The air quality in the Pacific Northwest is so poor due to wildfire smoke that we're now being told not to vacuum our carpets.
Doctors warn that vacuuming can kick up particulate matter, potentially making unhealthy air even worse.
Northwest residents should avoid vacuuming for up to a week as they wait for the wildfire smoke that has again descended over the lowlands to clear.
The Treasure Valley in Idaho is currently under an Orange Air Quality alert as haze lingers. Although several wildfires are burning throughout Idaho, the bulk of that smoke is coming from fires across the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
A shift in winds on Sunday brought in wildfire smoke from British Columbia and the Cascades into the Seattle and Portland areas.
The air quality is considered unhealthy for everyone for much of King and Pierce counties, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Kitsap County and areas near the Cascade foothills are experiencing air quality ranging from moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The Clean Air Agency is urging everyone to stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows closed. If you have to go outside to walk the dog, keep it short to protect both person and pet.
An air quality alert is in effect until Wednesday for portions of Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington as the air quality in the Portland metro area has deteriorated to unhealthy levels.
An Air Quality Alert is in effect for Western Washington until 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Unhealthy air will be common across the lowlands.
There should be "some" improvement to our air quality by late Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
The poor air quality can be especially dangerous for people with preexisting heart conditions. People with chronic sinus issues, chronic lung issues, and asthma may experience symptoms as well due to small particulate matter in the air. Doctors say if you feel unwell at all during the period of poor air quality to see a doctor immediately.
If you're worried about the air quality in your home and don't already own an air purifier, you can build one for less than $20 if you have a box fan. All you need is a MERV 13 furnace filter and a bit of tape. Learn more about building your own air purifier by clicking here.
Those who have to venture outside for extended periods of time and have considered wearing a mask should ensure they purchase the right one. A typical surgical mask won't do the trick. You want a mask that either has "NIOSH" or "R95", "N95", or "P95", or higher printed on the packaging.
And make sure to check for delays if you're flying into or out of Sea-Tac Airport. On Sunday, incoming flights were delayed for more than two hours.
