The ozone layer and general outdoor air quality concerns have been making headlines for years, but have you ever thought of the population filling the air within your own home?

We often think of our home as a retreat, but your safe space may be causing you or your family members harm. That’s because air pollution – indoor or outdoor – can seriously impact a person’s health, increasing your chance of chronic lung problems, asthma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

But just as you clean your furniture and floors, you can do things to clean the air within your home. Here’s some ways to get started.

Be more thoughtful with your household products
Some of the most common household cleaners can actually be very irritating to the human airways — think bleach and hydrochloric acid. Read ingredient lists of your cleaners and if they
include items you’d rather not have at home, switch to more natural-based cleaners or even simple items like lemon juice, vinegar, and hot water.

Remove other items from you home that can cause lung issues
Items with strong perfumes (scented candles or body lotions, for example) can exacerbate asthma, as can the fumes from many paints, glues, and inks. If you don’t truly need them, remove them.

Opt for tile or hardwoods over carpeting
Carpets love to hold onto dust, dander, pollen and other indoor pollutants, and even regular vacuuming cannot remove all of the danger. If you have a family member with sensitive lungs,
remove old carpeting and replace with more hypoallergenic laminate, tile, or hardwood.

Invest in a HEPA filter
Don’t settle for a cheaper air purifier — many models simple move the dust around and can actually make air quality worse. A high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter is the best way to really clean your air.

Use a dehumidifier
Pollen and mold spores love moist places, so encourage them to go elsewhere with a dehumidifier which removes excess moisture from the air.

Get your HVAC system cleaned regularly
Remove excess dust, pollen, mold spores, and other pollutants from the vents that supply air to your home on a daily basis. While you can easily clean the vent covers, call your Madsen tech for an annual full cleaning that gets deep within the system and provides the cleanest air possible.