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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / October 2004Preparing the house - the war on the house dust mites!
Hi there! Finally, my allergies / sinus problems got so bad this week - we're going the whole hog and turning the house into a dust free (or at least dust reduced) home. I know I am highly allergic to house dust mite, so this is the start of the heavy duty fight back. We're having all the carpets taken up and wood / vinyl is going down. The furniture is being carted off, and replaced with leather that can be wiped down daily. One question I have, for anyone in the know is this: Do we go with blinds, shades, or washable curtains? On some of the asthma sites, it says to go with mini blinds, but on some of the allergy sites (in my case specifically rhinitis) it says that blinds are dust collectors and to go with curtains that can be hot washed on a regular basis. Shades - well, (maybe this is a man thing!) I'm not really sure what shades are! (I'm in the UK too - and I've never heard anyone say this word). So - just looking for the best thing to use here. Also, I want to install some heavy duty dust busting filters - so if anyone can point me to the daddy of all dust zappers - please do! Thanks a lot :) Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - please tell!! By shades, I think they mean a "roller blind" that you can wipe clean easily. Ahh - I see :) Thanks! Tony > By shades, I think they mean a "roller blind" that you can wipe clean easily. Tony, I have asthma and sinus allergies, and I am also very allergic to dust, along with many other allergens. I have found out that there are allergens that will make me worse by either touching my skin, by my breathing them in, or by my consuming them. My allergies improved significantly after we got rid of our wall to wall carpeting. Our second move was to get rid of our upholstered furniture, just like you are doing. That helped quite a bit also. The bed is the worst place for allergies. I sleep in a surgical mask. It helps quite a bit. Do you use fabric softeners on your clothes, bedding, towels? There are strong chemicals in the softeners. If you are just allergic to two of the chemicals, then you are exposing your body to these chemicals 24 hours per day. My wife uses distilled white vinegar instead of the fabric softener, and throws a washcloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide into the washer. We wash our clothes with baking soda, not detergent. We don't use artificial sweeteners. We avoid most chemical cleaners or petroleum products. For fruits, I only eat only water melon (thick skin protects from chemicals) , canned pears and peaches. I avoid fresh apples, pears, peaches, strawberries because I don't want to ingest the chemicals that were sprayed on them. I don't eat lunchmeats to avoid the preservatives. I don't eat frozen dinners, or prepackaged meals. I avoid all gravies, sauces or desserts, unless they are home made. I seldom eat takeouts. I wear gloves when reading to avoid inks and the chemicals on the paper. In other words, I avoid as many chemicals as I can. I limit what I eat. I wear a mask to avoid breathing in pollens and pollutants and molds. It works for me. My allergies, my heart disease, my blood pressure problems, are doing better than ever. Make up your own list. Sit down and figure out how many different chemicals, foods, odors, drinks, that you come into contact with every day, and start crossing off those that you don't absolutely need to come into contact. Sometimes it takes over three days to get over an allergic reaction, so if you are going to eliminate something, a positive effect may not happen for several days. There is a very active allergy forum on healthboards which you might find very informative about allergies. Here is the link, if you are interested: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=10 > I avoid fresh apples, pears, peaches, >strawberries because I don't want to ingest the chemicals that were sprayed >on them. How are canned fruits and vegetables better in this regard? Aren't they sprayed with chemicals as well before being canned? I don't know why canned fruits don't bother me and fresh ones do. Any thoughts? > > I avoid fresh apples, pears, peaches, > >strawberries because I don't want to ingest the chemicals that were sprayed [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Aren't they sprayed with chemicals as well before being > canned? You may want to post the same question on alt.home.repair Seems to draw quick feedback to posted questions and similar topics such as this are occasionally posted. > Hi there! > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - > please tell!! Curtains are much cheaper than blinds and much easier to wash. If they are the glass fiber ones, they make no dust whatsoever. Worry about the bedroom before you do the whole house. Try to figure out which is cheaper - wood or marble. We did marble and all you do is mop once in a while. wood tiles are also very easy to maintain. Also consider future house sales, marble might be best value. Prices vary immensely. In US we can get mexican marble cheaply but maybe italian is best value for you. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com > Curtains are much cheaper than blinds and much easier to wash. If they are > the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Murray Grossan, M.D. > http://www.ent-consult.com Are marble floors popular these days ? I've seen marble floors when you enter a home but not in the living room, dining room or bedrooms. Tony >Curtains are much cheaper than blinds and much easier to wash. If they are the >glass fiber ones, they make no dust whatsoever. But since blinds are made of a hard surface material..... wont they be les dust "generators" I always thought vertical blinds would be the way to go But you've got me to thinking..... especially since you are correct in that woven cloth curtains CAn be taken down and washed in a washer Bottom line...which is best? >>Curtains are much cheaper than blinds and much easier to wash. If they are the >>glass fiber ones, they make no dust whatsoever. