5 Ways to Improve Your Home Environment for Asthma

Credit: Adobe Stock/FollowTheFlow

Creating a healthier home environment is crucial for patients with asthma, as it can significantly reduce triggers and common allergens that lead to asthma attacks—such as dust mites, mold, pollen, pet dander and tobacco—and improve overall respiratory health.

In this article, we’ll explore simple steps, including reducing humidity, regular cleaning and ensuring proper ventilation, that can make a big difference in improving asthma symptoms.

Establish a Cleaning Routine

Regularly cleaning the home is a great way to reduce allergens. Experts recommend washing bedding in hot water on a weekly basis. Stuffed toys should also be washed and thoroughly dried—or frozen—weekly.

Using a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or double-layered microfilter bag decrease asthma triggers. When vacuuming, be sure to include soft surfaces, such as couches and chairs, and don’t forget to clean under the cushions and furniture.

While maintaining a clean home is essential to reduce asthma triggers, avoid using harsh cleaners and products containing bleach.

Reduce Dust

Experts recommend cleaning ceiling fans and air conditioning vents regularly to reduce the levels of dust—a common asthma trigger—in the home. Dusting with a damp cloth preferable to a dry dusting to reduce airborne triggers. Another way to get rid of dust is to declutter the home and store dust-prone items, such as stuffed animals, in plastic bins. You can also look for CERTIFIED asthma and allergy friendly products, including bedding, flooring, paint, and more.

Removing carpet from the home, or at least the bedroom, can help to lower exposure to dust mites. If you can’t part with your carpet, however, short pile or loop, nylon and solution dyed carpets are preferred. You may even want to consider replacing drapes with blinds and getting rid of any upholstered furniture.

Minimize Pet Dander

There are a few steps that pet owners can take to reduce the amount of pet dander in the home, the first of which is to try to keep pets out of the bedrooms and off the furniture. These pet-free zones help to lower exposure to allergens that can latch on to clothing, bedding and furniture. Other ways to help minimize dander include regularly bathing your pets and cleaning out cages or litter boxes regularly.

Grooming your furry friends, even short-haired ones, is an essential step to reducing dust and allergen triggers in the home. Shoot for brushing your pets at least once a week and wash any pet accessories, like toys and clothing. Another tip is to toss blankets and other large items into the dryer prior to washing them to get rid of any pet hair that may have attached itself to the soft fabrics.

Improve Air Quality

Leaving the interior doors open and running exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms can improve the air flow in the home. Additionally, be sure to keep the windows closed during times of the year when pollen is at its peak or when there is a high risk of outdoor pollution.

Another great way to improve air quality is to maintain your HVAC system and replace the air filters regularly. For those with asthma, some experts recommend changing the air filters at least once a month.

An air conditioner or dehumidifier—especially in wet climates—can help lower household humidity. Although refrigerated and evaporative air conditioners can increase humidity levels, reverse cycle air conditioners can help keep humidity at optimal levels, which are below 50%.

Eliminate Smoke and Tobacco Use

A crucial step towards establishing a healthier environment is to quit smoking and make your home a completely smoke-free zone. According to experts, breathing in just a small amount of secondhand smoke can trigger a severe asthma attack.

Patients with asthma should also avoid burning wood in the home as wood fire heaters produce high levels of smoke, which can exacerbate asthma symptoms. Instead, electric heating methods, including radiant heaters, panel heaters and hydronic heaters, may be better options because they don’t circulate dust, smoke or gas. Additionally, consider replacing traditional scented candles with battery-powered options or diffusers if scents are not a trigger.