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[Hishercar]

Getting rid of dust mite allergens

 

There is no simple way to remove dust mite allergens from the home, but here are some useful measures.

 

Tue, Mar 03, 2009

The Star/Asia News Network

 

THERE is no simple way to remove dust mite allergens from the home. Both dust mites and all the dust throughout the house accumulated over the years need to be removed. The task of removing house dust takes a concerted regular effort over years.

 

In order to improve your respiratory allergies (eg asthma, rhinitis), it is necessary to reduce the dust mite allergen levels to less than two-hundredths of the original allergen concentration.

 

Efforts to reduce allergen levels can be tremendously beneficial to the allergic individual. Using a combination of strategies such as allergen barriers on bedding, anti-dust mite sprays, removal of dust-trapping furniture and a regular washing routine can significantly lower the number of dust mites found in the bedroom, even in humid regions.

 

Some useful measures to reduce dust mite allergens in the homes are indicated here.

 

Go for cover. Dust mites by the millions are found in pillows, mattresses and old upholstery because of the large amount of food available to them from these sources.

 

A consistent feature of successful attempts to reduce dust mites has been the use of anti-dust mite allergicovers or barriers that totally encase mattresses, duvets, blankets and pillows.

 

These special-material tightly woven allergicovers for mattresses and pillows prevent dust mite allergens from escaping into the room from inside the bedding. Normal pillowcases and bed sheets are used above the allergicovers.

 

There are several types of anti-dust mite covers available in the market, but many are just useless as barriers for dust mite allergens. Pharmacies are likely to stock allergicovers supported by allergists but consult your doctor for advice on the best product.

 

These allergicovers can last for more than five years but during that period they should not be removed from the bedding items because removal will cause the release of allergens into the house environment.

 

If the allergicover is soiled and has to be washed, then take the bedding outside the house before removing the allergicover. In this way all allergens are released outside the house. Vacuum the bedding thoroughly and spray with anti-dust mite spray before re-encasing with the washed allergicover.

 

Sun protection. Placing bedding materials under the hot sun is a traditional alternative which has been used with great success. Subsequently, the items have to be beaten or vacuumed to remove the allergens.

 

Modern mattresses, however, are usually made of foam (compared to cotton-fibre fillings in the past). The hot sun would probably melt the foam and damage the foam mattress. Anyway, carrying these heavy items for sunning outside the house is not easily accomplished.

 

Many bedding items such as pillows or mattresses labeled "anti-dust mite" do not prevent dust mites from colonising these synthetic fabrics. At least one study shows that such items may have dust mites at levels similar to those noted in regular unlabelled items. Thus, regardless of the labelling, it is advisable to encase bedding materials with barrier allergicovers.

 

Wash it. All bedclothes (eg bed sheets, pillowcases and bedspreads) must be laundered weekly, preferably at 60 degrees centigrade or higher. Lower temperatures and detergents do not kill dust mites. It is likely that clothes, including sweaters and dressing gowns, are significant sources of dust mites. Wash or clean these clothes frequently and store them in sealed plastics bags if they are not used often.

 

Get rid of carpets. Do not keep carpets rolled up for occasional use in any part of the house. Carpets can harbour very large numbers of dust mites and pose serious problems for allergic asthmatics.

Every time someone walks over a carpet, dust mite allergens are spread throughout the house and the allergens take about two hours to settle in an undisturbed room. Replace carpets with varnished floorboards, vinyl and linoleum flooring, tiled or purpose-made wooden floors.

Regular ventilation of the room is desirable. However, if the carpets cannot be removed for any reason, then use anti-dust mite solutions every three months to treat the carpets and then vacuum regularly.

 

Careful of toys. Do not let children sleep with their furry toys. An excellent substitute is a little cotton blanket which can be washed regularly at 60 degrees centigrade or higher. Remove all furry toys from the house. Furry toys harbour large populations of dust mite.

 

Anti-dust mite sprays. Regular three-monthly use of anti-dust mite sprays (containing benzyl benzoate, which is safe) is effective in killing dust mites. These sprays can be used on all fabric items such as sofas, chairs, double-layered-curtains, rugs, mattresses and the like.

[Go to page 2] These sprays can also be used in areas where house dust tends to collect (eg under the sofa set, top of cupboards, under low tables and chairs, etc) so as to prevent dust mites from multiplying. It is important to vacuum the sprayed fabric weekly.

 

Vacuum cleaners. Buying a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA attachment may be helpful. Such vacuum cleaners can trap allergens which are less than one micron in size. Regular weekly vacuuming of all fabric items will reduce the allergen load in the house.

This is an expensive investment and should only be done after careful consideration of all the other options to reduce dust mite allergens.

Alternatively, mop the floor with a damp cloth. Also, replace soft fabric-upholstered furniture with false-leather or plastic or wooden furniture that cannot harbour dust mites.

 

Air filters. When we walk across the carpet, or settle onto the couch or into bed, the dust mite allergens are stirred up, sending them airborne. Air cleaners or air filters with medical HEPA attachments are effective in removing allergens that are airborne, but the equipment have no effect on the allergens found in upholstered fabrics or bedding. Their role is limited to filtering the air of airborne allergens.

Ionizers are not effective at removing allergens. Air filters must be used in combination with other measures to be effective in limiting the dust mite allergen load in the bedroom.

 

Ventilation matters. Ventilate the house by opening the windows and doors as often as possible. Fresh air removes allergens that are airborne in the home environment.

Homes close to major highways with heavy traffic should keep their windows closed since exhaust fumes are strong promoters of allergy.

 

Travel precautions. Take dust-proof allergicovers with you when you travel. Spare beds with old mattresses in relative's homes are likely to be a real problem. Hotel beds vary in quality and are completely unpredictable with respect to dust mite load. Wash the allergicovers when you get back home.

