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1. Minimise soot and smoke by minimising the use of candles or incense and do not allow cigarette smoking inside your home.

2. When the weather allows it, ventilate your home by opening windows and doors this allows air to circulate and decreases the amount of air pollutants where you live.

3. Check water pipes for leakage, also check that there are no holes in the roof that could allow for leakage. Undetected leaks could cause mould to grow and mould particles can become airborne.

4. Vacuum with a Hepa filter so that you can minimise the amount of small dust particles that are present in the air.

5. Take your pets outside and brush them as often as possible to remove lose hair, if your pets have indoor bedding it is a good idea to wash that often as well.

6. Avoid idling your car or other fuel engines such as mowers or chainsaws inside your garage, the fumes can contaminate the air in your home.

7. Turn on bathroom exhaust fans after and during hot showers so that mildew and mould causing moisture is kept to a minimum.

8. Clean the filters on your air conditioner often and be sure to empty and drip filters that are attached to your system.

9. Ensure that paint inside of your home is lead free, many older homes are painted with lead based paint that can pollute the air.

10. Test for radon, radon is a dangerous gas that is usually produced by rocks or soils. It can only be detected by testing, testing is affordable and easy to do.

11. Keep mice and rats out of your home, it has been proven that dried rodent urine can pollute the air and cause allergic reactions.

12. When purchasing new furniture be sure to enquire about the formaldehyde content, some types of woods emit a higher amount of formaldehyde than others.

13. If you have a gas oven or gas heaters it is important to ensure that they are properly vented and maintained so that gas does not pollute the air.

14. Avoid using aerosol products in your home, if you need to use aerosol products follow the manufacturers instructions and also ensure that areas where they are used are always properly ventilated.

15. Try to use personal care products that are natural and odour free, there are many products that can emit gases into the air even when they are not in use.

16. If you use a clothes dryer set it up so that it ventilates outside of the house so that it is not able to blow small particles of fibre or dust into the air.

17. Some water heaters can produce carbon dioxide, ensure that water heaters are functioning properly to minimise risk.

18. Products such as paints and glues can emit organic gases, this can be reduced by closing lids properly and ensuring that containers are airtight.

19. Installing smoke detectors in bedrooms or hallways is an important safety measure. Smoke is dangerous and it is vital that you are informed as soon as possible if it is present in the air.

20. If you live in an area that is hot and humid during the summer months installing a humidifier will help to prevent the growth of mould and mildew in hidden areas.

21. Use natural products such as cedar balls instead of air fresheners, some air fresheners do contain pollutants and allergy causing fragrances.

22. Use mild or natural cleaning products in you home, many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can affect the air quality.

23. Avoid storing paint thinners or other dangerous chemicals that may give of vapours in your home or in a garage that it attached to your home.

24. Always turn on your range-hood fan when you are cooking to reduce the likelihood of pollutants affecting your air quality.

25. Avoid using kerosene or gas heaters during cold weather, these heaters often emit toxic gases into your home.

26. If you live in an older home it is important to have an expert check that there is not any asbestos contained in the structure of your home.

27. Placing a rug outside your doors or asking people to remove their shoes before entering can help to prevent pollutants from being accidentally introduced into your home environment.

28. Let garments that have been dry cleaned air outside before bringing them into your home, the chemicals used by dry cleaners can be toxic to inhale.

Written by David Justice. Find more information on air quality at hillsborough.aireserv.com.

Written by David Justice.