Allergens that can trigger asthma symptoms can be found throughout your house — and not just your child's bedroom. To asthma-proof your home, keep in mind a number of actions you can take room by room.

In the Living or Family Room

The room where your family comes together — to play with toys, watch television, play video games, read, or just hang out — can mean lots of fun and relaxation. It can also mean danger and worry in terms of the allergens found there that can trigger asthma symptoms.

Dust mites can make their homes here — as well as in bedrooms — by laying their eggs in the upholstery, along with their droppings and sheddings that can cause asthma symptoms. In addition, mold can be found on the upholstered furniture, as well as on curtains, drapes, and carpeting.

And, since the living area is frequently the site of snacks, the crumbs and morsels left behind on floors and furniture may become meals as well for cockroaches.

Once a week, vacuum furniture and curtains or drapes if you're not using blinds and other easy-to-clean window treatments. Also, consider using washable slip covers and cushions that can be laundered in 130°F hot water weekly.

Using tannic acid or benzyl benzoate on carpets can remove some dust mite residue, but these chemicals must be applied repeatedly to be effective.

If you have potted plants in your living or family rooms — or any other room of your house — you may want to find a new home for them to help contain mold. For those you keep, consider spreading aquarium gravel over the dirt to stop that mold.

Asthma Control in Kitchens

One of the big culprits in the kitchen are cockroaches whose droppings and sheddings can trigger an allergic asthma attack. Also, molds and odors can invade kitchens — causing problems for your asthmatic child.

In the war on cockroaches, remember to never let food or trash remained uncovered in the kitchen. This means storing food (including pet food) in airtight containers inside or outside of the refrigerator. Use a covered trashcan or sealed trash bags to keep the cockroaches out as well.

After cooking, wipe the stovetop to remove food particles, and immediately clean crumbs and spilled food from floors, tabletops, and countertops after food preparation and meals. Also, wash dishes immediately after eating, rather than letting them accumulate in the sink. Clean the faucets and sink to remove any mold and food debris.

Periodically check under the kitchen sink, the dishwasher, and the refrigerator for plumbing leaks that could create mold. In the refrigerator, remove excess moisture inside as well to prevent mold growth, and occasionally check — and replace if necessary — moldy rubber seals around the door. Also, check through and discard any moldy food in the refrigerator.

For cooking odors, consider installing and using an exhaust fan over the stove and oven to remove cooking fumes and reduce moisture. Oftentimes, many stovetop hoods only filter cooking particulates without venting outside.

Asthma Control in Bathrooms

Warm, humid bathrooms and cold, dank basements are the perfect breeding ground for several asthma triggers. In the bathroom, molds can appear in many places — under the sink, on the shower curtain, on the rubber bath mat, on towels, on bath tiles, or around the faucets.

In the bathroom, make sure you remove the mold as soon as you detect it. This means fixing any leaky pipes found under the sink, in the shower or tub, or around the toilet, and cleaning sink, tub, and toilet surfaces regularly. It also calls for laundering, at least weekly, bath towels, washcloths, floor mats, and tub/shower mats used by your child, along with those “guest towels” that hang by themselves in the bathroom.

If available, use a fan or vent (or a slightly opened window if not available) to keep the air continually circulating in the bathroom, while decreasing the amount of mold.

Asthma Control in Basements

Whether your basement has a recreation room, a laundry room, or a storage room, it's a favorite space for allergens. In the basement, dripping water pipes, leaky washing machines, or dusty corners could trigger attacks, too.

As in other rooms in the house, cockroaches could find a home where they leave their sheddings and droppings. Rodents, such as rats or mice, could also creep in, and mold grows in moist areas of the home, especially around beams and pipes, where it releases spores that could trigger allergic asthma symptoms.

To eliminate allergens from the basement, identify and repair leaks, seams, and cracks in the foundation that may let moisture seep in. Find ways to keep humidity down below 50 percent in the lower level by waterproofing the foundation or using dehumidifiers. If mold does appear, clean it promptly. Also, fix leaks in pipes, around the water heater, around washing machines, and central heating and cooling systems.