and optimize your health journey. Learn more about the TRS Smart Saunas here.

Conclusion: A Healthier Environment Starts with You

Improving your indoor air quality does not mean you need to overhaul your entire life. Some consistent choices and habits that reduce your exposure, and support your body can go a long way. From choosing safer cleaning products to ventilating your home and managing moisture, you can take real steps to create a healthier environment. And when it comes to supporting detoxification, sauna therapy is one of the most effective, research-backed tools available, especially when you use a sauna built with clean, non-toxic materials and optimized for real results.

At High Tech Health, we design saunas that do more than just heat up. They’re engineered to help you feel better, detox more effectively, and support your long-term health! Whether you choose our Foundation Sauna or the advanced features of the TRS Smart Sauna™, feel confident you are making a choice to support your wellness every single day.

The best in infrared Sauna therapy

Call us at:
1-800-794-5355

Our product specialists are all health professionals and are available to help you in your wellness journey.

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References:

  1. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality 
  2. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.-a). Improving Your Indoor Environment. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-your-indoor-environment 
  3. Ruiz, D., & Patisaul, H. (Eds.). (2022, August 11). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (edcs). Endocrine Society. https://www.endocrine.org/patient-engagement/endocrine-library/edcs 
  4. Wolverton, B. C., Johnson, A., & Bounds, K. (1989, September 15). Interior landscape plants for indoor air pollution abatement – NASA technical reports server (NTRS). NASA. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19930073077
  5. Wikipedia contributors. (2025, June 19). NASA Clean Air Study. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22:50, July 22, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NASA_Clean_Air_Study&oldid=1296388340
  6. Genuis SJ, Beesoon S, Birkholz D. Excretion of phthalate compounds and BPA in sweat: a pilot study. J Environ Public Health. 2012;2012:185731.
  7. Genuis, S. J., Beesoon, S., Lobo, R. A., & Birkholz, D. (2012). Human elimination of phthalate compounds: Blood, urine, and Sweat (bus) study. The Scientific World Journal, 2012, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1100/2012/615068
  8. Sears, M. E., Kerr, K. J., & Bray, R. I. (2012). Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and Mercury in sweat: A systematic review. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/184745