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General FAQ About Allergies
Frequently asked questions on home maintenance
Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the Malaysia.
One of the most common types of allergies is Atopy, an inhalant allergy. These common allergens include molds, and insects such as ants, cockroaches, flies, and the house dust mite. In this group, the dust mite is the major cause of atopy (allergies) in pets. Unlike contact allergies, the inhalant form of allergies (atopy), must be dealt with in the environment, or home.
ALLERGY FACTS
Over 80% of people with allergies and asthma test positive to dust mites in allergy skin testing.
A gram of house dust (approximately half of a teaspoon) contains as many as 1,000 dust mites. That same gram of dust can hold 250,000 of their fecal pellets. A dust mite will produce 20 fecal pellets per day, that is 200 times its own body weight in feces during its short lifetime. With millions of dust mites living in one bed this means there are vast amounts of droppings there. These levels mean that virtually all dust mite sensitive people will experience problems as a direct result of the dust mites and their droppings in their mattress, and pillows.
Dust Mites? Dust Mite Solution Buyers Guide
Dust mites are too small to be seen but are the most common cause of year-round allergy and asthma. House dust mites are found in virtually all homes, no matter how clean. A Primary source of dust mite exposure in the home is in the bedroom, which provides the best conditions of warmth, humidity, and food for their growth. Dust mites live in the dust that accumulates in mattresses, pillows, carpets, blankets, furniture, bedcovers, curtains and clothes - anywhere they can feed on dead flakes of human skin. In fact The average bedroom can be infested by millions of microscopic dust mites. We spend around one third of our lives in the bedroom so we are in close and prolonged contact with dust mites.
To control and prevent dust mite allergies, wash your sheets and blankets once a week in hot water. Dust mite mattress covers and dust mite pillow encasings are essential for dust mite allergen control.
While it is almost impossible to eliminate dust mites completely, there are several important steps we recommend to reduce dust mites. We have selected a range of our best-rated products to attack dust mites in your home.
Steps to prevent dust mite allergies:
The best way to prevent and control dust mite allergies is avoidance.
Step 1
We recommend Dust Mite Test Kits to find out if you have dust mite problem, and to test to make sure the dust mite problem is gone.
Home Dust Mite Detection Test Kit
- Dip stick dust mite test
- Comes in packs of ten.
- Color scale tells you mild or severe levels of dust mites
- Easy to use
- Provides instant answer to dust mite questions
- Doesn't need to be sent out to a lab
- Only tests for dust mites
- It's for someone who wants a simple and immediate test for a dust mite problem and to know if it has been solved.
- USD 199.95 for a set of ten tests
Step 2
You need Demitze Allergicovers anti Dust Mite Covers for an Anti-allergen barrier between you and the dust mites.
Facts on Allergicovers
Type: 100% unbleached, untreated microfibre dust mite covers
240 thread count
Average pore size: 9
Pillow and Mattress Encasings
- Lab tested as free of 21 harmful allergens. Quality dust mite zippers. Chemical free dust mite encasing.
- Extreme soft pillow cases and mattress dust mite encasings.
- Great for those with chemical sensitivities or eczema.
- Higher priced than other dust mite encasings.
- Perfect for those who wants the best quality, 100% cotton and soft dust mite encasings with no chemicals.
- Price: USD$228 - USD$388
Step 3
You Need Air Purifiers to help filter your air with a HEPA filter. HEPA air purifiers remove 99.95% of airborne dust mite allergens from your house hold air.
You'll need AirCare HEPA Air Purifiers
- Programmable timer
- Certified HEPA filtration for dust mites
- Excellent filtration of all 3 filters
- Programmable
- Noisy on high speeds. Use on high when not in room.
- Perfect for those with serious allergies who need superior HEPA filtration. Great for dust mites prevention.
- USD$1,588.00
What is the difference between dust and dust mites?
Dust is the accumulation of very fine particulates, the kind that you can sometimes see floating around the air when the light streams through the windows late afternoon. It is not healthy to breathe in dirt. Dust mites are live microscopic creatures which inhabit our bedding, carpets and upholstery. Dust mites feed on human and animal skin (dander), pollen, fungi and bacteria. The food consumption and development of the dust mites increases with higher relative humidities (55% to 90%) and common indoor temperatures (250°C). Since you spend up to 1/3 of your life in the bedroom and need a good night's sleep, it is essential to take care of the dust mite problem there first! To keep it simple, dust mite covers on your bedding cut off their food source. Encase mattresses, pillows and bolsters in tightly woven Demitze Allergicovers - an special anti dust mite encasings. Keep your room at a low humidity level and eliminate any dust harboring articles in the room.
