• Make sure the accessible portion of vents and ducts are clean so when air blows through them, they are not blowing dust into a room.

• There is no substitute for vacuum cleaning carpeting and rugs regularly. Dust clings to carpets and accumulated dust can cause breathing problems. If possible, take throw rugs out of doors to shake them thoroughly... you'll be amazed at what flies off the rugs and　into the air (in fact you may want to wear a mask when you do this!)

• Parent's Magazine suggests using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, and if possible, cleaning when your child can be out of the house for several hours, especially if you're going to be stirring up dust by taking down draperies or cleaning light fixtures.

• Make sure window treatments are clean, both dust and lint-free. You may have to get up on a stool to check the tops of the curtains where dust can settle.

• Dust hard surfaces of furniture with a soft, damp cloth. Dust base boards and trim around doors. Even ceiling fans can accumulate dust on their blades.

• Vacuum up dust behind furniture, between furniture and walls and under beds (yes, you need to move the bed if possible).

• Putting hypo-allergenic covers on bed pillows and mattresses cuts down on the habitation of dust mites in bedding. Washing blankets and quilts, as well as bed linens, and airing pillows also helps to get rid of dust mites, body and pet dander and pet hair too.

• Disposing of old newspapers, magazines, empty boxes and trash regularly not only removes dust-catchers, it can reduce fire hazards as well.

• If you have feline and canine pets that stay indoors during the winter, you may want to make sure they are brushed regularly. Frequent brushing rids them of excess hair and dander, and actually keeps them healthier too--and there will be less pet hair in the air and on the couch!

• A few words about scented plants: Scented, flowering plants in your home and even holiday trees can trigger a sneezing fit or an asthma attack, so parents, please be aware of the kinds of plants or trees your children can tolerate in the house. Some people cannot tolerate the pollen of roses, poinsettias, gardenias, lilies or the oils in the leaves or sap of certain kinds of evergreens, such as cedar trees. Being aware of the plants and trees your child may be sensitive or allergic to is important. Potpourri and scented candles can be offenders too.

• Fireplaces and wood smoke. Wood smoke can trigger an asthma attack. You may want to consider getting a gas fireplace for your home if your child is sensitive to wood smoke, or use electric heat.

Children with asthma can be very sensitive to cold air. It can constrict their airways. Make sure when your children go out of doors this winter they wear a scarf or mask over their nose and mouth to warm the air they breathe.

Knowing what your child may be allergic to is important. Following up an allergic experience or an asthma attack with allergy tests can help to determine whether your child has an allergy to medicine, food, dust, pollen or mold, and then these things can be more safely avoided.

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