How do I know when my purifier is in auto mode? According to the EPA, most of us spend about 90 percent of our time indoors. And although there are plenty of laws and regulations about outdoor air pollution, most of us don't give a second thought to the air in our homes.But we should: "… a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors," advises the EPA.You could choose to invest in an air purifier or filter (I added one when I upgraded the forced-air heating system in my home a couple of years ago), but getting significantly cleaner, healthier air in your home doesn't have to come from making big changes or even spending any money. Starting with the simplest idea:Air out your home regularly. How often you should do this really depends on your heating system;

if you have a woodstove or fireplace, try to air out once a day (or on the days that you use them). If you don't have a fireplace, air out every other day. Airing out the house involves a five- to 10-minute purge of the air in your home by opening the front and back doors (and storm doors) and letting in the fresh air from outdoors. As mentioned above, even in cities, outdoor air is cleaner than indoor, and apartment dwellers can do this too, by opening up windows on opposite sides of the apartment. Of course you can just open one window or door, but using two will create an airflow and will change the air more efficiently. It's amazing how much fresher and better your home smells when you regularly air it out.Use toxin-free, all-natural cleaning products. Many cleaners include chemicals that release VOC's (volatile organic compounds) into your indoor air. In most homes, VOC's are two to five times higher than outdoor air, and can be up to 25 times higher in cabinets where cleaning products are kept.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, "The best health protection measure is to limit your exposure to products and materials that contain VOCs when possible." In the short-term, VOC's can make asthma worse, irritate the eyes and throat, and can cause headaches and dizziness. Long-term effects include liver and kidney damage, and VOC's are considered carcinogens. Switch to natural brands, especially for those cleaning products that you use regularly, like countertop sprays and bathroom scrubs.Get a couple of easy-care plants. There are a host of plants that not only look good, but actually pull toxins from the air.If anyone is still smoking inside your home (even if it's you!) get them outdoors, pronto (and be sure they smoke away from windows and doors). Carcinogens and particulates from secondhand smoke will hang around long after the butts are disposed of. Long story short, smokers belong outside.Skip the air freshener. Most air fresheners contain VOC's and contribute to poor indoor air quality.

While you're at it, skip the scented candles, too. Instead, try dabbing lavender, lemon, eucalyptus or orange oil in the corners of rooms (try dropping the oil into rugs, the corners of mattresses, on curtains and into the edges of the upholstery). best air purifier brand in singaporeYou also can fill an old spray bottle with 2 cups water to 10 drops of essential oil, and spray it around the house.cost of running air purifierClean your pet's bed. air purifier for second hand smokePet hair and dander can add allergens and particulates, including dust, to your indoor air. And if you have an animal that goes outside and comes in with wet fur or paws, the pet bed might be a bit moldy too. Be sure to regularly wash your pet beds (you should clean them whenever you wash your own sheets) to keep the flying fur to a minimum.

Winter air tends to make healthy people a bit unhealthy. Cold air holds less moisture and indoor heating makes air extra dry. Sealing your home against drafts and air leaks is really counterproductive and a further cause for stale and germy air. There is little circulation in a home that is totally sealed and heated. Indoor air quality plunges your family into agonizing chapped lips, sinus infections, sore throats, flu, irritating flaky and itchy skin and colds. Gain your indoor air quality back and get health under control. Improve your home”s ventilation systems; maintain the furnace and check the relative indoor humidity. Fix leaks and drips under your sinks, by your water heater, and around humidifiers. Standing water under cupboards and in basements causes high humidity, encourages mold growth and is a breeding home for bacteria. In addition to cleaning your home, declare your home as a smoke free zone. Don”t allow anyone to smoke indoors. If you have smokers in your home ask them to go outside;

particularly in the winter months. Test your home for radon. Radon is an invisible gas that causes lung cancer. Every home should be tested for this gas. If you have radon in your home, it is an easy fix, and relatively inexpensive. If you have unsavory odors in your home don”t continually use scented candles or fragrances to hide odors. Find out what is causing the smell, clean up, ventilate and prevent the smells from coming back. Use cleaning products that are not toxic. Avoid storing hazardous chemicals under sinks and easy-to-rich cabinets. If you use ammonia, ventilate the rooms you are working in. Heated winter air and ammonia fumes equal bronchial and lung irritations. Don”t idle a car in a garage that is attached to your home.   Gasses and pollutants from the exhaust coming from an idling car can find access into your home through cracks in doors and walls. These fumes tend to stay, circulate in the air in your home, and eventually enter you lungs. Little things that can help the air quality in your home during winter include keeping floors clean and fresh.