Haze cleaning tips Malaysia residents look at each and every year go around in a cycle: API reading rises, the sky gets that hazy grey orange colour, and all of a sudden, people are wondering what they should do inside rather than outside. This is not a rare occurrence here; rather, haze occurs annually, usually between July and October, when it is influenced by transboundary smoke from land and peat fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which is related to the dry Southwest Monsoon. Indoor air quality during these times can make a real difference with the right response, at home and in the office.
Why Haze is an indoor problem, not an outdoor problem.
Many people think that as long as the windows are closed inside, they don’t need to be concerned with haze. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Haze particles, especially the fine particulate matter PM2.5 which constitutes a large portion of the haze during the episodes, are so small that they can penetrate through any gaps between doors, windows, air-cond units and ventilation systems. Once inside, they can deposit on furniture, flooring and surfaces and can stay in the indoor air for longer than many people think—particularly in an environment that doesn’t have well-designed air filters.
Understanding API Readings
Malaysia’s Department of Environment (DOE) uses the Air Pollutant Index (API) as the accepted parameter to quantify the level of haze.
If the reading falls between 101 and 200, it is considered “Unhealthy”.
Readings between 201 and 300 are in “Very Unhealthy” range.
Anything above 300 is hazardous.
Monitoring the daily API readings throughout the haze season will let you know how strongly you should consider adjusting your indoor activities – the higher the API, the more you should consider taking action to improve indoor air quality.
What the Ministry of Health Recommends
The Ministry of Health has given clear guidelines for both the workplace and the household during a haze coverage and the key recommendations need to be adhered to closely:
Shut all windows, doors and openings that may allow haze particles to enter the building.
If there is an air cond system, use it, as it filters and circulates air instead of taking in air from outdoors without any filtering.
Make sure that air-cond units are maintained and cleaned regularly as a poorly maintained unit can re-introduce trapped dust and particles but not filter them out.
Where possible use an air purifier to actively remove particulates from the indoor air, especially bedrooms or areas in the house where vulnerable family members spend the most time.
They’re not just a bit of advice — they’re concrete steps that directly relate to the actual condition of your indoor cleaning and ventilation systems.
Practical Cleaning Routine During Haze
The following is a practical cleaning routine that can be used during a time of haze:
Surface and furniture wipes: Haze induced dust accumulates in greater amounts during these periods, so making the surfaces cleaner—shelves, counter-tops, tv stands, window sills, etc—reduces the dust buildup. Damp dust with a damp cloth, not dry dusting as dry dusting only moves fine particles around in the air.
Floors: Where possible use a vacuum with a good filtration system and then mop; fine haze particulate can be deposited into carpet fibres and hard floors.
Curtains and soft furnishings: These are a source of particles in the air that are more than people think. Extended periods of haze can be reduced by frequent washing or professional cleaning of curtains, cushion covers, etc. made of fabric in the home.
Air filters and vents: This is one of the least considered. Haze-induced particulate pollution seriously affects the efficiency of air-cond filters when they are clogged by dust pollution on a regular basis, and in extreme conditions, it can propagate the particulate being filtered out. It makes a difference if filters are checked and cleaned more often during the “haze season” than in other times of the year.
The maintenance of aircond and ventilation.
The air-conditioning (AC) system is a key element in controlling indoor air quality during haze periods, so proper service of the unit is important in the months of the haze season. A basic clean is performed for visible dust on filters and vents, and a chemical clean is performed for dust that has built up within the unit itself that can not be cleaned with a basic clean. If your air-cond is not serviced regularly, now is certainly not the time to postpone: When it’s airborne, you’re not seeing the benefit of the filter you are depending on, exactly when you need it.
Once the haze has dissipated, Deep Cleaning can begin.
When API readings get low and the haze clears, it’s time for a thorough cleaning – and not because your regular cleaning routine hasn’t kept up. Even after daily thorough dusting, high levels of dust often build up in areas that are difficult to reach, such as behind furniture, inside vents, around skirting boards and in soft furnishings, which are then hard to clean. A post-haze deep clean basically resets the indoor environment correctly, instead of leaving the remaining particulate behind just because the outdoor air has cleared.
Safeguarding vulnerable family members and staff.
Haze periods are especially critical for children, elderly people and people who have underlying respiratory issues such as asthma, and the air quality within their homes becomes even more important. Employers should be actively concerned with the air quality in the workplace, not simply because it is required by law, but because it is essential to their employees’ wellbeing; including having working air-cond systems, regularly cleaned filters and the closing of windows and doors during high-API days.
Getting ready before and during the haze season.
With haze a predictable occurrence each July to October season, it makes sense to take proactive action rather than wait for API readings to rise. By scheduling air-cond servicing and deep cleaning before the haze season, you can ensure your home or office is prepared for the season, instead of struggling during the haze with a neglected air-cond.
Bamboo Cleaning Services offers deep cleaning and maintenance solutions throughout all of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, assisting households and offices to improve the air quality in their environment during the haze season and beyond. It can be a long wait between proper cleanings so having one before the haze season is truly a good opportunity.
