• Dust your home regularly with a damp rag so you don’t stir up particles. Afterward, vacuum at least once a week using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
• Always remove shoes at the door to avoid tracking in dirt, pollen and lead particles.
• When weather permits, keep windows slightly open during the day and in the bedroom at night to let bad indoor air out. If you’re concerned about safety or energy loss, consider a ventilation system.
• Keep pets outdoors as often as possible and off the carpet. Make sure to frequently bathe them and wash their bedding materials.
• Keep your heating and air-conditioning system well maintained, and have your ducts cleaned.
• Wash bedding frequently. Because you spend most of your hours at home in your bedroom, it’s the most important room for allergen control.
• Use hot water (at least 130 degrees) and high heat to clean sheets once a week, and mattress pads, blankets and comforter covers once a month.
• Wash children’s stuffed animals in hot water; another option is to place them in a plastic zipper bag and then put in the freezer overnight to kill dust mites.
• Use airtight plastic covers or allergen-proof fabric covers to encase mattresses, box springs and pillows and protect them against dust mites. Mattresses can be cleaned with a vacuum designed for allergen filtration, or treated with an allergen spray available from home stores.
• Regularly change the filters on your heating and air-conditioning system.

Mold, mildew and other living organisms

• Keep relative humidity within a range of 30% and 60%.
• Make sure your home is properly ventilated.
• Stop any water leaks before you try to clean mold to limit its future growth.
• Remove mold from hard surfaces such as ceramic tile by cleaning it with dishwashing liquid and then following with a solution of bleach and warm water.
• Water-damaged carpets, bedding and furniture should be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours, or replaced. Increasing air circulation and ventilating your home with fresher outside air can help.
• Check around air-handling units (air conditioners, furnaces) for stagnant water.
• Turn on your air conditioner and/or dehumidifier during summer months, and use the “auto fan” setting to reduce humidity and save energy.
• Regularly wipe down shower curtain liners.
• Avoid the use of carpets/rugs in rooms below ground level.

Odors and chemicals

• Store household cleaners, paint solvents and chemical products in tightly sealed containers. If possible, keep them outdoors.
• Avoid using scented deodorizers and odor-masking air fresheners, which may contain toxic chemicals.
• Air out your dry-cleaned clothes before hanging them in your closet.
• Plan craft and home-improvement projects during mild seasons, when workspaces can be easily and comfortably ventilated.
• Choose furnishings that emit the smallest possible amount of chemical vapors.
• Do not allow smoking inside your home and make sure all gas appliances are properly vented.
• Keep the basement area dry.
• Keep your house clean and adequately ventilated.
• Vacuum pet hair and launder animal beds.
• Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Place an open box of baking soda on a table or other surface to rid a room of smells.
• Another option is to soak a cotton ball with pure vanilla extract and place it on a shallow dish.
• When choosing a humidifier or other air-treatment system, choose one with no ozone emissions. Ozone is a known lung irritant.

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