Spring is a beautiful time of the year. Flowers bloom, the sun shines, and the weather warms up. 

However, for the 2.7 million Australians suffering from asthma¹, Spring can create an environment that triggers and exasperates their asthma symptoms.  

While pollen, air pollution, smoke and respiratory infections are irritants for many people living with asthma, your home could also harbour triggers. 

September 1 to 7 is National Asthma Week (NAW), and the National Asthma Council Australia and Sensitive Choice® want to help asthma sufferers 'create a healthy home this Spring'. 

As a Sensitive Choice partner, we want to help highlight the severity of asthma and share steps you can take to reduce triggers in and around your home.  

Some of these steps include selecting Sensitive Choice-approved furniture and soft furnishings, advice on how to care for your soft furnishings, and advice on transforming your home into an asthma-friendly environment through proper cleaning and ventilation.  

Featured above, the Opera Sofa, Cassia Ottoman, the Eto Timber Coffee Table, and the Eto Timber Side Table. 

How to create an asthma-safe living space

Did you know your living space could host all sorts of asthma triggers? 

Triggers may include dust mites and pet dander, your choice of window covering, your sofa material and the flooring. 

To help reduce dust mites and allergy triggers in your living space consider: 

• Avoid clutter and objects that collect dust. 
• Choose a leather sofa or Sensitive Choice-approved fabric.   
• Dust with a damp cloth or microfibre cloth regularly.  
• Vacuum carpets and upholstery weekly. 
• Replace horizontal blinds with roller-type shades that are easy to clean and don’t collect dust. 
• Looking for products that are easy to clean or have anti-microbial properties (materials or products that shield against or can reduce the presence of hazardous microbes such as mould, mildew and bacteria). 

If possible, replace carpets with a hard flooring option and avoid rugs. If you are unable to replace carpets with hard flooring, consider replacing your carpets with a low pile carpet with hypoallergenic properties. Avoid carpets and rugs with a high pile as dust and pet dander can settle deep into the fibres, which is difficult to remove with regular vacuuming.  

When cleaning carpets and soft furnishings, use a vacuum cleaner with an asthma and allergy-sensitive HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter). For hard flooring, use a damp or electrostatic cloth or steam mop. 

Sensitive Choice has recognised KING soft furnishings, including our sofas and sofa materials, to be perfectly suitable for those suffering from allergies and asthma. 

Create an asthma-friendly sleep sanctuary with the Serenade Storage Bed and Sleep+ Mattress. 

How to create an asthma-safe bedroom

Dust mites and mould are two of the most common asthma and allergy triggers found in the bedroom. 

Mould thrives in environments with poor ventilation and high levels of high indoor humidity levels, including wardrobes and ensuite bathrooms. 

To reduce mould allergens, Sensitive Choice – the national program that identifies asthma and allergy-aware products – recommends improving ventilation and reducing indoor humidity by: 

• Opening curtains and windows regularly (not on high pollution or pollen days). 
• Keeping wardrobe doors ajar to keep the air flowing through them. 
• Placing moisture-absorbing crystals in small damp areas or enclosed spaces such as wardrobes or under the bed. 
• Using a dehumidifier to help remove excess moisture from the air.  

To reduce dust mites and dust allergens in the bedroom: 

• Wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in water hotter than 55°C. 
• Air your bedding including pillows in the sun (not on high pollution or pollen days). 
• Select a mattress that is easy to clean and crafted from Sensitive Choice-approved materials. 

Featuring a unique zipper-connecting system, our Sleep+ Mattresses are designed for easy cleaning. Mattress components, including the KingCell® pocket springs and customisable Comfort Layers, sit inside the KingFlex Base. The design offers the unique ability to remove each mattress layer to access the inside of the mattress for a truly deep clean.   

With a Sleep+ Mattress, you have the ability to vacuum inside the mattress, wash the different layers and remove dust mites. Mattress components including our specialty foams, Comfort Layers and Fit Covers have been approved by the National Asthma Council Australia’s Sensitive Choice program.

How to improve air quality for an asthma-friendly home

Keeping your home well ventilated, clean and free of irritants can help reduce exposure to some common indoor airborne triggers. 

To help improve air quality in your home, make your home smoke-free, have pets live outdoors and be mindful of your heating and cooling systems.  

To reduce airborne asthma triggers in your home:  

• Have your air conditioner system professionally cleaned regularly.  
• Avoid aerosols and sprays.  
• Avoid strong smells and chemicals.    
• Use sensitive household cleaning products with no fragrances and fewer harsh chemicals – look for products low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals). 

KING is proud to have its KingGuard+ fabric protection product recognised as Sensitive Choice approved. Applied to your sofa material during production, KingGuard+ help shield your fabric against spills as well as maintain the appearance of your furniture by allowing for easy cleaning.   

Developed exclusively for the KING range of luxury fabrics, KingGuard+ products can be used on sofas, beds, chairs, ottomans, and cushions.  

Heating systems

Avoid using wood-burning fireplaces or stoves as these produce high levels of smoke, which can worsen respiratory allergies and trigger asthma symptoms. Dust can collect in fan-forced ducted heating systems. To avoid dust circulating throughout your home, ensure you have your fan-forced ducted heating system cleaned regularly.   

If possible, use or install an electric heating system, including hydronic, panel, and radiant heaters. These heating systems do not emit or circulate smoke, gases or dust, so they are considered a better choice for asthma and allergy sufferers. 

Featured above, the Zaza Sofa is engineered with Sensitive Choice-approved fabrics, materials, and foams.  

Create your asthma-friendly home

Don't let pet dander, dust, mould or the wrong furniture make you miserable or uncomfortable in your home.  

Your home is where you spend most of your time. It is the place where you live and should feel most comfortable.   

The advice in this article aims to help minimise asthma triggers in your home to allow you and your family to breathe cleaner, fresher air.  

And, when your home is asthma friendly, it becomes your sanctuary and safe place.  

To help make your home asthma friendly, consider the suggestions in this article, including furnishing your home with a Sofa and Mattress crafted from Sensitive Choice-approved materials. 

To see the KING range of asthma-friendly furniture visit your nearest Showroom. You can read more about our Sensitive Choice-approved products online and for more information about asthma triggers, or how to make your home asthma-friendly, visit Sensitive Choice.