If you do just one thing in your home cleaning routine, dust, dust and dust some more. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (chemical fire retardants, also called PBDEs) on furniture, mattresses and electronics are designed to keep you safe in case of fire. But these chemicals can degrade over time since they are not chemically bonded to these items, so the PBDE can end up in the air and settle into dust. By investing in high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter products -- from air filters to vacuums -- and by dusting often with microfiber towels, you can collect chemical-laden dust and keep it out of your home's atmosphere.
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