Purchase formaldehyde-free alternatives, solid-wood products, or products with phenol-formaldehyde that outgas at a much lower level than urea-formaldehyde binders

Garages. Garages that are detached from the home promote better indoor air quality. With attached garages, car exhaust fumes can enter the home through gaps around doors or cracks in the ceiling and walls. If you do have an attached garage, make sure that the door from the garage into your house seals tightly; if it doesn’t, install weather stripping to improve the seal. A more expensive solution is to install an exhaust fan in the garage that will automatically run for a while after the garage door has been opened or closed.

Household cleaners. Use nontoxic household cleaners. If you’re using harsh cleaners such as ammonia-based products, read and follow the precautions on the label. If you doubt about the safety of a product, don’t use it.

Mold and mildew. Don’t invite mold and mildew into your home. Keep the roof, siding, and windows in good repair so that moisture doesn’t get inside roof and wall cavities. Attend to plumbing leaks immediately. If you live in a very humid climate you may need an air conditioner or a dehumidification system to reduce humidity levels. If you’re remodeling or building a new home, make sure that you pay attention to moisture related design and construction details – you want to prevent as

much moisture penetration as possible, and provide avenues for any trapped moisture to escape.

Smoke. Don’t allow smoking in your home. Also think twice about having a wood-burning fire in your home because of the indoor and outdoor air pollution associated with wood smoke. If you want a fireplace, a sealed- combustion gas fireplace is usually considered a healthier option.

Ventilation fans. Use your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. They draw out stale air, but more importantly they draw out stale air, but more importantly they draw out moisture (mold thrives on moisture). Make sure your range hood