Animal Dander
Some people are allergic to the flakes of skin or dried saliva from animals with fur or feathers. The best thing to do:

• Keep furred or feathered pets out of your home.

If you can't keep the pet outdoors, then:

• Keep the pet out of your bedroom and keep the bedroom door closed.
• Cover the air vents in your bedroom with heavy material to filter the air.*
• Remove carpets and furniture covered with cloth from your home. If that is not possible, keep the pet out of the rooms where these are.

Cockroach
Many people with asthma are allergic to the dried droppings and remains of cockroaches.

• Keep all food out of your bedroom.
• Keep food and garbage in closed containers (never leave food out).
• Use poison baits, powders, gels, or paste (for example, boric acid). You can also use traps.
• If a spray is used to kill roaches, stay out of the room until the odor goes away.

Vacuum Cleaning
Vacuum cleaning stirs up dust and can trigger asthma attacks. Here are some suggestions:

• Try to get someone else to vacuum for you once or twice a week, if you can. Stay out of rooms while they are being vacuumed and for a short while afterward.
• If you vacuum, use a dust mask (from a hardware store), a double-layered or microfilter vacuum cleaner bag,* or a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.*

Indoor Mold
Mold is a common indoor allergen and asthma trigger. Try these tips:

• Fix leaky faucets, pipes, or other sources of water.
• Clean moldy surfaces with a cleaner that has bleach in it.

Pollen and Outdoor Mold
What to do during your allergy season (when pollen or mold spore counts are high):

• Try to keep your windows closed.
• Stay indoors with windows closed during the midday and afternoon, if you can. Pollen and some mold spore counts are highest at that time.
• Ask your doctor whether you need to take or increase anti-inflammatory medicine before your allergy season starts.