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Medical Forum / General / General / April 2005Questions from a newly-diagnosed dust mite allergy sufferer...
Hi all, My doctor recently determined (by blood test) that I have a dust mite allergy (both species). Aside from medical solutions (my doctor gave me a nasal steroid spray and told me to take Claritin), I've been told the most important thing is to get the dust mites out of my environment. I have been looking online at several products but I'm a little confused about what I might need, and I don't have an unlimited budget. Perhaps someone here can help me figure out which ones would suit my needs and in cases where there are several products that do similar things but work in different ways, which ones you recommend and if using a combination of them is necessary. Laundry: Products like De-Mite (benzene?) seem to kill the dust mites and other products (AllerSafe additive and Allersearch detergent) seem to neutralize the allergen. Do you recommend using both or will just one approach be effective? Do you use them at the same time (in the same load of laundry)? Do you need to use these products with every load? Carpet/Furniture: Similar situation here, too. It seems like the borax-based products actually kill them and tannic-acid-based products neutralize the allergen. Do you suggest both? How do I use them in combination? What order should they be used in and how long do you wait before applying the second product? And how does a treatment last? How often do you use them? Also, do these products generally work as well on sofas as they do on carpets? Bedding Covers: Would polypropylene pillow, mattress and duvet covers and a vinyl box spring cover be a good, effective solution against dust mites? There are some other more luxurious materials but they are more expensive. Air Purifiers/Filters: These seem to vary a lot in price and most are expensive, so I wouldn't want to make a bad decision here. I have a 650 square foot apartment. I have seen a unit that says it covers 700 square feet. But will this work if I have several rooms (assuming I keep the doors between them open) or does this really mean it could cover a single large room? Masks (for cleaning): I would imagine that the 3M 8233 mask (NIOSH N100) would be effective against dust mite allergens. I'm not sure how long this mask lasts. What about the cheaper 50-pack paper (?) dust masks? Are those any good? Vacuums: Wow, these can be expensive, too. I've always wanted a Dyson anyway -- maybe this is my excuse. Which are the best ones for dust mites? Any more affordable solutions that are still good? Is the main thing to look for simply a HEPA filter? Steam Cleaners: Will a steam-cleaner also kill dust mites due to the high temperature? Do you have one you recommend? Is there a difference between a real "steamer" and the "SteamVacs" you see at department stores? Do those things heat enough to create steam, or do they just spray hot water? It seems like some create actual vapor but don't vacuum up anything and some are more like vacuums. And now an overall/general question: Do I really need all of these things? What is a good order to try these things so I can see what helps before spending my life savings here? Thanks very much for your advice! > Laundry: > Products like De-Mite (benzene?) seem to kill the dust mites and other > products (AllerSafe additive and Allersearch detergent) seem to > neutralize the allergen. Do you recommend using both or will just one > approach be effective? Do you use them at the same time (in the same > load of laundry)? Do you need to use these products with every load? I have severe dust and mite allergy, and I don't use any such products, but that's just me. Regular cleaning of bedding in hot water and dryer works for me. > Carpet/Furniture: > Similar situation here, too. It seems like the borax-based products [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > them? Also, do these products generally work as well on sofas as they > do on carpets? I just use a very good power head on a hepa filter vacuum with micro filter bags. I also get my area rugs professionally cleaned yearly. I wouldn't live with carpeting on a dare. > Bedding Covers: > Would polypropylene pillow, mattress and duvet covers and a vinyl box > spring cover be a good, effective solution against dust mites? There > are some other more luxurious materials but they are more expensive. The cheap ones work very well, they're just not as comfortable. > Air Purifiers/Filters: > These seem to vary a lot in price and most are expensive, so I wouldn't > want to make a bad decision here. I have a 650 square foot apartment. I > have seen a unit that says it covers 700 square feet. But will this > work if I have several rooms (assuming I keep the doors between them > open) or does this really mean it could cover a single large room? You can compare vacuum cleaners, air cleaners and bedding, etc. on allergybuyersclub.com. I