Safe as houses, goes the saying -- but how safe is yours for your kids? Because their bodies are still developing, children are especially susceptible to environmental hazards. Luckily, there are easy steps you can take to reduce the risks right under your own roof.  Here's how:

Clean smarter and more often  "The greatest exposure to toxins children face may be from household dust," says Timonie Hood, the Green Building Coordinator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Children get dust on their hands from crawling on the floor and touching dust-covered surfaces, exposing them to dust mites, mold and pet dander, all of which can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. "Get a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, and use it twice a week," says Hood. "You should also dust every few days with a slightly damp cloth so you don't just return dust to the air." To further reduce the risks of dust, reduce the items in your home that trap it, such as drapes, carpeting, throw pillows, and stuffed animals.  

Quit smoking "Stop smoking, even if you only smoke outside," says Dennis Woo, MD, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles. "Kids in households with any smoking have been shown to suffer higher rates of respiratory disease." When you smoke, particulates and nicotine get on your clothes and hands, and when you come indoors, so do the toxins, that put your kids at risk. Likewise, don't let others smoke in or around your home or car.

Take off your shoes indoors Since your shoes come in contact with all kinds of toxins (pesticides, lead, mold and more) on a daily basis, leave them at the door. Otherwise, those chemicals will just get trapped in your carpet.

Switch to natural cleansers Commercial cleansers may make cleaning easier, but they may also contain carcinogenic ingredients, respiratory irritants, and even pesticides. Try safer cleansers such as a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to clean tubs and toilets, salt to scrub kitchen sinks and borax (available at supermarkets) for laundry.

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