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Bottom line...which is best? Hello, You can take your blinds down and hose them off outside, that way you get the fresh air you want. You could install one-way glass in your windows, if you are really worried about window dressings being serious, dust catchers (and they are) . . . Or you could borrow my Pinky-the-cat and Laddie-the-dog for the night, and anything hanging at or on your windows would be dealt with by morning . . . or you could just go purchase your own - that do windows. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 Have you tried a good antihistamine like Allegra or Clarinex ? How about a corticosteroid nasal spray like Flonase? Or maybe daily sinus washings with saline ? Also, have you tried desensitization shots ? The majority of the population doesn't have allergic rhinitis. They have absolutely no problems in a dust mite filled environment. It's a good idea to clean up your house but you should also consider a good antihistamine and desensitization shots. Tony >Have you tried a good antihistamine like Allegra or Clarinex ? These are good for watery or itchy reactions but may be contraindicated for chronic sinusitis as they tend to dry the infection in place in the sinuses. >How about a corticosteroid nasal spray like Flonase? I agree. >Or maybe daily sinus washings with saline ? > >Also, have you tried desensitization shots ? > >The majority of the population doesn't have allergic rhinitis. They >have absolutely no problems in a dust mite filled environment. I think that allergy shots are not used in the U.K. Does desensitization work well for dust mite allergies? >It's a good idea to clean up your house but you should >also consider a good antihistamine and desensitization >shots. > >Tony > Hi there! > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - > please tell!! Start by getting a mattress bag that will kill the dust mites living there. Wash all bedding regularly in hot spoapy water and change pillowcases often. Consider vinyl or fake leather furniture. It's easier to clean and some people are allergic to the dyes used in leather furniture. Keep dust masks handy and also maybe plastic gloves for when you can't avoid house dust. I got so ill when removing my carpet that I needed prednisone to calm the immune reaction so be careful until the work is done. I felt much better after we removed the carpet and cloth furniture. Good luck, august >Start by getting a mattress bag that will kill the dust mites living there. Are there any mattress materials that one should consider as well? Maybe get a mattress made of latex or foam instead of "ticking" >>Start by getting a mattress bag that will kill the dust mites living there. > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >Maybe get a mattress made of latex or foam instead of >"ticking" Hello, Foam attracts a very bad fungus and deteriorates into dust that can send an asthmatic to the emergency room. Bad stuff can hide in latex just as well as cotton. Think Ozone generator . . . you can use it for killing only if you want(shock treatment), not 24/7 air cleaning. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 >Hi there! > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - >please tell!! Hello, I lived next door to a man that did what you are doing, however he died anyway - yeah, i know - sick joke - sorry, however it is the the truth and you know how i am about truth. I have a choice: i can kill my partner, who is a junkman who has put it all in the house or i can move and let him take the house away from me. Since he pays the electric bill i feel i can save his life and my house both at the same time by purchasing an O-zone generator a "GOOD" one, along with the hepa filters (for the big stuff) and the ORECK electronic air cleaners i already have running. Window dressings: you can put up the mini blinds, but keep them pulled up tight, then throw them away when they get dirty. Put a chainlink fence around your house; purchase a pit bull and noone will look in your windows, which will, of course, be exposed all the time. Here in Florida we just put up the plywood for the hurricanes, and donot take it down, as they are the greatest window dressings going, and give you privacy as well. Ah, yes, "leather", what a lovely fungus it attracts . . . "Marble". Yes, i advise that for the mattress and boxspring. Marble develops a lovely fungus that even has pretty colors, so does wood, cement and everything else in your house - even the air you breath, and food on your counter; the trash can; your cloths; shoes, actually everything you own, and as we all well know fungus is the enemy . . . not dust mites . . . You certainly have made the right choice: re-decorate . . . One other thing: the car . . . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 > Hello, > I lived next door to a man that did what you are doing, [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > along with the hepa filters (for the big stuff) and the > ORECK electronic air cleaners i already have running. OMG, you _are_ a menace. Ozone generators are the some of the worst things that a person with respiratory problems can use. The American Lung Association, the EPA, and every other respiratory organization has condemned ozone generators as harmful. Here is just one link out of hundreds that gives details: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html Please do not reply to pamdomania, it is a troll. >>Hello, >>I lived next door to a man that did what you are doing, [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html > Please do not reply to pamdomania, it is a troll. You're right, I googled it--what an eye-opener! Thanks. >Please do not reply to pamdomania, it is a troll. > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >> >> http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html Hello, E.P.A. does have their