How To Kill Dust Mites

Will Mattress Cleaning Really Kill Dust Mites

admin1 Comment
Posted in How To Kill Dust Mites

Last year Laura Johannes, wrote an article, published in the Wall Street Journal, that looked at the effectivnes of mattress cleaning to get rid of dust mites.

“A growing number of companies will come to your home and clean your mattress. Techniques vary by company, but generally they involve using either ultraviolet-C light or a dry-steam method to kill the mites. A high-powered vacuum is used to remove dead mites and their waste products.

There is scant published scientific data on the services’ effectiveness. But at least one outfit, Delray Beach, Fla.-based Hygenietech Inc., says it hired a lab to test the potency of ultraviolet light as a mattress sanitizer. According to those findings, the company claims its system removes 98% of mites and debris.” Read Complete Article

The article goes on to say while there may be something to the cleaning process but the science really does not support the claims.

The one thing that stood out for me was the part about a high powered vacuum. I don’t know about you but I have never seen a vacuum that has enough suction to clean the inside of something that is 10 to 12 inches thick. Dust mites live inside the mattress and that includes the middle. We had a powervac truck we used for duct cleaning that pulled over 10k CFM at the head and it could not pull air through a mattress.

The other thing I need to look into is the UV. My understanding of using UV light for cleaning is it does a great job on virus, bacteria and thing like mold. But kills dust mites?

Anyway read the article and make up your own mind.  I for one will keep learning more ways to prevent dust mites and their allergens from taking over and just keep my mattress covered and wash my sheets weekly.

Dust Mites Do Not Live in Your Air Ducts

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Posted in How To Kill Dust Mites Question/AnswersTagged

Got more ads in the mail today about air duct cleaning and how it will remove dust mites from yourDust Mites Do Not Live In Duct Work duct work. Such a false claim.

First of all dust mites don’t crawl into the duct work and no the can’t fly either. Dust mites like to live where there is food and it’s dark and damp. Does that sound like your duct work? Not mine either. Your dust work may get moldy but it will not get infested with dust mites.

Another ad stated they will get rid of the allergens from dust mites. I’ll give that a 1/2 truth. The allergens that dust mites create are about 8-10 mircons in size so they really don’t stay airborne for long because that is fairly heavy. If you keep a good filter on your unit it will pretty much keep the allergens out.

Bottom line is I do believe in air duct cleaning. It is a good thing when it is needed and done right. I don’t like how some of these so called indoor air companies exploit people and allergies. The best thing you can do is learn how to prevent dust mites from becoming a problem in the first place.

Say Goodbye To Dust Mites With A Portable Steam Cleaner

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How to use a portable steam cleaner to kill dust mites is something many allergy sufferers have wondered.  Now it’s easier than ever to find out with a range of products like the Vapamore MR100 Primo portable steam cleaner, available online.  You no longer have to suffer from the scourge of dust mites, you can use steam to fight them.

The biggest misconception about dust mites is that it’s the bugs themselves that cause allergic reactions. It’s actually their waste, which becomes part of the common thick dust covering you see in most homes. In order to avoid allergy symptoms, then, you need to get rid of that waste and the bugs that are creating it.  Kill and clean is what I say.

Since dust mites are so small, they can crawl into tiny crevices and latch onto the fibers of any fabric or upholstery (your bed), making them particularly difficult to eliminate.   That’s why you’ll want to find out more about how to use a portable steam cleaner to kill dust mites.  It’s a proven way to reach them where they live and kill them and their eggs so that the threat is completely eliminated. Granted you can’t get deep into a mattress but you can make a big dent. Mattress covers are really the best thing to use after you clean.

Kill Dust Mites With SteamThere are allergy sprays that can protect various upholstered surfaces from dust mites, but even these can’t eliminate them entirely.  The heat from steam is the only thing that kills them, provided it is above 140 degrees.  Portable steam cleaners like the Vapamore MR100 use steam that is between 210-220 degrees, so they are guaranteed to kill dust mites and bed bugs and their eggs.

Figuring out how to use a portable steam cleaner to kill dust mites is easy.  Just fill up the tank, flip the switch and in just over ten minutes you’ll have enough super heated steam to let you clean for an hour.  Simply run the steamer over any fabric or hard surface using one of several attachments to get into any hard to reach spots and your room will be cleaner than it has been in a long time. Steam also cleans bacteria, mold and viruses.

Because the Vapamore produces steam that contains only 5% water, your surfaces will dry quickly and thoroughly and won’t get ruined.  And better still, there is no need to expose your pets or your family to potentially harmful chemicals.  Steam cleaning is a 100% environmentally friendly cleaning method, the only one of its kind.

Dust mites can work their way into any fabric and make life miserable for you and your family.  If itchy eyes, runny nose and scratchy throat have become a way of life, don’t think you just have to suffer in silence.  Find out how to use a portable steam cleaner to kill dust mites and you can take back your home and you health.

It’s a one-time investment that can lead to a lifetime of improved health and happiness for the entire family.  Consider buying a portable steam cleaner and banishing dust mites for good.  There’s more to steam cleaning than just a sparkling house, it can make a huge difference for your family too!

What Kills Dust Mites?

Cheryl2 Comments
Posted in Dust Mite Sprays How To Kill Dust MitesTagged

No pesticides are currently labeled for house dust mites. There are products that are not pesticides that are labeled for dust mites. The active ingredient in most of these products is benzyl benzoate. It is an effective acaracide. The health risks from these products is limited as they are rapidly metabolized and excreted in the urine. See a full report on dust mites here.

Since the allergy causing protein is found in the feces and body parts of dead dust mites, killing the mite isn’t really an effective method of allergen control. What is effective is breaking down (denaturing) the protein so that it no longer triggers the reaction. The most widely used denaturing agent is tannic acid, such as that found in ADS Anti-Allergen Spray. Chlorine dioxide in a very dilute form is also effective in denaturing proteins. ADMS Anti Dust Mite Spray contains this and other active ingredients to denature dust mite allergens.

Carpeting and Dust Mites

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people with allergies really should pull up their carpeting and replace it with tile  or a laminate. We have a friend that pulled it all up and just painted the slab. Looks pretty good.

The problem with carpets and allergies is that carpeting, no matter what kind, holds dirt. In the dirt you will find dust, dirt, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and everything else yo stepped in.

No I know the carpet cleaning company will tell you they can get everything out and make it as good as new. Nice line but not really. It will be just as good as new for about a day or two unless the cleaner has a bad water extraction system and then it will be worse.

If you can’t pull it up you should look at using a product called X-Mite. It’s a powder that you sprinkle on to the carpeting that neutralizes the allergens. Here is an article that does a pretty good job of explaining it.

“X-Mite Powder made by Alkaline Laboratories harnesses the power of the acids in tannins to denature the allergy causing proteins.  Tannic acid is found in woods like oak, mahogany, and redwood.  It is also found in tea.  Alkaline Labs uses a patented process to convert this into a 3% tanacetane formulation which is highly effective in denaturing proteins from animals, molds, pollens and dust mites.  They combine this denaturing agent with a water-based solution of surfactants that also absorbs some soil.

The result with X-Mite powder is that the proteins are denatured and thereby made harmless and some soil is removed making the carpets appear cleaner.” Read complete article

I’m not a fan of carpeting. I have allergies and pets. I know many people will tell me that carpeting is no that bad as long as you vacuum it.I’ll save my comments about that for another post but If you have bad allergies, vacuuming is not one of the best things you can do.