have no financial interest here, and I don't buy from them exclusively, but their comparison charts are very helpful. > Masks (for cleaning): > I would imagine that the 3M 8233 mask (NIOSH N100) would be effective > against dust mite allergens. I'm not sure how long this mask lasts. > What about the cheaper 50-pack paper (?) dust masks? Are those any > good? Can't say, I haven't used them. > Vacuums: > Wow, these can be expensive, too. I've always wanted a Dyson anyway -- > maybe this is my excuse. Which are the best ones for dust mites? Any > more affordable solutions that are still good? Is the main thing to > look for simply a HEPA filter? Check out the comparison charts. I bought an oxygen ultra, which I found a very good price on by using froogle.com > Steam Cleaners: > Will a steam-cleaner also kill dust mites due to the high temperature? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > seems like some create actual vapor but don't vacuum up anything and > some are more like vacuums. Don't know. > And now an overall/general question: > Do I really need all of these things? What is a good order to try these > things so I can see what helps before spending my life savings here? > > Thanks very much for your advice! You don't need all that stuff. For me, the single most important factor is having wood floors, and doing frequent dusting and vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner that doesn't exhaust dust into the air, and constant touchups/dusting. Not having lots of fabric drapes and dust catching window treatments is very helpful. Making sure to clean invisible dust, like that which collects on the back of hanging artwork and furniture pieces is important for me. The next thing is cloth upholstered furniture; I react to it unless it's professionally cleaned yearly, even with intense vacuuming frequently in between. I have encasements on my bedding this year, and it's helped a lot. I also have a powerful air cleaner in my bedroom. Start with the cheaper stuff, plain old cleaning, elimination of dustcatching clutter, and dust trapping decor, cheap bedding encasements, and see how you do with those things first. Susan >Perhaps someone here can help me figure out which ones would suit my >needs and in cases where there are several products that do similar >things but work in different ways, which ones you recommend and if >using a combination of them is necessary. FWIW I just sent up an article on this to my client. The experts suggest (and this is specifically in order of usefulness and practicality) 1. Encase pillows, matressess and box springs in plastic or vinyl coverings to provide a barrier 2. Wash beddings and pillows (if not encased) at least weekly. The heat of the water (around 130 degrees F) seems to be more important than the detergent, etc. 3. Remove stuffed animals and toys from the bedroom 4. If feasible reduce indoor humidity to 50% or so 5. Vacuum and clean a least weekly (and if at all possible the person with the allergy should NOT do the vacuuming) 6. As you buy new furniture, "retire" upholstered furniture and replace with vinyl, leather or wood. 7. If possible, replace carpets with tile or wood (but don't go tearing everything out unless you have the funds..sounds like you don't) 8. Use the chemicals (aracides to kill the mites or solution of tannic acid to neutralize the allergens on mite droppings). As noted, the chemicals are low priority since some of the other things get bigger bang for the (relatively) fewer bucks. >Air Purifiers/Filters: >These seem to vary a lot in price and most are expensive, so I wouldn't >want to make a bad decision here. I have a 650 square foot apartment. I >have seen a unit that says it covers 700 square feet. But will this >work if I have several rooms (assuming I keep the doors between them >open) or does this really mean it could cover a single large room? The people I talked to are less than enthusiastic about filters and purifiers. They said if you do everything else and still have a few bucks rattling around, okay. But not a real high priority until you see what the other things above do. >Masks (for cleaning): >I would imagine that the 3M 8233 mask (NIOSH N100) would be effective >against dust mite allergens. I'm not sure how long this mask lasts. >What about the cheaper 50-pack paper (?) dust masks? Are those any >good? Actually they might not be. What is the size of the particles they trap? I would try the paper dust masks to see if they help, you aren't a whole bunch of money if they don't and you can still use them to play doctor (g). >Vacuums: >Wow, these can be expensive, too. I've always wanted a Dyson anyway -- >maybe this is my excuse. Which are the best ones for dust mites? Any >more affordable solutions that are still good? Is the main thing to >look for simply a HEPA filter? Again the people I talked to weren't all that impressed with HEPA filters. They felt they were very expensive and the literature that it is helpful is a little "light" in their estimation. While the literature on the Dyson sweepers is probably even less (due as much to their relative newness on the market) I would certainly use this as a justification for a purchase I wanted to make anyway (grin). >Steam Cleaners: >Will a steam-cleaner also kill dust mites due to the high temperature? Steam cleaners would, but the length of time before they "re-infect" as it were is such that I don't see any real reason to use them that purpose. >Do I really need all of these things? What is a good order to try these >things so I can see what helps before spending my life savings here? See above. For the most part, the people I talked to suggested the matress, etc. encasement and weekly laundering of the bed sheets as the best places to start. Then start down the list. -- Army Liason to the Office of Naval Contemplation > Again the people I talked to weren't all that impressed with HEPA > filters. They felt they were very expensive and the literature that > it is helpful is a little "light" in their estimation. While the > literature on the Dyson sweepers is probably even less (due as much > to their relative newness on the market) I would certainly use this > as a justification for a purchase I wanted to make anyway (grin). Wow, do I disagree with this, though I'm only an expert on my own experience. My experience has jibed with the rest of what you write. Switching to a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner cut the dust in my house enormously! In fact, since making the switch, the non-floor surfaces don't even show visible dust between bi-weekly visits by my cleaning woman. In the past, a week showed significant accumulation. My HEPA vaccuum and filtration bags are so effective that I can stand in the path of the exhaust and not have any reaction whatsoever, and I'm like a canary in a mine when it comes to dust. This vacuum purchase was the only pricey one (about $500) that I consider critical to my dust allergy control. My room air filter is a nice addition, but not nearly as much bang for the buck, and definitely purely optional, after bedding encasement, laundering and daily floor dusting in my BR. The best controls involve effort more than money. Susan >Switching to a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner cut the dust in my house >enormously! In fact, since making the switch, the non-floor surfaces [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >only pricey one (about $500) that I consider critical to my dust allergy >control. My discussions with them were based on the assumption that someone else would be able to vacuum, and I really don't know how that would change their calculus (but I would guess in your direction). I would remind our listeners (g) that the cost of BUYING the filtered apparatus is small (lifetime) compared to costs of buying the filters every few months or whatever. Either way, in limited budgets (and especially newly diagnosed) the HEPA filtered things would be low on my priority scale. See what happens with the cheaper stuff and then move to the filters if needed and the cash is available. -- Army Liason to the Office of Naval Contemplation > My discussions with them were based on the assumption that > someone else would be able to vacuum, and I really don't know how > that would change their calculus (but I would guess in your > direction). In my case, someone else does the vacuuming, but the filtration keeps the airborne and overall dust level down tremendously, no matter who's doing the vacuuming. No noticeable dust floating in the air or settling on my furntiture for weeks. I would remind our listeners (g) that the cost of BUYING > the filtered apparatus is small (lifetime) compared to costs of > buying the filters every few months or whatever. This is a MAJOR consideration, though I don't know of any requiring replacements that often; mine is every 6 months. If I were to do it over again, I'd buy an Austin due to low replacement costs and excellent performance. I bought what I did for the low noise level, but there are much cheaper filter replacement cost units on the market. > Either way, in limited budgets (and especially newly > diagnosed) the HEPA filtered things would be low on my priority > scale. See what happens with the cheaper stuff and then move to the > filters if needed and the cash is available. I agree with the exception of the vacuum cleaner. There's no way I could survive with my old, unfiltered one no matter who did the vacuuming. Too much dust left behind and floating around. If money allows, this would be the critical splurge, based upon my personal experience. One more low cost, high effectiveness note for those inexperienced dust hunters; get a $6 dollar tool that's a flat piece of felt slipped over a yardstick length flexible length of plastic and sweep it under your stove and fridge each week. You'd be amazed at what collects under there. Susan Susan |
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