Home & Earth

Rooms for Improvement

Did you know your indoor environment could be more polluted than outdoor air?

Since we spend so much time in our homes, indoor air pollution can really have an impact on our health.

Here are tips for keeping the rooms in your home healthy, from the doors you enter, to the furniture you relax on, to the air you breathe.

Entryways: Don't track in trouble

The soles of your shoes could have allergens, traces of pesticides, lead and other toxic substances. A simple solution: Wipe your shoes on washable mats and leave them at the doorway. It will make for a healthier home, and cleaner floors, rugs and carpets, too.

Kitchen, living room, bathroom

Make sure your drinking water is as safe as it can be

Does your drinking water come from your own well? If so, make a point to have it tested once a year to make sure it doesn't have harmful pollutants. Live in an older home? You may want to test for lead if you have lead service lines to your home.

Water filters can filter out lead and other harmful substances, such as bacteria, from your water. Look for filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation, which certifies filters that are proven to improve the quality of water (www.nsf.org).

Make sure appliances are working properly

Carbon monoxide is released whenever fuel like natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil or wood is burned. If you have appliances that burn these fuels and are not working properly or are not properly ventilated, you could be exposing yourself to harmful carbon monoxide. Protect yourself: Buy a CO detector. Service heating systems and fuel-burning appliances annually. And, make sure you have proper ventilation for fireplaces and appliances.

Painting

Few things can freshen up a room like paint, but make sure you keep the air fresh, too. Some healthier choices: Low- or no-VOC paints, such as paints with Green Seal certification and natural paints. Natural paints are usually made from ingredients like plant oils and dyes, natural minerals and milk protein. They are not advised for damp areas, since they are not as resistant to mold and mildew.

Curtain call: Have plain windows

Bring an attractive design element to your room while cutting heating and cooling costs at the same time: Add blinds, window shades or washable curtains. Be sure to clean them often to cut down on allergens.

Indoor plants: Greener air

Some easy-tocare-for plants that have been suggested for reducing indoor air pollution include: Lady Palm, rubber plants, English Ivy, cacti and succulents-the latter because they require less water and thus rarely get mold or mildew.

Shine a new light

The right lighting can give a room a warm glow, a bright shine- and it can also help the environment. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 67% less energy than traditional bulbs and can last as much as 10 times longer. That means lower power bills for you and fewer greenhouse gas emissions for the environment.

Consider "green" carpets and furnishings

Did you know that carpet and furniture can release potentially harmful emissions? If you are buying new carpet, consider one with a Green Label or Green Label Plus rating from the Carpet and Rug Institute to reduce your exposure to harmful gases.

When you buy carpet, ask that it be unrolled and aired out at least a day in advance of being installed in your home. Also, allow furniture and carpet to air out once they arrive in your home-by opening windows and doors.

The basement

Test your home for radon

It's odorless, tasteless-and it's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US. Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can enter your home from the ground, often through the basement or cracks in the foundation.

Fortunately, low-cost radon testing kits are readily available. Look to the National Radon Safety Board for next steps if a test detects high levels of radon (www.nrsb.org).

Throughout your home

Test your smoke alarms

If your smoke alarms run on batteries, know the life expectancy of your smoke detector and battery. Check the smoke alarms at least twice a year to ensure they work properly. Finally, make sure everyone in your household knows what to do in case of a fire.

Let the air in

Open windows to ventilate when doing home projects such as sanding or painting so potentially harmful dust and chemicals can escape. In fact, opening windows when weather permits is a good idea in general for letting in fresh air.