As I was flying home from Texas, I became acutely aware of the air on the plane. It was warm, then it was cold, then it had a funny smell� but it wasn�t fresh. None of it.

I started to think about our homes. Some of you are already in such hot weather that your windows are closed and the air conditioning is on. Some of you are still fighting off cold weather and your windows are closed to keep the heat in. And some of you are �in between�. Perhaps you can open your windows for some fresh air, but perhaps you live in a high rise or some other place that doesn�t make fresh air easy to come by.

Since we spend 90% of our time indoors, indoor air cleanliness counts. And with asthma and allergies at an all-time high, indoor air quality has undergone much study and scrutiny. Believe it or not, many homes have much worse air cleanliness than the outdoor air quality�even in major cities.

So what can we do about it? How can we clean our indoor air? First, reduce the use of things that are contributing to indoor air pollution.

Avoid aerosols to reduce the number of CFCs floating around the house. Many products have moved to non-aerosol versions of their product just because of the overall environmental impact. Many household stores now sell a kitchen spray tool that will replace non-stick cooking spray�just add the oil of your choice. Buy hair spray in pump form or deodorant in stick form. Even air freshener comes in a spray pump. Spray bottle technology has come a long way and can now produce a much finer mist than was possible in earlier years. Try it out!

Limit your dry cleaning. For the things that need to be dry cleaned, try services labeled �organic� or ask the cleaners if they use the chemical called �perc� (perchloroethylene)�which is a known cancer-causing chemical. Let dry cleaned clothing air out for a day before bringing it into the living space. If you are fortunate enough to have a sheltered and safe space where you can leave it for a few hours (uncovered) to air out�do it.

Choose your products carefully. Even if it�s in a spray bottle, you may have household cleaners or personal products that are loaded with chemicals that will emit �volatile organic compounds� (VOCs). These are fumes that are released into the air that we breathe in. This even applies to wall paint, carpeting, draperies and furniture. All of these either contain or are coated with chemicals that can release fumes into the air. We once had a bedroom carpeted with wall-to-wall carpeting and that �new carpet smell� lasted for MONTHS. Unfortunately, these were VOCs being released into the air. Opt for area rugs over hard flooring. The rugs are easier to remove to air out or beat and the hard flooring underneath doesn�t trap dust and mites.

How can you help keep your air clean?

Houseplants certainly help in cleaning your indoor air. Their process of respiration filters the air and returns a healthier version of what you had. NASA tested 19 common houseplants and found them to be wonderful for filtering for indoor chemicals. Among them was Pothos--an easy to care for indoor plant that survives well in low light.

Dusting with a lightly damp cloth will reduce the amount of dust particles in the air. If you put your house on a rotation schedule for dusting, you should be able to keep it well under control with minimal effort. Don�t forget the areas that are hard to dust�like the moulding over the window and the blades of your ceiling fan.

Vacuum often and keep your vacuum clean. Better yet, get one that either doesn�t have a filter or has a HEPA filter (which will reduce the particles that escape from your vacuum�redistributing dust into your house). Be sure to read your manual so that you know how often to change filters or how to properly clean a filterless vacuum.

Make use of your exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens; and open your windows to get fresh air as often as possible. Even if your fans are not exchanging your dirty indoor air for clean air, they are certainly breaking up any buildup of fumes or VOCs and redistributing them to lower levels in a larger area.

Wash very dirty or dusty laundry in the hottest water safe for the fabrics. Bedding is especially prone to accumulating mites and should be washed in hot water. If your water doesn�t get hot enough to really kill the mites, or you have bedding that cannot be washed in hot water, add 25-30 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil to your laundry load. This will kill dust mites even if the water temperature is not hot enough to do so.

Keep your dryer and dryer venting clean. Likewise, if you have a forced air heating system�be sure to have the ductwork cleaned regularly.

Get outside whenever you can. Breathing in fresh air whenever possible is a great contributor to your health and well-being. After 2-3 weeks of being outside on a regular basis (at least 1 hour each day�preferably more) you may find headaches, �allergies� and other health-related annoyances disappear.

Last, beware of so-called �air cleaners�. Do your research: many of them emit ozone, which is a pollutant.

Indoor air quality isn�t difficult to improve if you know what to look for. The payoff is not only better health, but a cleaner home overall!!!