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It may suprise you to know that air pollution levels within the modern house can be two to five times greater than the levels outdoors. Combine that with the fact that the average person can spend upwards of ninety percent of their time indoors, it will come as no suprise that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new byword in the English language.

Inside pollutants such as dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, mold spores and pollen tend to be continually recycled which ultimately means that sufferers of allergy induced asthma are making their complaint worse by being inside.

There are several symptoms connected with so called sick building syndrome including sinus congestion, watery or itchy eyes, head aches, sluggishness, lack of concentration and sickness.  However, since some of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to to determine if indoor pollution is the reason or if it is because of some type of viral infection.

If you find that the symptoms fade when you are away from home, an effort should be made to identify inside air sources which may be possible causes and attempt to get rid of them. Fortunately, indoor air pollution is one health risk that you can do something about.

Make a great difference to indoor air quality in your home with the following 7 tips.

Banish Smoking Inside the House

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the home but if this is not possible, endeavour to restrict it to one place. In our case, any friends or family that visit are restricted to the kitchen area or the back garden if they want to smoke. In the kitchen, an extractor fan drives the smoky air outside as it does with cooking odors.

Open Your Windows From Time To Time

Assuming that it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening up your windows and doors every so often. Doing so will also remove some of the pollutants that have built up inside your home. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, use them regularly. You should also routinely clean the venthole in the extractors and make sure they work correctly.

Use Natural House Cleaning Products

Take any one of those so called wonder kitchen cleaners from your cupboard and somewhere on the label will be a warning as to how dangerous they are to your health. Furthermore, look at what they are made of and see if you can recognize the names of any of the substances in that bottle. In fact, I doubt you will even be able to say the name, let alone know what it is. Every time you use that product, fumes from whatever is in the bottle get released into the air for you to breathe in. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Personally, I have taken the eco-friendly approach to home cleaning. Bicarbonate Of Soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for the majority of cleaning jobs. They are not only cheaper but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your house.

Keep you Home Clean and Dust Free

Vacuuming your rugs and floors regularly will help to keep dust and airborne allergens at bay. It is said (although I have no proof) that some seventy percent of all household dust consists of dead skin, which we humans shed all the time. Dust mites successively feed upon this dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this and their faeces that causes allergic reactions in people.

Pet Dander Allergies

If you have a family pet, they will shed dander that can spark allergic reactions and asthma. If you suspect that you or a family member may be allergic to your family pet, action is needed. Ideally, it is better to keep pets out of the home altogether although that is rarely possible. As a possible alternative, try and restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.

Reduce Inside Air Humidity

Living in a wet clime or an area of high humidness can both result in moisture levels in the house increasing dramatically. This excessive moisture or humidity is the ideal breeding ground for mold. For anybody with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. For that reason, a home dehumidifier can be essential. An air purifier dehumidifier will draw moisture from the air and into a water tank which you can then remove and pour away.

Invest in a Home Air Purifier

Home air purifiers are units that clean indoor air of allergens, like mold spores, pollen and pet dander.  They are particularly useful if you or a family member suffers from allergies or asthma because they can reduce airborne contaminants by a substantial amount.  Indoor air purifiers have become very popular recently because they are able to clean the air in your home while making it a lot healthier to inhale. However, there are different types of air purification technologies, some of which may not be suitable in all situations.