A different way to treat indoor and outdoor allergies.

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Nasal Allergies and You: Allergy triggers and tips

Knowing and trying to avoid triggers is an important way to help manage your allergies.

But that's not always easy to do. Allergy triggers can be found everywhere—indoors and outdoors.

Year-round indoor allergy triggers include:

Animal dander
Indoor mold spores
Dust mites
Cockroaches

Seasonal outdoor allergy triggers include:

Pollen from grasses, weeds, and trees
Outdoor mold spores

Sometimes people can have both seasonal and year-round allergies. But there are simple things you can do each day to help manage triggers in and around your house. Explore the house below to learn more:

Kitchen

Kitchens can be home to a number of allergy triggers, including mold and cockroaches.

Use an exhaust fan to reduce moisture when cooking.
Keep garbage in an insect-proof container and empty it daily.
Store food, even pet food, in a sealed container.
Check for plumbing leaks under the sink.
Wipe up moisture in the refrigerator and throw away moldy or expired items.
Sweep or vacuum the floor each day.

Living Room

Soft surfaces, carpeting, and upholstered furniture in living areas can collect dust and other allergy triggers.

Clean carpeting every week with a vacuum that has a small-particle filter.
Consider using throw rugs that can be washed instead of carpeting.
Use a damp cloth to clean up surface dust.
Wash away mold on window frames and sills with a chlorine bleach solution (3/4 cup chlorine bleach to 1 gallon of water).
Remove knickknacks and books that can collect dust.
Do not sleep or lie down on upholstered furniture.
Use washable window coverings made of plastic or cotton.
Avoid wood fireplaces.

Bedroom

Pet dander, dust mites, and scented sprays can be common allergy triggers in the bedroom.

Keep pets out of the bedroom.
Put mattresses and pillows in airtight covers.
Wash all bedding in hot (at least
130°F) water each week.
Avoid overcrowding closets and store clothes in a plastic garment bag.
Cover air vents with layers of cheesecloth to filter large-size trigger particles.
Remove upholstered furniture and items covered in fabric.
Limit use of perfumes and room sprays.

Child's Room

Your child can be affected by pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and other allergy triggers in his or her bedroom.

Store toys and games in plastic bins.
Wash stuffed animals once a week in
130°F water.
Remove carpeting, if possible.
Avoid storing items under the bed.
Change your child's clothing after time spent outdoors.
Shower or bathe your child before bedtime.
Limit use of window fans.

Outside

Pollen and mold around the yard can make life with allergies difficult.

Wear protective clothing, such as a hat, glasses, gloves, and long sleeves to reduce exposure to pollen when working outdoors.
Avoid using wood chips or mulch that can remain wet and invite mold to grow.
Ask a family member who doesn't have allergies to mow the lawn and keep the grass cut below 2 inches.
Keep windows closed during and immediately after mowing.
Limit gardening time to cool or cloudy days in the afternoon or evenings when pollen counts are lower.
Remove dead leaves from your yard or gutters.

Bathroom

High humidity and moisture can make mold a problem in bathrooms.

Use an exhaust fan to reduce moisture when bathing or showering.
Replace carpeting with wood or linoleum flooring.
Consider using tile or mold-resistant paint instead of wallpaper.
Dry tubs and showers with a towel after each use.
Repair leaky pipes and faucets.
Scour tubs and sinks at least once a month.
Clean or replace shower curtains and bath mats that become moldy.

For more information about products to help you make your home more allergy-healthy, please see our Partnerships with SINGULAIR page.

SINGULAIR is a prescription medicine approved for relief of symptoms of indoor and outdoor allergies (outdoor allergies in adults and children as young as 2 years and indoor allergies in adults and children as young as 6 months).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Side effects vary by age and may include headache, ear infection, sore throat, and upper respiratory infection. Behavior and mood-related changes have been reported, including agitation, aggression or anger, bad or vivid dreams, depression, anxiety, hallucinations (seeing things that are not there), irritability, restlessness, sleepwalking, suicidal thoughts and actions (including suicide), trembling, and trouble sleeping. Tell the doctor if you have, or your child has, these or any other side effects while taking SINGULAIR.
SINGULAIR should not be taken by people who are sensitive to any of its ingredients.
Parents or guardians of a phenylketonuric child: Note that cherry chewable tablets contain phenylalanine, a component of aspartame.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Patient Information and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

SINGULAIR is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

20951263(1)-02/10-SNG

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