How do I really know that I have a problem?
Some of the signs of dust mite allergies are Asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis, persistently stuffy nose and ears, repeated sneezing on awakening, itchy watery eyes, worsening of symptoms early mornings or when beds are made, improving symptoms outside the house.
It is not only the dust mite that causes the problem. The allergen which causes asthma attacks, allergies and eczema is actually a protein found in their droppings and their carcasses.
In fact 90% of asthmatic patients react positively to house dust mites and increases their episode of attacks with each time they are exposed to the House dust mites droppings.
Research shows that during one nights sleep most people toss and turn up to 60 or 70 times meaning the dust mite droppings are frequently expelled into the air from bedding. Researchers have also discovered that the allergens can then stay in the air for up to 2 hours. Once airborne, dried dust mite droppings are easily inhaled into our airways thus causing allergic reactions in asthmatics. These allergens can cause wheezing, coughs, itchy eyes, sniffles and, in more serious cases, asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis.
To check for the dust mite level in your rooms before you begin a plan of elimination you can use a simple Allergopharma Home Dust Mite Test Kit to check how bad the problem is. In some houses the dust mite problem may be minimal.
Will I know the dust mite encasings are there when I am in bed?
No. Our Demitze Allergicover antidust mite mattress and pillow encasings are comfortable, noiseless, air and moisture permeable. Our fabrics have a gentle, light-weight finish which provides an effective yet luxurious feel and with high thread counts which makes the fabrics tightly woven yet have exceptional breathability that allows air and perspiration to flow through but not the dust mites or their feces [which is what causes the allergenic reaction]. The fabric is not hot or sweaty to sleep on! We have evaluated other dust mite protection barrier products and found these to be the most comfortable, effective protection you can buy.
How do I use dust mite encasings?
Simple. Demitze dust mite encasings are used over your pillows, mattress, and bolsters.
How do I know what size of dust mite encasing to buy?
You buy the size that matches the bed that you want to cover (king, queen, etc.).
Can I put them on by myself?
Yes. But it will be better if you get someone to help you since putting them on requires that you remove the mattress. Put the mattress up on its end and gently pull the encasing evenly over the width of the mattress. When you have the encasing over the entire mattress or divan - zip it up and return it to the bed.
Do I have to take dust mite encasings off when I wash my sheets and pillowcases?
No. We recommend that you wash your regular bed sheets and pillow cases in hot water once a week (60°C). A cooler temperature will not kill the mites. You do not have to remove the Demitze mattress encasings and wash them every week. Wash only for hygienic purposes. You can remove regular bed linens and vacuum the encasing with a HEPA vacuum or use a vapor steam cleaner over the surface of the mattress.
Are these Demitze dust mite encasings washable?
Yes. These dust mite encasings are completely warm water hand washable. Do not use chlorine bleach on the encasings.
What should be on my checklist to reduce dust mites in my bedroom?
- Encase your mattress, pillows and bolsters in dust mite encasings.
- Keep humidity below 50%, ideally between 30-40%. This suggestion is probably the most important of all, as it prevents dust mites from breeding.
- Keep your closet door closed. Clothes can harbor dust mites if the door is left open.
- Avoid upholstered furniture in the bedroom. Use plastic, leather or wood furniture instead.
- Remove carpeting when possible or use a low pile carpet or throw rugs on bare floors. Wash throw rugs frequently. If you have carpets use a vapor steam cleaner every 8 weeks to kill off the new crop of dust mites. Use Demitze every 4 months to treat the carpets.
- Steam clean fabric sofas annually and treat them with Demitze anti dust mite solution every 4 months. It will be better engage a professional cleaning company than try a DIY way.
- Use hepa vacuum cleaner attachments for dusting or microfiber cloths instead of regular mops or cloths.
- Use a high quality HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) air cleaner e.g AirCare to filter out airborne allergens including dust mites. Find one that will do an effective job at low fan speed so that you do not have to live with noise of an air filter at high speed.
- Dust and vacuum twice a week using a vacuum with a HEPA vacuum. This will reduce the small particle dust in the room.
- Fry them: Use a vapor steam cleaner on your bedding and/or scatter rugs to assist in killing dust mites between washes.
- Freeze dust mites: Take advantage of the freezing weather. Put pillows, cloth or stuffed toys, anything that could host dust mites into plastic bags and put them out side in the deep freeze. Yes, the frost kills the mites.
- Clean air conditioning filters regularly
- Discourage pets from bedrooms. Dust mites feed on pet dander as well. (We know this is a tough one but it will make a big difference!)
See also:
General FAQ
House Dust Mites FAQ
Allergy FAQ
Indoor Air Quality FAQ
