Try not to introduce extra chemicals, such as aerosol cleaning products, into your living space. Keep your eyes refreshed with plain saline drops.

If you are using an air-conditioner, make sure it is recirculating rather than drawing polluted air from the outside, Dr. Moline said.

Consider getting an air purifier

If you can, invest in an air purifier, which helps to clear particles of pollution in your home. Here is an in-depth review of HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) air purifiers for Wirecutter, a New York Times company.

Many of the purifiers available in stores only have the power to clean the air in a single room, so it might be best placed in the bedroom of someone who is at greater risk, like a child, an older adult or a person with asthma, said John Capitman, the executive director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute and a public health professor at California State University, Fresno.

“That isn’t going to reduce the exposure of everybody else in the household,” he said.

What kind of mask is best?

A surgical mask, scarf or bandanna will not filter out many pollutants at all. A respirator mask will more effectively keep pollutants out of your airways.

You might see respirator masks with labels like N95, R99 or P100. The numbers refer to the approximate percentage of particles that are blocked, and the letters refer to the levels of oil resistance, which are not as important in dealing with smoke pollution.

Make sure the mask is fitted securely to your face, and beware of beards: Facial hair can allow air to seep in, unfiltered.