6 Tips for Hazy Days

Some days, we may wake up to hazy skies and a faint burning smell in the air. No, it’s not because you tried to smoke through a difficult question at work – it’s haze season. 

The haze can be an uncomfortable time for us, as our skin and lungs get irritated by pollutants in the air. Follow these tips to protect yourself during this period:

Tip #1: Check the PSI Before Heading Out

Hazy skies don’t always tell the whole story.

If you’re planning ahead, check the 24-hour Singapore’s Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ↗ (opens in new tab)forecast for a sense of what air quality could be like. For a more immediate “Should I go for that run now?” decision, the 1-hour PM2.5 reading is a useful guide.

A quick check before heading out can help you decide whether to carry on as planned — or save that outdoor workout for another day. Stick to official PSI readings rather than relying on our sight or smell.

Tip #2: Keep the Haze Outdoors

Home can be a welcome escape when it gets hazy outdoors.

Keeping windows and doors closed when the air quality is poor can help reduce the amount of haze making its way inside. Avoid activities ↗ (opens in new tab) that could worsen the air quality at home, such as smoking indoors.

Tip #3: Give Your Duster a Day Off

Instead of dry dusting or sweeping — which can send particles flying back into the air — try wiping surfaces with a damp cloth and mopping the floor.

It won’t make the haze disappear, but it can help keep the air at home a little less dusty. A little water goes a long way.

Tip #4: Let an Air Purifier Lend a Hand

If the haze has you retreating indoors, an air purifier ↗ (opens in new tab) can help reduce fine particles in the room. Look for one with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter and a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) ↗ (opens in new tab) that suits the size of your space.

Bigger isn’t automatically better — what matters is choosing a purifier designed to handle the room you’re using it in.

Tip #5: Hydrate yourself

Haze can leave your throat feeling dry or irritated, so this is a good time to keep that water bottle close. Staying hydrated ↗ (opens in new tab) is always important, helps your body function normally and can make a scratchy throat feel a little more comfortable.

Water can’t undo the effects of breathing in haze particles, though — so your best protection is still to reduce your exposure when air quality is poor.

Tip #6: Know When a Mask Can Help

Not every hazy day means you need to reach for an N95. But if air quality reaches hazardous levels and you need to spend several hours outdoors, a well-fitted N95 ↗ (opens in new tab) can help reduce the amount of fine particles you breathe in.

If you’re in a more vulnerable group — such as children, seniors, pregnant women, or people with chronic heart or lung conditions — it’s worth paying closer attention to the National Environment Agency's (NEA) health advisory ↗ (opens in new tab) as air quality worsens.

Illustration by Lei Ng