Upgrades for a Healthier Home (Part 4)

Let your bed air out before you make it each day. This will allow mite-friendly moisture to evaporate. Airing out your pillows and vacuuming the mattress will help control mites too. 

Screen out pollen. If you have a window air conditioner, use the fan setting, and change or wash the filter often. Keep windows closed.

Stop using moth balls, period. They contain possible carcinogens. Store clean silks and woolens in zip-up bags. Buy cedar chips from a pet store, and make your own sachets by wrapping them in cheesecloth; toss or refill when they lose their scent. 

Avoid placing office equipment in the bedroom; copiers and printers can generate lung irritants.

Put in a whole-house fan. Installed in the attic or under the roof, this low-tech cooling system draws poor-quality air out and fresh air in (a boon when it's not pollen season).

Zip dust-proof covers on pillows and mattresses to keep mites out.

Swap out wall-to-wall carpet for hardwood and washable area rugs, steps that will help reduce the buildup of dust, pet dander, and other allergens.

Replace your mattress with one free of flame retardants. Some mattresses incorporate wool, which is naturally flame resistant.

Set up a humidity monitor. Aim for a humidity level of 40 to 50 percent; a higher level can trigger the growth of mildew and mites. If levels fall below 20 percent, consider a plug-in humidifier—and follow the manufacturer's care tips.

Check for radon. This odorless natural gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Use a test kit, like RTCA's 4 Pass Charcoal Canister Test ($22; rtca.com), to measure levels every few years and after any basement work. 

Schedule an HVAC checkup to make sure furnaces, boilers, and water heaters are properly venting carbon monoxide. 

Install a dehumidifier to keep humidity below mold-triggering levels.

If you're remodeling and finishing walls,choose lime plaster over drywall if you want to match plaster walls in the rest of your house; it's naturally mold resistant. Or at least go for paperless drywall, such as Georgia-Pacific's DensArmor, which is less vulnerable to moisture than the paper-backed variety.

Take inventory. Safely dispose of half-empty containers of dried-up paint, stain, and solvents (consult your local sanitation department for guidelines). Store gas in a no-spill container. Keep all such products far away from water heaters that have pilot lights. If possible, lock up volatile chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides in a separate kid-proof shed.

Set up to work outside, and wear a mask as needed. Opt for plenty of ventilation when cutting chemically treated lumber and formaldehyde-packed MDF. Even wood dust is a proven health hazard.

Switch to organic lawn care. Lawn chemicals may green up the grass fast, but they ultimately weaken its defenses against drought and disease. Runoff is a major source of pollution in rivers and lakes—which helps explain how nitrates and weed killers can end up in your drinking water. 

Upgrade your workshop's dust collection system. A HEPA-filter shop vac that screws right onto the ports of power saws and sanders greatly reduces airborne dust. 

Swap gas-powered lawn gear for quieter, fume-free electric and manual options. Fiskar's new Momentum reel mower ($200; lowes.com) has scissors-like blades that churn out mulch-size clippings.

The bottom line: You can have a well-kept home and take care of your health too.