When you have COPD, there's more to keeping healthy than taking medication and improving your diet and exercise. Your everyday life at home plays a big role in the relief of your symptoms. Everyone likes to be clean—both home and body—but things get a little more complex for COPD sufferers. Just as outdoor allergies can worsen your illness, indoor allergens can upset your lungs too. Many of the products you've used in the past have the potential to aggravate your condition and worsen your quality of life. Here are 3 tips for keeping clean in the right way.

Cleaning Chemicals

Many conventional cleaning products contain allergen-ridden chemicals that have harmful effects for people with breathing problems. Unfortunately, allergen triggers are different for everyone, so it can be hard to know which chemicals are safe for you. In general, avoid any products with strong odours—these products smell noxious for a reason. Low odour products are a safer bet, but make sure you monitor your own reactions to all products you use. In addition, try to keep away from aerosols. Research shows that these cleaning sprays lead to increased breathing problems, and their tiny particulates (minute particles) are an aggravation to your system.

Toiletries

While you may know that some toiletries can cause skin reactions, have you ever thought about the breathing reactions they can trigger? If you find your symptoms worsening when you leave the bathroom, your toiletries could be to blame. Even toiletries labelled "hypoallergenic" can be harmful to some COPD sufferers.  As with cleaning products, the aerosols in your bathroom also produce harmful particulates. Try switching from hairspray and spray deodorant to gels and roll-ons. Likewise, strong odours can be an indication of breathing dangers. Many perfumes and perfumed products contain synthetic compounds that could exacerbate your COPD, so switch to fragrance-free toiletries where possible.

Useful Gadgets

Thanks to developments in home appliance tech, there are now several powerful cleaning gadgets on the market that can help you keep your house COPD friendly. Air purifiers are one such gadget, removing pollutants from your home atmosphere. Your vacuum cleaner choice also makes a big difference. Carpets harbour dust and dust mites, as well as trapping other allergens in their fibres. Use a strong vacuum cleaner to keep your flooring as clean as possible—those labelled as suitable for pet hair are usually a great choice. There are even mini vacuums specially made to keep your bed pollutant-free, so do your research to find the ideal equipment for you.