Savvy Talks: Make a Clean Room During Fire Season 😷

 
Originally aired on 8/7/2026 for WGN Radio 720.

Wildfire Smoke Is Becoming a Fact of Life. Here's How to Turn One Room Into a Safe Haven.

Wildfire smoke used to be something you worried about if you lived in California.

Not anymore.

Whether the fire is 10 miles away or 1,000, smoke can travel hundreds of miles, turning a beautiful summer day into one where the air is unhealthy—or even hazardous—to breathe.

Most of us know the basics: stay indoors, wear an N95 mask outside if you have to go out, and keep an eye on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

But there's another strategy that public health experts recommend that many people have never heard of: creating a clean room in your home.

Think of it as your family's breathing room—a place where the air is cleaner than the rest of the house during days when smoke hangs in the air.

The good news? You don't need expensive renovations. A little planning now can make a big difference later.

What Is a Clean Room?

A clean room is simply one room in your home that's kept as free from smoke particles as possible.

During periods of poor air quality, everyone in the household can spend more time there—reading, working, watching TV, playing games, or even sleeping if conditions are especially bad.

It's especially important for:

• Babies and children
• Older adults
• Pregnant women
• Anyone with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other breathing problems
• Pets, who are affected by smoke just like we are

Even healthy adults can develop headaches, sore throats, irritated eyes, coughing, and fatigue after prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke.

Step 1: Pick the Right Room

The EPA recommends choosing a room that everyone can comfortably use.

Ideally, it should:

• Have few windows.
• Be easy to close off from the rest of the house.
• Have an attached bathroom, if possible.
• Be away from the kitchen, where cooking creates additional particles.

A bedroom, den, or finished basement often works well.

Step 2: Seal It Up

The goal isn't to make the room airtight, but every little bit helps.

Before wildfire season:

• Replace worn weather stripping around doors.
• Check window seals.
• Use draft stoppers under doors if you have noticeable gaps.
• Close fireplace dampers.
• Seal obvious cracks where outside air leaks in.

Even newer homes allow outdoor air to seep inside.

Step 3: Use a Real Air Purifier

This is where the biggest improvement happens.

Choose a HEPA air purifier that's properly sized for the room—not one that's too small.

During smoky days:

• Run it 24 hours a day.
• Keep it on its highest practical setting.
• Keep doors and windows closed while it's running.

If you already own one, don't wait until smoke arrives to figure out how it works.

Step 4: Check Your HVAC Filter

Your home's heating and cooling system can help—or make things worse.

Replace your furnace or HVAC filter before wildfire season begins.

If your system accepts higher-efficiency filters (such as MERV-13), they can capture much smaller smoke particles than standard filters.

If you're unsure what your system can handle, ask your HVAC technician.

Also check whether your air conditioner is pulling outside air into the home. Many systems can be switched to recirculate indoor air instead.

Step 5: Stop Making Indoor Air Dirtier

This surprises a lot of people.

Even if you never open a window, some everyday activities create indoor pollution.

When smoke is bad, try to avoid:

• Frying or broiling food
• Burning candles
• Fireplaces
• Incense
• Smoking or vaping indoors
• Aerosol sprays
• Vacuuming unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter

Instead, use the microwave, slow cooker, Instant Pot, air fryer, or cook outdoors when air quality improves.

Step 6: Keep a Wildfire Kit Ready

Just as many families keep storm supplies, consider a smoke-season kit.

Include:

• Extra HVAC filters
• Replacement HEPA purifier filters
• N95 masks for everyone
• Prescription medications
• Bottled water
• Flashlights
• Phone chargers
• Board games, puzzles, books, or cards

If you end up spending hours inside one room, you'll appreciate having something to do besides scrolling your phone.

Step 7: Don't Forget Your Pets

Dogs, cats, birds, and other pets breathe the same smoky air you do.

Keep them indoors as much as possible.

Watch for:

• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Red eyes
• Less interest in eating or playing

Birds are especially sensitive to poor air quality.

Step 8: Know When Heat Is More Dangerous Than Smoke

Here's an important exception.

If your home doesn't have air conditioning, keeping every window closed during a heat wave can become dangerous.

Extreme heat can pose a greater immediate health risk than smoke.

If that's your situation, don't tough it out.

Go to a cooling center, library, shopping mall, community center, or another building with filtered air and air conditioning.

Step 9: Watch the Air Quality Index

Don't rely on how the sky looks.

Sometimes dangerous smoke is nearly invisible.

Use an app or website that reports the Air Quality Index (AQI) before planning outdoor activities.

Once the AQI improves, open windows for a while to air out the house before closing everything up again if smoke returns.

Bonus Tips Most People Don't Think About

A few additional ideas can make your clean room even more comfortable:

• Charge phones, tablets, and battery packs before smoke arrives.
• Keep bottled water nearby since smoke can dry out your throat.
• Wear clean indoor clothes after spending time outside so you aren't bringing smoke particles into the room.
• Leave shoes at the door.
• If you drive through smoky conditions often, replace your vehicle's cabin air filter more frequently.
• If you don't own a HEPA purifier, a DIY box fan with a high-quality furnace filter can help improve indoor air in many situations. Follow safety guidelines and never leave it running unattended.

The Bottom Line

Wildfire smoke is no longer a once-in-a-generation event. In many parts of the country, it's becoming part of summer.

The families who handle it best aren't necessarily the ones with the fanciest equipment. They're the ones who prepare before the smoke arrives.

Spend an hour this weekend choosing your clean room, replacing your filters, checking your air purifier, and gathering a few supplies.

Hopefully, you won't need any of it.

But if the sky turns orange and the air quality suddenly drops, you'll already have one place in your home where everyone—including the dog—can breathe a little easier.