Here are the chief offenders and their antidotes:

Formaldehyde fumes from new, pressed-wood furniture
Keep the furniture outdoors for a couple of weeks, if possible. If formaldehyde fumes come from wall paneling, seal the walls with paint or vinyl wallpaper. (Contact your local home improvement store for advice about sealers.)

Asbestos in insulation and flooring.
Call in specialists to remove it.

Plastic pipes
If faucets haven't been turned on for some time, run water for five minutes before using.

Gas stoves
Use the kind that have no pilot light. Vent the stoves outdoors with an exhaust fan. Be sure flame burns blue, not orange or yellow.

Toxic chemicals such as drain cleaners
Buy in small containers that can be cleaned out and discarded.

Aerosol sprays
Avoid inhaling these spray and replace such products with non-aerosol alternatives, if available.

Oven cleaners
Avoid using them, opting instead to clean your oven with ammonia or baking soda and water after each use.

Shoe polish
Avoid polishes that contain trichloroethylene, methylene chlorine or nitrobenzene. Let polish dry before wearing shoes.

Air fresheners
Yes, even air fresheners can cause indoor pollution. Instead of commercial fresheners that may irritate, use fresh flowers, potpourri or a container of hot vinegar to freshen a room. Baking soda absorbs odors in refrigerators and running a lemon through your garbage disposal will keep smells at bay.

Dust mites
Use polyester pillows instead of foam or down. Wash bedding once a week and blankets once a month. Buy tight-woven carpeting or rugs and clean frequently, especially under heavily-upholstered furniture.

Mold and mildew
Keep rooms well-lit and ventilated. Make sure houseplants aren't sitting in water. Run a dehumidifier if necessary.

Six Smart Ways to Weed Out Your Closet

Here are some approaches to consider:

  •Clear out all items that are ripped, stained, worn out, outgrown (whether you're fatter, thinner or taller), or that you simply haven't used once in the past year. When in doubt, put items in storage rather than giving them to a charitable organization.

  •Avoid duplication. Do you really need a half-dozen pairs of paint-splattered jeans or five blue T-shirts? (You probably bought new ones when you couldn't find the old ones in the closet mess!)

  •Put off-season clothes in storage. Be sure to protect woolens from moths with plastic bags and cover other clothes to prevent dust build-up.

  •Systematize your hang-ups. Put shirts together, also pants, skirts, sweaters, dresses, jackets. Within those categories, hang by color. To maximize space, install double poles (upper and lower) for hanging short items such as shirts and jackets.

  •Keep hats, gloves, purses and scarves on open shelves where you can see what you want to choose. Installing a set of cubby holes may help.

  •Put such things as shoes, ties, belts on separate racks that are easy to reach.