It is high time to change the common conception that pollution exists only outdoors.

Levels of indoor pollutants are higher than outdoor pollutants and could be a threat to healthy living. Carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, pollen, pests, and even pets could be the cause of indoor pollution. It is extremely important to control indoor pollution as we spend a major part of our day indoors. Chemical pollutants could come from outdoors or they might be released from materials used in our everyday life.

The thought of living in a place with indoor pollution could be alarming, but the steps to be taken to avoid indoor pollution are very simple. These are steps we all know lead to healthy living, but steps we forget to execute amidst our busy everyday schedule. So let us vow to do the following to ensure healthy living.

Dust is the most common pollutant. Dust is the major triggering agent for acute breathing problems. Vacuum regularly. Analyze the ways dust enters your house and ensure that you stop it at its entry point itself. Avoid using toxic cleaning products, air fresheners, air deodorants, personal care items etc. Clean air filters every 5-6 months.

A gush of fresh air could nullify the toxic fumes and stale air. So keep rooms well ventilated. Just open your windows, let the fresh air in, and say goodbye to stale air and indoor pollutants.

The next vow would be to keep the house dry. A stitch in time saves nine goes the saying. Let us vow to keep dampness away by getting leaks repaired as soon as they are noticed. Rainwater could be another challenge to keep away from the building. Plan, if required obtain advice from technical experts, to keep rain water away from entering the building. Keep your blinds or shades up to allow the heat from the sun to enter the house. Dampness encourages the growth of molds and dust mites. Ensure that your drainage system is well planned and maintained.

Regularly check for any gas leakage or hazardous fumes from gas oven, stove, unvented heaters, etc. Totally avoid smoking indoors. Warming up a car in an attached garage could be a threat to life due to the air pollution it causes.

Pest control could add more to the problem when highly toxic materials are used. So let us vow to block all entry points for pests and use less toxic pesticides and keep our house pest-free. Pests never feel at home in a clean house. So, dispose clutter regularly and keep the house clean and dry. If your house has a basement, do radon test. Radon gas can cause serious lung problems. Having house plants will help reduce carbon dioxide in the house. If your house was built before 1978, then check for the presence of lead paint and its fumes.

So a simple solution to avoid indoor pollution is to free your house from dust, stale air, dampness, smoke, pests, and toxic materials which in turn will free you from indoor pollution thereby guaranteeing healthy living. Regular cleaning and maintenance, good ventilation, avoidance of smoke and toxic material usage are the small but important actions to be executed for a happy and healthy living as we are all aware that "Health is Wealth".