The ultimate guide to hidden pollutants inside your home

Heroes Technical Team

8th September 2026

We all want our home to feel clean and comfortable but the air inside your home may have more pollutants than you might think. This could be from everyday cleaning products to cooking; this means that indoor air quality can be affected by things we use and encounter every day. The good news is, there are ways you can create a fresher, healthier-feeling home.

In this blog, we will cover:

What are hidden pollutants inside your home?
Types of air pollutants explained
Who’s most affected by indoor air pollution
How to stop polluting the air in your home

Key takeaways

Many pollutants are invisible and can build up in the home, particularly when there isn’t enough ventilation.
Children, older adults and people with existing sensitivities can be more affected by pollutants.
Cooking, cleaning, decorating, dust and pet hair can all contribute to indoor air pollution, so understanding these sources is important.

What are hidden pollutants inside your home?

Indoor air pollutants are made up of gases and tiny particles inside your home, which make the air unclean and can affect the quality of the environment. They can come from a surprising number of things, including cleaning products, cooking, dust, pollen and new furniture. These things may seem normal but breathing them in constantly every day can lead to health problems over time.

Modern homes are often well insulated and more airtight too, so these pollutants can stay inside for longer, especially if there isn’t enough ventilation.

Types of air pollutants explained

There isn’t one overall cause. Everyday activities can bring pollutants into the air without even knowing.

Cooking

Smoke, grease and gases can be released into the air when we cook, leaving tiny particles in the air. Using an extractor fan or opening windows can help remove these from your home.

Cleaning products

Many cleaning products contain ingredients that release chemicals into the air. Using the products as directed and keeping the room well-ventilated will help reduce their concentration in the air.

Dust and dirt

Dust can build up around the home, containing a mixture of particles from indoors and outdoors that can irritate people with allergies. Pet hair can add to this too, especially in homes with cats or dogs. Regular cleaning and vacuuming can help keep dust, pet hair and allergens under control, while good ventilation can help improve overall indoor air quality.

Paints and household items

Some paints, furniture and other household items can release VOCs into the air. These are toxic gases that you could be breathing in without even realising.

Heroes Fact

Household cleaning products are a big part of VOC emissions in UK homes, contributing around 58% of indoor emissions.

Dog and owner

“Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant that can be released from everyday household items. Its Pure Air Technology is made to help reduce formaldehyde in the air, working continuously without the need for sunlight.”

THE HEROES TECHNICAL TEAM

Who is most affected by indoor pollution?

There isn’t one single culprit when it comes to air pollution inside our homes. Everyday things we all do, can release pollutants into the air without us even realising it. It’s just another reason why creating a healthier home starts with understanding what’s in the air around us.

Babies or young children – Developing lungs can be more sensitive to these indoor pollutants.
Older adults – Lung function and your body’s ability to cope with these pollutants can become more sensitive the older you get.
Pregnancy – Pregnancy can make you more sensitive to changes in air quality.
Living with a lung condition – Indoor pollutants can make it harder to deal with existing respiratory problems.
Living with allergies – Dust, mould and other airborne particles can trigger or worsen allergies.

Colour swatches

How can you improve air pollution inside your home?

The air in our homes can pick up pollutants from everyday things like furniture, cleaning products and household materials. One of these pollutants is formaldehyde, a gas that can be released by things such as furniture, flooring, paints and household products. Heroes Pure helps tackle formaldehyde, helping to keep the air in your home cleaner.

How Heroes Pure helps purify the air

Heroes Pure uses Pure Air Technology to help get rid of formaldehydes in the air and turn them into something harmless. So, when it’s released into your home, Heroes Pure helps reduce the amount left in the air around you.

And the best part? It works day and night, without needing sunlight. Pure quietly gets on with the job in the background, helping create cleaner, fresher-feeling air while you get on with family life.

Cleaner air

Go be a hero

Heroes Pure

£60.00

A smarter paint for a healthier home. Combines premium paint performance with air-purifying technology, so you can create a beautiful space that looks after your family for years to come.

Find out more

Heroes Shield

£30.00

Anti-mould paint that does things a bit differently. Helping you break the cycle of recurring mould, so you can enjoy a healthier home without the worry of it coming back.

Find out more

Heroes Mould Remover

£10.00

Heroes Mould Remover is a mould and mildew cleaner for preparing interior walls before decorating. Use it on areas affected by mould, mildew and staining to clean the surface before applying paint.

Find out more

Using Heroes Pure

Frequently asked questions

Does Heroes Pure Remove all indoor air pollutants?

Not quite. Heroes Pure was made to help reduce certain indoor air pollutants, including formaldehyde but it can’t tackle everything in your home. Keeping your home well ventilated, cleaning regularly and reducing sources of pollution are still important for keeping your indoor air fresh.

Can Heroes Pure be used throughout the home?

Heroes Pure can be used on interior walls and ceilings. From bedrooms and living rooms to hallways and home offices, it can help you create a fresher-feeling space wherever you need it.

What are the most common indoor air pollutants?

There are lots of everyday things that can affect the air inside your home, from cooking and cleaning products to smoke, dust, furniture and household materials. When there isn’t enough ventilation, these pollutants can hang around for longer.

Can paint affect indoor air quality?

It can. Some paints can release VOCs into the air as they dry. Choosing a paint that has indoor air quality in mind, like Heroes Pure, can help reduce certain pollutants and give your home another layer of protection.