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A clean house has clean air, too

By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, Scripps Howard News Service

Published April 25, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Indoor pollution causes its share of problems, exacerbating asthma among them.

So, what can you do about indoor pollution? Start by cleaning the air ducts and coils through which the air conditioning and heating pass. This will significantly reduce the level of fungus flowing through the air.

Take the filter out of an air vent and, with a flashlight, look into the air duct. You might be surprised to find it caked with dust and dirt. Every time air passes through these portholes, some of that pollution goes with it. Yuck!

Suck out some of that dirt with a vacuum cleaner. You probably won't get all of it. Some of it, after all, will be beyond the vacuum's reach. You might need to contact a company that specializes in this field. Its worker(s) will not only clean the system but also decontaminate the coils and can probably offer a maintenance program.

What more can you do yourself? If you smoke, stop it. You've heard that before. Cleaning the filters every month helps maintain a clean flow of air as well as helping the system work at optimal efficiency. Try reducing the use of household chemicals. Alternatives to harmful cleaning agents can be found in health- food stores and through catalogs and Internet sites.

Having professionals clean and decontaminate your carpet, furniture, drapes and other items at least once a year will add to your clean-air environment.

To maintain a constant flow of clean air, have an electrostatic air cleaner installed. Some companies say this eliminates up to 94 percent of irritants from indoor air. If you do smoke or have guests who do, you'll be glad to know that these air cleaners are effective against cigarette smoke.

Electrostatic air cleaners also reduce airborne dust that settles on furniture and other items, so less dusting is needed.

Hope these suggestions help you breathe a little easier.

Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color."