Is Your Home Making You Sick?

Crack a Window, Already!

If you're relying on air purifiers or filters to keep your airspace clean, know this: They can be great at eliminating small particles such as smoke and dust but not as effective at removing harmful gases. Before you cringe at what opening your windows will do to your heating bill, consider what it can do for your health. "Ventilation is the best way to rid your home of chemicals, and it's well worth the sacrifice in energy efficiency," says Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of environmental and global health at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. "I open my windows for ten minutes several times a day to increase air circulation. If you live in a high-traffic area, do this at night."