The first goal is to lower the levels of allergens in the home. An environment low in dust mites, or even free of dust mites, is essential for the treatment of household allergies. Animal allergens take longer to remove; even after an animal has left the household, its allergens remain for at least eight weeks in the home. In addition, cat allergens are found nearly everywhere, and can be brought into the home on shoes and clothing.

The following measures can help reduce allergens in the home:

• Get rid of all carpets
• Don’t heat the bedroom, or keep the heat down
• Don’t let animals in the bedroom
• Wash bedclothes regularly
• Get rid of "dust traps" such as heavy curtains
• Don’t use air conditioners or humidifiers
• Stuffed animals should be washed too!
• Use special mite-proof mattress covers and pillow covers
• Clean the house with special products that trap dust and allergens, instead of spreading them around (available from Swiffer or Vileda)
• As a general rule, washing clothes in water warmer than 60 degrees Celsius kills dust mites and mold spores. This can help reduce the allergens, but does not get rid of them fully.
• Keep the air as dry as possible – under 55% humidity
• No flowers in the bedroom

Regular ventilation or airing-out of the house, especially in the kitchen and shower areas.

If the above measures do not help reduce allergy symptoms, allergy immunotherapy can help in some cases (for instance with a cat allergy). The length and specific form of the therapy can vary. Studies show that subcutaneous treatment is most effective with a three-year treatment period. A newer alternative is the "sublingual" variant, where the allergen is dissolved under the tongue.