Allergies
Healthier Home
Having good indoor air quality is an important part of having a healthy living space. People spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and your indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.
We offer a free Asthma-Friendly Home Checklist (Available in English and Spanish
) that can help you identify and reduce triggers. You can go through this list with everyone in your home that has asthma and allergies.
If you are a renter, share this page or the printable checklist with your landlord.
Mouse over (or click if you’re on mobile) each area of the house for a helpful checklist to help you improve air quality and reduce asthma and allergy triggers in your home:
You can improve your indoor air quality by cutting down the sources of allergens and asthma irritants throughout your home:
- Improve air flow in your home – leave interior doors open, run exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Avoid harmful products (like bleach and other harsh cleaners) as much as possible.
- Use Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly® products (bedding, vacuums, cleaning products, flooring, paint and more).
- Establish regular cleaning routines to remove dust, pollen, animal dander and mold from your home.
- Measure your home’s humidity level and keep it below 50%. If you live in a wet climate, you may need a dehumidifier.
- Keep windows closed during peak pollen times or during times of high outdoor pollution.
- Remove items with strong scents like candles. Replace traditional scented candles with battery-powered ones.
- If possible, remove carpets and replace with solid surface flooring.
- Maintain your HVAC (furnace and air conditioning) system and replace the air filters as recommended by the manufacturer.
- Use portable air cleaners (air purifiers) in rooms where you spend the most time (remember to look for the Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly®).
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Using Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly® products in your home can help you have a healthier indoor environment, as well as reduce allergens.
To learn more about the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, visit: aafa.org/certified