AAFA's asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program

You can wash your sheets every week and still have dust mites living in your bedding.

Dust mites thrive in the warm, humid environment of bedding, and their waste is a well-established trigger for people who are sensitive to it. A dust mite-proof encasing on your mattress and pillows provides an effective barrier, and a simple step towards better indoor air quality in the bedroom.

Look for encasings that are tightly woven with no weak points at the seams or zippers, breathable, and able to withstand repeated hot washing without breaking down.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified bedding is tested to confirm the fabric acts as an effective allergen barrier, remains breathable, withstands regular hot washing, and has been assessed for residual chemicals such as azo dyes and VOCs.

Our Certified bedding partners Sijo National Allergy Live Comfortably, DOWNLITE and Allied Home have earned the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® mark through vigorous testing to strict standards.

Read all our tips for IAQ month here: https://zurl.co/JQipL

What temperature are your sheets going in at?

Washing machines play a big role in removing allergens like dust mite allergen and pet dander from bedding, clothing, and soft toys. The most effective removal happens at high temperatures, at least 131°F/55°C, since that’s what’s needed to kill dust mites. Not every washing machine holds that temperature consistently throughout the drum for the whole cycle, though, and that consistency is what matters.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified washing machines are tested to maintain a consistent high temperature throughout the drum and to remove more than 95% of allergens, including dust mite and pet dander, from a typical wash load. They’re also tested to confirm they don’t produce ozone during operation.

The detergent matters just as much for indoor air quality. An effective laundry detergent should remove allergens from fabric without leaving behind chemicals that are sensitizers, and its VOC levels should be low.

Look for the trusted Certification Mark on Certified washing machines from LG Global and on detergent from Renegade Brands.

Want all the tips in one place? Visit https://zurl.co/oMoiU

Under the bed, behind the TV, on top of the wardrobe.
When did you last vacuum there?

These are the places regular cleaning misses, so dust, pet dander, and other allergens build up undisturbed. Vacuuming weekly is the baseline for good indoor air quality, or more often in high-traffic areas or homes with pets. If allergies are a factor, make it once or twice a week, plus a deeper quarterly clean covering the mattress, vents, and behind furniture.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified vacuum cleaners are tested to remove more than 90% of allergen-containing test dust from floor coverings and crevices, to keep airborne allergen and particle counts low during vacuuming, and to maintain filtration efficiency above 99% for fine particles down to 0.3 microns.

Robot vacuums can help too. They run daily on a schedule, so allergens have less time to build up between your regular cleans, and anyone with asthma or allergies doesn’t need to be in the room, or even in the house, while they work.

Certified robot vacuums must remove at least 90% of tested allergens from hard floors and 80% from carpet, and keep particles and allergen levels low when the bin is emptied. They work best alongside a full vacuum for stairs, upholstery, and mattresses.

Look for the Certified mark on vacuum cleaners from LG Global on your next purchase.

Want to read all the tips in one place? Find them here https://zurl.co/chHg0

When did you last dust every single thing on that shelf?

Open shelves and surfaces crowded with ornaments and trinkets are hard to dust regularly, so they build up allergens over time. Fewer things on show means less to clean.

When you do dust, avoid using a dry cloth, which just sends particles back into the room. A damp or microfiber cloth traps and holds the dust instead. If you have allergies, wear a mask while doing housework. Leave the house for several hours after cleaning it.

The cleaning products matter for indoor air quality too. Many everyday cleaning products release VOCs, and terms like "natural" are often unregulated and not backed by scientific testing.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified cleaning products are tested to remove at least 85% of allergens, such as dust mite allergen, pet dander, and pollen, from hard surfaces, while keeping chemical emissions low.

Read all our tips here: https://zurl.co/qAHEZ

When Did You Last Check Your Air Filter?

Pull your HVAC filter out and hold it up to a light. If you can't see through it, that may give you your answer.

A clogged filter can't let air flow freely through the system, and it loses its ability to trap allergens and fine particles, so pollutants that were once being removed start recirculating into your indoor air quality instead. It also forces the system to work harder, which drives up energy use and your bills.

Check the manufacturer's instructions, but you may need to change it more often during peak heating or cooling seasons, or when outdoor pollution or wildfire smoke is high.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified HVAC filters are tested to remove at least 85% of cat allergen, 92.5% of dust mite allergen, 95% of pollen allergen, and 40% of microparticles from the air passing through. They also have to maintain performance without a significant drop in airflow as the filter loads up, which avoids increased energy consumption, and have strong internal edge seals that stop air and particles bypassing the filter.

Check out air filters from our Certified partners Filtrete and from Kleenex Air Filters

Want all the tips in one place? https://zurl.co/lJiH6
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When Did You Last Check Your Air Filter?

Pull your HVAC filter out and hold it up to a light. If you can't see through it, that may give you your answer.

A clogged filter can't let air flow freely through the system, and it loses its ability to trap allergens and fine particles, so pollutants that were once being removed start recirculating into your indoor air quality instead. It also forces the system to work harder, which drives up energy use and your bills.

Check the manufacturer's instructions, but you may need to change it more often during peak heating or cooling seasons, or when outdoor pollution or wildfire smoke is high.

Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified HVAC filters are tested to remove at least 85% of cat allergen, 92.5% of dust mite allergen, 95% of pollen allergen, and 40% of microparticles from the air passing through. They also have to maintain performance without a significant drop in airflow as the filter loads up, which avoids increased energy consumption, and have strong internal edge seals that stop air and particles bypassing the filter.

