1. Install a carbon monoxide/fire detector. Every home and apartment should be equipped with this type of device to detect poisonous carbon monoxide fumes and smoke, both of which can be deadly. Be sure to check the batteries in each device every few months, and verify that the detector is working properly. The health and safety of your family and home depends on this device, so its care should be a top priority.

2. Create a positive source of ventilation. Since indoor air pollutants can reach high levels inside the home, it is important to create a source of ventilation that allows fresh air into your home. For example an open window or door can help to increase your breathing health.

3. Maintain the heating air/unit in your home. It is a good idea to frequently clean and change the filters of the central heating /air unit in your home. This is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to clean the air. Maintenance can help you to breathe cleaner air within your home. Installing clean filters will contribute to healthy breathing and immune system functioning, all of which help to improve health.

4. Applying a fresh coat of paint to walls every few years will help to prevent dust and bacteria from being inhaled by the occupants of your home. Try a paint with low odor and low VOC content to insure a healthier environment.

5. Vacuum your home often with a cleaning device that contains hepa filtration and also a hepa vacuum bag. The hepa type vacuum offers superior cleaning benefits because it eliminates 99.9% of dust, bacteria, dust mites, etc from household carpets.

6. Have the carpets steam cleaned at least once a year to further remove dust, bacteria, dust mites, etc from your carpeting. This can help to greatly improve breathing health, as it will reduce the contaminants that you and your family breathe.

7. Invest in a good air purifier. Cleaning the air you breathe is essential for good health. Using an air purifier will reduce contaminants in the air before they enter your lungs and body. Air purifiers create good health, increase healthy breathing, and they help you to feel good and sleep restfully. Air purifiers with a HEPA filter, and those that use heat work best to destroy air borne contaminants.

8. Use a humidifier in your home. Proper humidity levels within the home work to keep the lungs and nasal pasages healthy, strong and able to fight infection. Cool mist humidifiers, those with a silver ion stick, and ones without filters can be a good choice because they reduce bacteria. Humidifiers can be very helpful to children, as they work to make breathing easier and prevent colds and flu. A humidifer can also work to preserve the contents of your home.

9. Keep your home smoke free. If you must smoke, smoke outside to prevent the buildup of harmful poisons that are produced by tobacco smoke. Smoking indoors in a confined space over time will increase the smoke and toxins that you and your family will breathe in. Smoking indoors increases the chances of developing serious illness as well as lung cancer, which at this time is the number one killer of both smoking and non smoking adults who breathe second hand smoke. Taking the simple action of smoking outside prevents the harmful accumulation of toxins and bacteria in your home.