Asthma-friendly home

Most people with asthma find their symptoms get worse when they are exposed to certain triggers. Some of these triggers can be found in and around the average home, such as dust mites, pollen and animal dander (skin, scale or fur particles). An important part of effective asthma management includes avoiding exposure to your particular triggers. There are many ways in which you can transform your home into an asthma-friendly place.

Common household triggers

Some of the more common household triggers include:

• Dust mites – these tiny creatures love warm, moist conditions and thrive in bedding and carpets. Their droppings cause the allergic reaction
• Moulds – need moist environments with poor ventilation
• Pollens – from trees, plants and grasses
• Pets – because of their fur, skin or scales (called 'dander')
• Other triggers – including cold dry air and cigarette smoke.

The air quality

Make your home a smoke-free zone. You should also pay attention to ventilation, heating and cooling. Ideally, the air in your home should be fresh and not too humid.

Improve ventilation by:

• Install extractor fans with external vents in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
• Use a range hood over your stove top.
• Have fixed air vents in all rooms to ensure air circulation.

Improve heating and cooling by:

• Choose radiant heating that doesn’t collect or circulate dust.
• Avoid open fires because wood smoke can be a trigger.
• Avoid fan-forced ducted heating because it circulates dust.
• Choose refrigerated reverse-cycle systems because they take the moisture out of the air. Adjust if cold dry air is a trigger.
• Avoid evaporative cooling systems because they humidify the air.

Dust contains many allergen particles. Some suggestions on how to cut down on the amount of dust in your home include:

• Remove the carpet or, if that isn’t possible, vacuum regularly.
• Vacuum any fabric-upholstered furniture regularly.
• Buy a vacuum with a good filter system.
• Use a damp cloth to dust furniture instead of dry dusting.
• Replace curtains with vertical blinds.
• Put doors on any open shelving units.

Reduce your dust mite population

Dust mites tend to thrive in beds and carpets. Some suggestions include:

• Have bare boards instead of carpets in the bedrooms.
• Use mattress, doona and pillow protectors.
• Vacuum the mattress every week.
• Hot wash all bedding every two weeks and dry in direct sunlight.
• Cut down on fluffy toys or put them in the freezer for 24 hours once a week.
• Air blankets weekly in direct sunlight.

Keep pets outside

If you don’t want to get rid of any furry pets, there are ways of minimising their impact, including:

• Have your pets live outside.
• Keep pets out of the bedrooms.
• Brush or groom pets outside.
• Wash the pets every week.
• Clean out cages or litter boxes regularly.
• Choose non-shedding or low shedding pets.

Grow a ‘low-allergen’ garden

Ways of reducing the amount of allergens in your garden include:

• Weed regularly.
• Replace lawn with bricked or paved areas.
• Avoid rye grass.
• Choose plants that are pollinated by birds or insects rather than plants that release their seeds into the air.
• Replace mulch with pebbles or gravel.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• Pharmacist
• Asthma Victoria on 1800 645 130.

Things to remember

• Most houses contain triggers which could make symptoms worse in people with asthma.
• Eliminating dust is an effective way to cut back on many allergens.
• Remove any suspect plants from your garden.

You might also be interested in:

• Asthma.
  
• Asthma and allergens.
  
• Asthma and smoking.
  
• Asthma children and smoking.
  
• House dust mite.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

(Logo links to further information)

Asthma Victoria

Fact sheet currently being reviewed.
Last reviewed: July 2011

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residents and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that, over time, currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

If you would like to link to this fact sheet on your website, simply copy the code below and add it to your page:

<a href="http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Asthma_friendly_home?open">Asthma-friendly home - Better Health Channel</a><br/>
Asthma attacks can be triggered by things in the home, such as dust, pollen and animal skin, scale or fur particles. Ventilation, reducing dust among other measures can make your home an asthma-friendly place.

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

For the latest updates and more information, visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Copyight © 1999/2013  State of Victoria. Reproduced from the Better Health Channel (www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au) at no cost with permission of the Victorian Minister for Health. Unauthorised reproduction and other uses comprised in the copyright are prohibited without permission.