Breathe easier and remove toxic pollutants in your home with these five tips

Continued from our Retreat & Renew Daily Tip.

1. Increase ventilation and bring outdoor air in.
   Open windows and doors, utilize fans and leave vents open. It’s especially important to keep fans and windows open when cooking, painting or working on construction projects. When fresh air is added to the inside of a home, it helps to dilute the pollutants in the air and carry them back out. But be careful on extra humid days, since high moisture levels can worsen indoor air quality.
   
   
2. Identify moisture condensation on walls and around windows.
   Look for signs that your home or workplace may not be getting enough ventilation by identifying moisture condensation on walls and around windows. Signs include smelly, stuffy air and dirty cooling equipment.
   
   
3. Test for mold, asbestos and radon.
   Mold, asbestos and radon are three of the worst home pollutants. Radon is colorless and odorless and can’t be detected unless you measure the levels. If you have any products that contain asbestos, make sure they are tightly sealed.
   
   
4. Adjust emissions on appliances.
   This can be done is simple ways such as turning appliances off when not in use to reduce greenhouse gases, or purchasing Energy Star-qualified models using federal and state rebates and tax incentives.
   
   
5. Use a home air cleaner.
   There are several types of home air cleaners that help filter harmful gases and particles. Check out these EPA guidelines for choosing the best one for you.