How to keep your indoor air clean

Newer homes are much more efficient at conserving energy, but because they keep indoor air in just as well as they keep outdoor air out, the level of pollutants inside your house can be 100 times more polluted than the air outside. That's because of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which are released by many of the consumer products we use today -- including furniture, carpets, and building materials, as well as animal dander and mold.

So what can you do about this indoor pollution problem? Many people buy air filters to clean the air in their homes, and in addition there are simple steps you can take to lower the level of VOCs to begin with. Keeping your home as clean and dust free as possible, cleaning your forced air ducts, and putting pleated air filters on your furnace, will all help reduce the amount of pollution in your home. Read all about these techniques and more in this article on cleaner indoor air.