 

Humidity. One effective way to control dust mites in the home is through controlling humidity. Dust mites are very sensitive and perish at low humidity (less than 35 per cent). Since the relative humidity in Malaysia is usually very high (greater than 60 per cent), it is not an easy task to reduce the humidity to a low enough level to be effective.

High quality dehumidifiers used in closed rooms may be able to accomplish this task, but this is an expensive option.

 

Keep it covered. If you're allergic to dust mite allergens, it is advisable that you keep all flour in closed containers, preferably in a refrigerator, so that dust mites cannot get access to the flour and multiply in it.

If the flour has been in an unused container at room temperature for many months, it may be advisable to dispose of the flour.

 

Desperate measures. As a last option, consider moving house if your house is old, damp or unavoidably dusty.

Also buy furniture that is dust mite-proof - made from leather, false-leather or wooden materials.

[Throttle2]

dude you setting up MLM selling anti dustmite accessories?

 

heh ehheh

[Hishercar]

give me a break leh

 

i can find a thread with all those helpful home tips

 

I think to begin allergy is a major problem in many home so this is the best advice that I can find that summarizes nicely

 

hope you find it useful

[Hishercar]

thanks for the idea

 

may take up the suggestion

[Throttle2]

no need lah, you annual income 7 figures , why bother with MLM?

 

 

[Altum]

dude you setting up MLM selling anti dustmite accessories?

 

heh ehheh

 

Haha, thats what I thought too.

 

[Hishercar]

trying to earn 7 fiigures not in rupiah or japanese yen

 

at least hope it will be singapore dollar instead

 

MLM is areally a money making machine

 

I wondered why the government make it a crime

 

when you think about it

 

the insurance company is using MLM scheme

 

the pawns go out to get suckers

 

suckers signed up, pawns get commission, team leader of pawns get a cut, manager of the teams get a cut and finally boss get a bonus

 

isnt it same but only in a different way of presentation

[Hishercar]

you should try and read this month readers digest on Dyson vacuum cleaner

 

 

mr nobody become mr somebody because he believes in himself maybe there is something we can do about dust mite because it seems nobody has yet solve the problem

 

in fact the other day I nearly scolded my tenant who wash his cloths with 90 degrees in the washing machine with dryer

 

the machine KO very frequently

 

now i understand why killing mites need at least 60 degrees

 

boh pian

[Valentino]

Hi bro,

 

this is not meant as a provoking post.

 

but Insurance is not a form of MLM. in fact, there's only '3 level' most of the time.

 

It works differently, though it may looks to be the same.

 

And i seriously dun believe that those who buy are suckers taht fall for it. It's unfortunate that it's thought this way.

 

Btw just in case if u r wondering, Yes, i am in insurance line.

[Hishercar]

i apologise

 

when i used sucker I was thinking about my self

 

bcause i was sucked into buying insurance linked to equity and now performed so badly I am still at it i am paying something like $700 per month

 

on top of that I have a life insurance with NTUC about $900 per month

 

on top on top of that I have an OPD and hospitalisation insurance package that I pay about $13000 per year on a renewable basis

 

on top on top on top of this i have the usual shield this and that

 

 

so in the end my insurance agent still ask me to buy somemore

 

 

recently call me to buy somemore from him because business very very quite

 

i told him off I am not a sucker

 

 

so I am truly a sucker but i am unable to get any decent help until i visited Tan Kin Lian blog

 

 

some of my political posting unfortunately got influence by his blog

 

 

 

[Valentino]

i apologise

when i used sucker I was thinking about my self

bcause i was sucked into buying insurance

on top of that I have a life insurance with NTUC about $900 per month

on top on top of that I have an OPD and hospitalisation insurance package that I pay about $13000 per year on a renewable basis

on top on top on top of this i have the usual shield this and that

so in the end my insurance agent still ask me to buy somemore

recently call me to buy somemore from him because business very very quite

i told him off I am not a sucker

so I am truly a sucker but i am unable to get any decent help until i visited Tan Kin Lian blog

some of my political posting unfortunately got influence by his blog

 

Don't worry, nothing taken to heart.

 

I would think if yours is a regular premium investment linked plan, then now is still a good time to be paying for it as you would be buying the funds cheap right now. Dollars Cost Averaging at work. But of cos it would also depends on the plan structure also.

 

Your NTUC insurance must be of a very high sum assured for you to be paying that much. hope it's a good plan.

 

however, i'm puzzled why u are paying $13,000 for a hospitalisation plan??? that's extrememly expensive given the fact you already have a shield plan! erm... this u really got to review it as ur insurance guy might really be taking u as a 'sucker'...

[Boyboy]

so, dyson good or not?

 

sorry i cannot afford magazines. i don't usually buy my reading material.

 

[Carndablues]

so, dyson good or not?

 

sorry i cannot afford magazines. i don't usually buy my reading material.

 

Of course good! Price also VERY good!

[Hishercar]

boy boy be a little more hard working

 

go to the nearby library for free

 

library also open on sunday

 

 

i bought a kracher vacuum cleaner

 

the dyson looks to model

 

my family maid thinks the dyson machine looks to futuristic and if press wrong button the whole house may blow up

[Limhm]

Abt the MLM vacuum cleaner, I really hate it.

 

7yrs bk when i was preggie, a salesperson who used to be our previous housing agent, came to do a demo on our bed. He kept insisting to do the demo n my hb cant turn him down.

 

So the very nex day, I got itch n rashes all over my body...omg...n I nid to get a jab n cream to stop the rash..

 

My dr told me, sometimes those mites might be living happily underneath...so when u agitate them, they might come out n bite me...

 

[Hishercar]

should never let sales man use their equipment (dont used on what before) on your personal items

 

you dont know what you may catch