number on many Ozone generators, in spite of Internet, sicko-crackpots that libel and lie. The Ozone generator is often used commercially to clean smoke and flood damaged buildings. You are thinking of using the generator 24/7, and that can be tricky for idiots as you 2 who can neither read nor think. The generator for 24/7 has settings according to personal tolerance, however the other setting, of which i was speaking, is for killing everything in the house of a fungus nature. The Ozone generator also kills bacteria, mold etc, when used on the setting signified for that procedure - that is when you must leave the house, and take the goldfish with you. The Ozone generator sterilizes the house, when used properly (leaving you 2 morons out). Also remember (oh, silly me, how can a half-brain ?remember?) i said if a person doesnot want to use an Ozone generator, he could use ultra violet light (C) instead, if he had no art in the house. I donot like ultra violet because i feel it is dangerous with animals and children in the house. T.B. wards and homeless shelters use ultra violet. I can just imagine what would happen to you 2 pea-brain's brain if you ever sat under an ultra violet unit . . . so i suggest you stay away from that too . . . and/or anything else of an electrically advanced nature unless your keeper is in attendance with you . . . This XT-6000 is the one advised for really cleaning out the bad stuff in a house. http://www.air-zone.com/order.asp Here is more information on these Ozone generators, which i feel are the best handling generators i have seen so far. http://www.air-zone.com/order.asp Air filters and cleaners give off ozone, as well as just about every electric appliance in your stupid house. Those spiraling light bulbs give off a lot of Ozone. Too bad you two twits are dealing with only half a brain, and advanced dyslexia, because if you could read E.P.A.'s article, you would find they say the same thing about all air filters/cleaners and de-humidifiers etc: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html There is a large body of written material on ozone and the use of ozone indoors. However, much of this material makes claims or draws conclusions without substantiation and sound science. In developing Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners, the EPA reviewed a wide assortment of this literature, including information provided by a leading manufacturer of ozone generating devices. In keeping with EPA's policy of insuring that the information it provides is based on sound science, only peer reviewed, scientifically supported findings and conclusions were relied upon in developing this document. Several brands of ozone generators have EPA establishment number on their packaging. This number helps EPA identify the specific facility that produces the product. THE DISPLAY OF THIS NUMBER DOES NOT IMPLY EPA ENDORSEMENT OR SUGGEST IN ANY WAY THAT EPA HAS FOUND THE PRODUCT TO BE EITHER SAFE OR EFFECTIVE. Please Note: EPA does not certify air cleaning devices. The Agency does not recommend air cleaning devices or manufacturers. If you need information on specific devices or manufacturers, one resource you can consult is the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 872-5955 www.aham.org . AHAM also provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org AHAM conducts four certification programs for each category - room air cleaners, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerator/freezers. The air cleaner certification program is known as AC-1. The American Lung Association has an Air Cleaning Device fact sheet at: www.lungusa.org/air/air00_aircleaners.html There are other resources provided in this fact sheet. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 OMG, you _are_ a menace. Ozone generators are the some of the worst things >> that a person with respiratory problems can use. The American Lung >> Association, the EPA, and every other respiratory organization has condemned >> ozone generators as harmful. Here is just one link out of hundreds that >> gives details: >> >> <A HREF="http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html">http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pu bs/ozonegen.html</A> the american college of allergy, the american academy of allergy, the lung organizations all do not permit any advertisising for ozone generators. None of the reputalble allergy stores suche as Allegy Control, National Allergy or Allergy Buyers Club sell any ozone generators. On the other hand all these recommend Hepa Filaters and dust proofing products. Murray Grossan, M.D. http://www.ent-consult.com Wow!! Thanks so much to everyone for the great feedback! I can definitely feel a reaction as soon as the hoover goes, the nose runs, the pressure builds and the headache is on the way. I already have a tilting bed, and dust mite proof sheets / cases and have tried the mask. I now use the little mini filters that are inserted into the nose. (www.healthy-house.co.uk) I think they came from. These do provide relief which is great, but are extremely expensive (why do they not do a 365 pack that allows all year round protection economically?). Also, they irritate the inside of the nose after constant use - BUT, they have definitely helped me, so good show to them :)) I'll stick with them. I also get bad hiving, which I feel sure is corelated. I was tested at the hospital as I suspected both the sinus type headaches and the hives were food related (more actually I think out of blind hope than actual expectation. Especially with hives - it can be a real pain tracking down the cause). Well .. none of the foods reacted on my arm, save only for a very minor 'oat' reation. But boy, did the house dust react!! It was practically instantaneous - huge hiving. So - Im 90% sure the chronic headaches, the hives, the tiredness and the pressure / facial pain all have the same root - the little filters easing the headaches somewhat seems to support this too - as I read on a previous post, 'If its a placebo effect - I'll