Dust

Heavy drapes, uphol­stered fur­ni­ture, thick rugs, and other dec­o­ra­tive items are major dust col­lec­tors. Mattresses can be a rest­ing place for dust mites. Put dust­proof cases on pil­lows, mat­tresses, and box springs. Dust and vac­uum often. Use a damp cloth or mop, not a broom. Wash stuffed ani­mals reg­u­larly and don’t sleep with them.

Heating System

Change fil­ters once a year.  Vents may require clean­ing to reduce the spread of dust and other irritants.

Bedding

Feather filled pil­lows or other types of fill­ings can be trig­gers; we can sug­gest more appro­pri­ate mate­ri­als for your fam­ily. Because of pollen in the air, dry clothes and bed­ding in a dryer, not out­side on a clothesline.

Mold and Mildew

Bathrooms, plants kept in bath­rooms, and lack of ven­ti­la­tion in bath­rooms may be major causes of mold and mildew. Keep shower stalls and sinks clean. Clean your neb­u­lizer or inhaler and spacer often.

Pets

Animal dan­der and saliva are potent aller­gens. Keep pets out­side, or at least out of the bed­room, and bathe them weekly. Consider dander-free pets such as fish.

Pest Control

Pests, par­tic­u­larly dust mites and cock­roaches, can rep­re­sent sig­nif­i­cant asthma trig­gers.  Regular clean­ing helps con­trol their populations.

Fumes and Strong Odors

Fireplace smoke, per­fumes, hair­spray, air fresh­en­ers, house­hold clean­ers, moth­balls, sol­vents, and paint can be severely irri­tat­ing, pos­si­bly result­ing in an asthma episode. If you must work around such irri­tants, make sure the area is well-ventilated. Turn on the exhaust fan when you cook to reduce cook­ing odors.

Cigarette and Cigar Smoke

There is no “safe” level of smoke.  We rec­om­mend elim­i­nat­ing smok­ing among all house­hold mem­bers.  If there is a smoker in the house­hold, smok­ing should be restricted to out­door areas, and cloth­ing that smells of smoke should be kept away from asthmatics.