You may have some uninvited guests creeping around your home. And they're not your relatives. They’re allergens such as dust mites, animal dander, and molds that reduce the quality of the air in your home and can harm your family's health.  

Find out how to protect your home from these unwanted visitors with the new Healthy Home package. This free package is filled with helpful publications from the Environmental Protection Agency, the FDA Office of Women's Health, and The Soap and Detergent Association.  

Start by conducting a room-by-room assessment of your home using the handy checklist in this package. Be on the look out for unusual and noticeable odors, excessive moisture or condensation, vapors that could be harmful, and dust that could be from asbestos or lead. These signs are good indicators that the air in your home may be unhealthy.

Moisture in your kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room, for instance, encourages the growth of mold and mildew and attracts cockroaches and dust mites. And for millions of Americans, exposure to these household irritants triggers their allergies. An allergy is your body's adverse reaction to a substance that doesn't bother other people. Symptoms include watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and coughing. Indoor allergens also play a significant role in causing asthma attacks. Learn more about asthma, including how to keep it under control, with this informative package.

Although indoor allergens are a common problem, there are things you can do to keep your home healthy. One of the most effective and least expensive ways is to clean as often as possible. Wash bedding, such as sheets, bedcovers, and blankets, once a week in hot water. Fix water problems and leaks and regularly clean humidifiers and air conditioners. Store food in tightly sealed containers. And clean up spills and crumbs on kitchen counter-tops and floors immediately.

Get rid of those pesky visitors by ordering the Healthy Home package today. There are three easy ways to get your free publications:

n Send your name and address to Healthy Home, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

n Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/n56healthyhome.htm to place your order online or to read or print these and

hundreds of other Federal publications for free.

n Call toll-free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO. That's 1 (888) 878-3256, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time weekdays and ask for the Healthy Home package.  

Get even more information and take advantage of online government services resources at www.FirstGov.gov and

www.Espanol.gov--your official English and Spanish Web portals to the Federal government.