With so many hazardous and unhealthy things out there in the world, your home should be a place of comfort, cleanliness, and safety. Unfortunately, other than practicing a standard cleaning regimen, most people aren’t taking any extra steps to make their homes healthier living spaces. If you have kids or pets, home healthiness is a particularly pressing concern because not only do your little critters and creatures make an extra mess, they also require a clean environment that is conducive to growth and learning. With that said, here are four ways you can make your home a healthier place to be:

• Upgrade the Ventilation System

According to BPC Ventilation, indoor air pollution is significantly worse than outdoor air pollution due to the presence of dust, dander, indoor cleaning products, allergens, and other pollutants. Thus, you should never overlook the importance of continually circulating fresh air throughout the building. Stagnant air not only contains more pollutants, but it also has a lower oxygen level, leading to stale and stuffy air that can cause sinus problems and general fatigue. A home heat recovery system, such as those fitted by BPC Ventilation, can help by filtering stale air and extracting the heat from it.

• Get an Air Purifier

Simply circulating the air more efficiently is often enough to create a noticeable difference, especially if you have a good filtration system installed. However, adding a few in-room air purifiers is an extra step you can take to improve the overall cleanliness of the air in your home. Air purifiers are particularly useful for people with allergies, pets, or children. Plus, using a purifier that contains a HEPA filter will keep your ventilation system’s filter cleaner for longer periods, thereby reducing the need for filter changes and other maintenance.

• Install Skylights

Did you know that humans get 90% of their vitamin D needs through absorption of sunlight? Yes, it turns out the sun-soaking hippies weren’t completely nuts after all. Sadly, most people aren’t getting enough sunlight in their daily lives to meet their vitamin D requirements. To combat sunlight and vitamin deficiency, experts recommend getting about 20 to 30 minutes of direct sun exposure (without applying sunscreen) each day for at least 3-4 days per week. Installing skylights in your roof is a great way to bring the sun’s rays directly into your home. As an added benefit, this will also lower your energy bill by reducing your dependency on artificial lighting.

Note for UK residents: It’s worth noting that some scientists have warned that Britain doesn’t receive enough sunlight to promote healthy vitamin D levels and many are recommending that all Brits take vitamin D supplements.

• Add a Whole House Water Filter

Sure, on-tap filters can do just fine when you want to pour yourself a glass of drinking water through the tap, but what about the rest of the water in your home? Installing a whole house filter will ensure that even your shower/bath water is free of harmful contaminants. Additionally, it will significantly reduce the load on your refrigerator and sink filters, reducing the need to change the filters while also providing double-filtered water at the tap or your fridge’s cold water spout.

• Don’t Forget to Add an Exercise Area!

Finally, adding a designated exercise area or home gym is one more thing you can do to complement the four aforementioned steps on your way to creating a healthier home.