take it' :) Now the hiving - this WILL be interesting. I'm not using half measures, the house is being thinned out, scaled down and transformed drastically - after 30 years of this, It's really total action time. I am hoping that the vast reduction in dust will reduce the hives so that I can definitely see a link too. I am so grateful for the fantastic tips and ideas - I'll be printing out this thread and making sure I try all of the suggestions. I have tried the Irrigator - and I have seen it works extremely well for a lot of people. In my own case, it always irritated my nose and made it run, in turn blocking it and causing general discomfort. I am sure this is just the way my body works and it's only my experience. I did give it a good go and did not give up easily :) I haven't tried wearing gloves, nor the conditioner tips - but I will be now!! If I can just ask a few more questions. Regarding keeping the house dust free - which is better, to always have the windows open, thus letting in 'fresh air' (as my parents used to call it!), or to limit outside air and use filters more? Currently I have the windows open constantly - closing them only when it's too cold to possibly keep them open. I think in my own mind, I'm thus 'leting dust out', and not 'in'. Am I also right or wrong in thinking that a job 'outside' would be better for my allergies than a job inside, simply because there would be less dust? Will I just be subjecting myself to different airborne nasties? Thanks again :) Tony > Hi there! > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - > please tell!! Hello, It is best to keep the main house "sterile", and take your "fresh air" where you find it: Outside. You can build a little room where you can sleep sort of outside on rainy nights when there is no dust circulating. Main thing is once you get your main part of your house "clean", donot re-contaminate it . . . and this, of course means you must use an Ozone generator along with any air filtering system you may install. If you have no art in your house, instead of the Ozone generator, you can use ultra violet lights (C) for air sanitizing. The Ozone goes deeper, from what i understand, when you put it on the special setting for santitizing deep- you have to leave the house when you do that however - remember to take the gold fish with you. >Wow!! Thanks so much to everyone for the great feedback! > [quoted text clipped - 82 lines] >> Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - >> please tell!! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 > One question I have, for anyone in the know is this: Do we go with blinds, > shades, or washable curtains? On some of the asthma sites, it says to go > with mini blinds, but on some of the allergy sites (in my case specifically There's no acceptable way to clean mini blinds. > rhinitis) it says that blinds are dust collectors and to go with curtains > that can be hot washed on a regular basis. Shades - well, (maybe this is a > man thing!) I'm not really sure what shades are! (I'm in the UK too - and > I've never heard anyone say this word). So - just looking for the best thing > to use here. I've been thinking that plantation shutters would be the way to go, because it seems like they could be vacuumed fairly easily. A few weeks ago someone was saying that a dehumidifier is a good way to get rid of dust mites, so you might look into that. Hey - thanks! I picked up another tip by googling this. Theres a link between MDF and sinus problems? Theres a store here http://www.superiorblinds.co.uk/plantation_shutters.php - amazing, a UK store that actually sells something I need!! I don't know if it's still the same, but years back when I needed the Grossan Irrigator and a decent humnidifier, they both came from the US and I had to buy stepdowns. There were products in the UK, but you get ripped off price wise for what (when you look beyond the cosmetics) are identical products. The plantation shutters look perfect, also easy to clean! Please no-one tell me that plantation shutters have been linked to nasal problems, as I think I finally have something useful that I can buy 'locally'! :) Thanks Tony > > One question I have, for anyone in the know is this: Do we go with blinds, > > shades, or washable curtains? On some of the asthma sites, it says to go [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > A few weeks ago someone was saying that a dehumidifier is a good way > to get rid of dust mites, so you might look into that. >There's no acceptable way to clean mini blinds. Can you please explain? Aren't mini blinds made of hard surface material such as plastic or metal? If yes.... is this harder to clean than say cloth curtains? >There's no acceptable way to clean mini blinds. Please explain >>There's no acceptable way to clean mini blinds. > >Please explain I love you . . . (: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/benjamin.htm MustRead! http://WWW.PAMINIFARM.COM "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6 Tony Before removing all the carpets it may be worth giving them a good shampoo or two. I'm in the UK and have a Vax 6151SX vacuum cleaner and shampooer. The amount of crap that comes out of a seemingly clean carpet is amazing! The clean shampoo is literally black and full of hair and dirt sludge when you empty it and this is in a house with no children and I vacuum regularly. The Vax shampoo bottle claims it has anti-allergen additives to remove dust mite faeces so it could well help you. I removed the (pretty expensive) carpet from my bedroom in a mad frenzy using a stanley knife!, got matress, duvet and pillow covers, but there was no real improvement in my sinuses. It may be worth buying or hiring a shampoo machine first before throwing away the carpets! The Vax I bought from John Lewis was ?180, but it is superb. Good Luck Chris > Hi there! > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Oh - If anyone has any extra measures, that I may not have considered - > please tell!! |
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