Q. Why do I get  a sore throat every time I get into my car? (E.B. Galveston, Texas)

Have you checked the air conditioner for mold, or used a valet service that left chemical residues in the carpets and upholstery? Are you trying a new air freshener?

Some things to try include: rinsing the carpets and upholstery with a gallon of water and 1/2 cup vinegar (helps release the detergent form the fibres), checking the air conditioner for mold, running the ventilation system without the air conditioner for a minute before you park and opening a back window a little to draw any bad air out of the car. A negative ion generator may also help.

Q. There's a moldy smell coming from my basement shower. I've scrubbed and scrubbed but it still smells.

The smell may well be coming from under the shower. Often when showers are installed in basements a hole is left from the rough in. If the shower leaks then the water collects in the hole and eventually becomes a mold farm.

Q. I'm pretty sure that there's mold in my house, I can smell it but I can't find it.

You may need to get your heating ducts checked. Sometimes the condensation in the ducts can provide enough moisture for ever present mold spores to gain a foothold and multiply.

Q. My house is so dry so why am I so congested?

Low humidity levels often trigger nasal congestion. One suggestion would be to increase the humidity levels in your house using a humidifier. Warm mist humidifiers are probably the easiest to use because they use tap water and don't have a filter that has to be changed. You want the relative humidity level in your bedroom to be between 35% and 55% before you go to bed but then turn the humidifier off for the night to reduce the electricity in your bedroom while you sleep.

Q. Is there any difference between the different humidifiers on the market?

The main concerns about humidifiers revolve around 'standing water,' the electromagnetic fields that they produce at night and the positive ions that the mechanism creates. These three factors can significantly alter your home's environment. Make sure you minimize the amount of time that the water stands and unplug the machine at night.

Q. Should I be de-chlorinating my water?

Yes, chlorine in tapwater adds significantly to the air pollution in your house. In most homes the air quality inside is between 3 and 5 times worse than outside! At a minimum open the windows after a shower or bath and de-chlorinate drinking water with a Brita type filter. If you have a water softener you can have carbon added to it and that will effectively remove the chlorine. There are special shower heads that remove chlorine but carbon tends to be less effective at removing chlorine from warm water than from cold water

Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to replace the advice of a well chosen medical doctor.