According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air in a US home is easily 10 to 100 times more polluted than the air outside. This extra pollution can easily increase allergy and asthma symptoms, and cause other health problems as well. To help readers improve their air quality at home, Purely Products, a negative ion technology company, has compiled the following 5 tips:

1. Increase Outdoor Air Coming In
Most home heating and cooling systems have forced air heating systems and don’t mechanically bring fresh air into the house. Invest in screens to open windows and doors when the weather permits, and operate air conditioners with the vent control open to increase the outdoor ventilation rate.


2. Select Natural Paints & Cleaners
Switch to green paints and cleaning products. Select non-VOC (volatile organic compound), lead-free paints and natural cleaning products made from botanical plant extracts and essential oils. Biodegradable ingredients are effective at breaking down dirt and can significantly reduce indoor toxic chemicals that are often culprits for many breathing and asthma-related problems.

3. Purify Your Air
Portable air purifiers and negative ion producing devices are highly effective at removing airborne particles like mold, dust, tobacco smoke and pet dander.

4. Replace Vacuum Bags
Simple maintenance will keep your vacuum working and cleaning efficiently. Replace vacuum bags when it is one-third to halfway full so it is able to collect the maximum amount of dust and debris. Often, a fuller vacuum cleaner bag means the machine has to work harder and it’s less efficient at picking up particles that will eventually get kicked up into the air.

5. Protect Your Pillows
Encase your mattress and pillows with protective covers to keep dust mites out of your bed and out of your nose. Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feast on flakes of human skin. People who are allergic to dust mites may have asthma-like symptoms, eczema or chronic sinus problems. Many new covers have very tight weaves so dust mites are unable to penetrate, but the covers are soft to the touch.