The home is where we tend to feel most secure, but its air can be filled with allergens, toxic gases, and other irritants that can cause symptoms like headaches, a scratchy throat, nasal infections, or worse.

But the good news is that there are easy tactics you can use to vastly improve your home’s air quality to benefit your overall health—just follow these helpful tips.

Clean regularly

Cleaning often can remove dust, dander, and other contaminants, improving your home’s air quality. Launder your bed linens weekly, ideally in hot water to effectively kill dust mites. Dust and vacuum just as frequently, being sure to use a HEPA filter in your device to trap nearly 100 percent of airborne particles.

Purify the air

Have your HVAC unit serviced about twice a year and change your furnace’s filter at least once every three months. When purchasing filters, look for ones with a MERV value of at least eight to ten—this indicates it has the proper filtration to capture everything from pollen to bacteria like legionella while not restricting airflow too severely. In addition, clean your air ducts at least every three to five years since they can produce air contamination when dirty. For extra precaution, you could place a portable air purifier in rooms more likely to have contaminants, such as in your kitchen, which could contain gaseous pollutants, such as from your range.

Be smart with your windows

Opening your windows can let in some fresh air and remove stale odors, but only if the outside air is clean—it might not be if you live in a big city or near a busy road. You may also want to keep them closed, however, if you’re allergic— to prevent outdoor allergens from coming in, especially from June through August. You may also want to keep your windows closed early in the morning and at night, when pollen counts are higher.

Limit pollutants

An easy way to improve your home’s air quality is by removing anything that may emit dangerous VOCs or fumes, such as some paints and cleaning supplies; if you do have any you need to keep, you can relocate them to your basement or garage to be safe. Also, be careful about what you bring into your home. For instance, consider removing your shoes before you come inside and then wiping their soles with a wet rag, and avoid using air-freshener sprays and plug-ins that contain hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene as well as plastic storage containers, which may release harmful compounds over time. Carpeting can also trap pollutants and irritants, so it may be worth replacing yours with hard-surface flooring like tile or natural linoleum.

Manage humidity

Be on the lookout for high humidity in your home, which can make it more hospitable to mold and can send allergenic or toxic spores into the air. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity of each room, aiming to keep it between 30 and 50 percent. Ways to reduce indoor humidity include running your air-conditioning on wet-weather days and opening a nearby window or turning on an exhaust fan while showering or cooking. Also be sure to repair any water leaks in your home promptly since moisture can encourage mold to grow.

Get more plants

Your houseplants might not look like they’re doing much, but they’re likely hard at work purifying the air. Some of the best at filtering out harmful airborne toxins include snake and spider plants and peace lilies. A bonus is that placing some greenery in your home can make you feel less stressed.

There are many threats to the home’s air quality, but they aren’t insurmountable. Follow these few simple steps, and you may soon be breathing more easily.