Check out air filters from our Certified partners Filtrete, and from Kleenex Air Filters

Want all the tips in one place? https://zurl.co/hxbJk
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Wishing our colleagues at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) every success as the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition opens today.

If you're attending, visit the AAFA team at Booth 1241.

Pediatricians are some of the most important people in the conversation about childhood asthma, so this is a key audience.

According to AAFA's 2026 factsheet:
-Close to 5 million U.S. children under 18 (about 7 out of 100) have asthma.
Asthma is a top chronic disease in U.S. children. Only tooth decay (cavities) is more common.
-In 2022, over half (53%) of children with asthma reported one or more asthma attacks in the past year. For children under 5, that figure was 68 out of 100.
-Even though asthma is controllable, an estimated 44 out of 100 children with asthma have uncontrolled asthma.
-Only about half of children with asthma have been given an asthma action plan.
-Asthma also continues to be a leading cause of missed school days, which makes it a challenge for whole families, not only clinicians.

Education, education, education. Every conversation at Booth 1241 is a chance to help families understand how the home environment fits into their bigger picture.

A huge thank you to our certified partners who donated certified products and samples to the booth:
Anker Innovations for the Omni E35 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Renegade Brands for 150 Free & Clear Laundry Detergent samples
Alen for the BreatheSmart 25i Air Purifier
Rabbit Air for their Air Purifier
Filtrete for HVAC Air Filters
Kleenex for HVAC Air Filters
Tarkett Official the Tarkett folder
Mohawk Flooring for the flooring sample
Purfect Palz for the sample teddy bear

We are so proud to work with brands that are committed to helping create a healthier home environment. Good luck to the whole AAFA team. We know it's going to be a great few days. Looking forward to seeing the photos!

Most of us never actually think about the air inside the buildings we spend our lives in.

October is Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month, our month to talk about indoor air quality. All month we're running 11 tips, one at a time, on the small habits and product choices that make the biggest difference to the air around you, plus the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified partners who back it up with independent testing rather than a marketing label.

Look out for Tip 1 here in a few days' time.

If you can't wait, we have put all 11 tips together in one article. You can read it here: https://zurl.co/XKblC

Congratulations to Sharnell Weathersby, Senior Brand Manager, Kleenex Air Filters at Kimberly-Clark — our May Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month Honoree!

The Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program was very proud to present Sharnell and the Kleenex® Air Filters team with our Community Impact & Leadership Award, recognising their commitment to healthier indoor air.

Under Sharnell's leadership, Kleenex® Elite Allergen Air Filters earned Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification — independently tested to reduce exposure to common airborne allergens like pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. But for Sharnell, certification was just the start.

Sharnell led valuable donation initiatives putting certified filters directly into the hands of communities that need them most:
-Partnered with Breathe Southern California to distribute certified MERV 13 filters to families facing wildfire smoke and seasonal allergens
-Donated a year's supply of certified filters for 200 families nationwide — reaching Chicago, Boise, Tulsa, Provo, Detroit, Allentown, and Auburn through Chicago Asthma Consortium ,AAFA's HEAL program, and Habitat for Humanity ReStores

"This thoughtful contribution will go a long way in ensuring the health and well-being of our community members in Southern California, especially after the wildfires and season changes." — Gilmar Flores, Breathe Southern California.

Kleenex® also supported Chicago Asthma Consortium's Community Health Worker Forum for the second year running, with Rachelle Paul-Brutus, and her team putting certified filters directly into the hands of attendees.

The award was presented to Sharnell by Leah McInerney and Dr John Ryan alongside Jessie Cooper (Kimberly-Clark) and Sanaz Eftekhari of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) during a visit to Kimberly-Clark's Chicago offices.

"What makes this award especially meaningful is that it represents work that goes beyond product development. It reflects what can happen when purpose, partnership, and innovation come together to help create healthier environments for individuals and families impacted by asthma and allergies." — Sharnell Weathersby .

Read the full account here: https://zurl.co/15Nw8

September is National Preparedness Month, and this year's theme, "Americans Stand Ready," is an excellent reminder that preparedness has to include the air you breathe.

Our latest article, "Prepared for Anything: How Certified Products Support Resilient Indoor Environments," looks at why wildfire smoke, flooding, and extreme heat make indoor air quality part of any emergency plan, and how Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified products can help families, schools, senior living facilities, and workplaces stay resilient before, during, and after a disaster.

Thank you to our Certified partners who shared their perspective:
-Rabbit Air for its commitment to reliable, tested air purification
-Alen for speaking on how critical clean indoor air becomes when families are forced to shelter indoors during emergencies
-Filtrete for sharing guidance on choosing the right filter to trap wildfire smoke and airborne particles

In the article, you'll learn:
-Why preparedness planning must include indoor air quality
-The climate-driven health risks reshaping emergency planning, from asthma peak season to thunderstorm asthma
-How Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified products, air purifiers, HVAC filters, dehumidifiers, insulation, laundry solutions, vacuums, cleaning products, air conditioners, and pollen screens, support resilience
-Why independent third-party certification is a reliable guide when making preparedness purchases

Read the full article: https://zurl.co/woMuQ

National Preparedness Month: Protect Indoor Air with Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certified Products Preparedness Planning Must Include the Air We Breathe Wildfires can spread smoke and dangerous particles for miles, making indoor air quality