Home is where you lay your head at night. Unfortunately, toxins inside our homes can pose a threat to our health. But there are many things we can do to make our homes safer for our families, says Barbara Erny, M.D., PAMF Ophthalmology.

"Many patients I meet have read or heard so many different warnings about environmental threats within their homes that they simply don’t know where to begin to fix these potential problems," says Dr. Erny, who is a member of the Santa Clara County Medical Association Environmental Health Committee and lectures on environmental health issues. Her advice? Start small.

1. Keep your home dry. Wet areas of a home can harbor mold spores and other allergens and irritants. Seek professional help if you notice a musty smell or if an area of your home always seems damp.

2. Open up windows, or use an air filter. Without good ventilation, harmful particles, like those from fresh paint or new carpet, can quickly build up in the air.

3. Minimize chemical "off-gassing." If you notice a strong chemical odor from fresh dry cleaning or plastic products or new shoes, leave the items outside until the smell dissipates.

4. Clean regularly to decrease dust that can trigger allergies and asthma attacks.

5. Eliminate second-hand smoke. If you smoke, quit or smoke outside only.

6. Avoid commercial air fresheners. Many air fresheners contain harmful chemicals. To freshen the air naturally, use natural citrus oil spray or baking soda.

7. Use natural cleansers. Commercial cleaning products may contain toxic ingredients that can irritate the lungs and skin. Homemade cleaning remedies using baking soda, white vinegar and lemon juice are safer and cheaper, and work just as well.

8. Use non-toxic pest-control products. And avoid getting dust mites, fleas and other pests into your home by sealing cracks, removing your shoes when entering your home, cleaning your pets’ feet and cleaning up crumbs that can attract pests.

9. Wash fruits and vegetables. Rinse produce with soap and water before consuming, and peel non-organic produce. Buy organic fruits and vegetables when possible to avoid pesticides.

10. Drink filtered tap water. Research shows that some plastic containers, including water coolers, can leech chemicals back into the water.

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