Best Dust Mite Cover

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Posted in Allergies
What is the best dust mite cover?   Wow! We get that question many times a day.  It is sort of like asking “what is the best flavor of ice cream?” It is all a matter of preference.  My son loves cherry, I don’t. I love vanilla.

My daughter loves the satin feel of the fabric used to make our Bed Bug Mattress cover.  It is not my favorite. I like either the Linen or the AllerSoft 100% Cotton.

The best dust mite cover is the cover that you find the most comfortable.  If you are concerned about chemicals and want to support organic farmers, then the Certified Organic Cotton is the best dust mite cover for you. 

If you need something thin and lightweight that can stand up to frequent washing then the Pristine Luxury fabric is for you.  If you like the feel of cotton, but need a heavy duty durable fabric, AllerSoft Cotton Blend is the best for you.

Every dust mite and bed bug proof mattress, duvet, and pillow cover we sell will give you protection against the common household allergens.  These include dust mites and their feces, animal dander, molds, pollens and cockroach bits.  If in addition to dust mite allergy protection, you need waterproof protection for the mattress, then you want a urethane coated fabric. The Linen or Bed Bug fabric would be best for you. The other fabrics do not offer waterproof protection, so they would not be the best.
When I help people choose a fabric, I ask them about the sheets that they like. If someone is an all cotton person, they won’t like the feel of the polyester fabrics. It doesn’t matter that Pristine has the smallest pore size, its not the best if you don’t like the way it feels so you take it off the bed.
Another consideration is how often you plan on washing your dust mite cover.. We recommend that you wash the covers at least once or twice a year.  Some people just like to wash more often. The more you want to wash the cover, the more polyester you need in the fabric. For such a person, the Pristine Luxury is the best dust mite cover.  If you want to wash often but need the feel of cotton, the AllerSoft Cotton Blend is the best dust mite cover.
Another consideration is fabric price. If Certified Organic Cotton is out of your price range, then it is not the best dust mite cover for you.
To sum it up, the best dust mite cover is one that meets your needs for washing, is pleasing to your touch, and fits in your budget.  As for the ice cream, I’ll take a single scoop of vanilla in a cup please.
Cheryl

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

Foam Mattress for Allergies?

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Posted in Bedding and Covers Dust Mites
One of the more recent trends in mattresses has been the memory foam mattress.  Natural foam (latex) has been in and out of fashion since it was first introduced over 30 years ago. There are people who are allergic to natural latex that fear reactions to latex mattresses.  This is despite the fact that there has not been one documented case of latex allergy to mattress. This could be because of the open cell structure of the natural foam allows it to be thoroughly washed before it is manufactured into a bed or because there is no direct contact between the sleeper and the latex.  That being said, if you are allergic to latex it is probably wise to consider the memory foam cell  over the latex.

If you start shopping foam mattresses you will find that most manufacturers claim that foam mattresses will not harbor dust mites.  This simply is not true. They contend that the closed cell structure of the foam protects it against dust mites.  While it is true that the foam itself does not provide a food source for dust mites, it still collects the food source (skin) for the mites. Where there is food, there will be mites! Foam mattresses (whether natural or man-made) do provide a means of collecting dust mite food, the resulting dust mites, and because of the interaction between the dust mites and their food, dust mite feces.  In addition, foam mattresses are covered by foam, wool, or polyester batting.  Mites and their feces will collect in the batting.
So, no matter the type of foam or the manufacturer, your foam mattress still needs an allergy proof cover. If you have natural foam or natural foam and organic cotton, then you would like our organic cotton dust mite proof cover.  If you have memory foam, you might want to consider our Pristine Luxury or AllerSoft 100% cotton covers for your mattress.

If you have a foam pillow, the same holds true. Your pillow is not free of mites and their allergens.  Put a zippered cover on the pillow and sleep tight!
Cheryl
The Allergy Store
4111 SW 47th Ave #307
Davie, FL 33314
1-800-771-2246
cheryl@allergystore..com

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

Environmental Working Group Issues 2011 SunScreen Guide

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Posted in Chemical Sensitivity
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. You want to take care of it. However, sometimes when we think we are doing the right thing, it turns out the opposite is true.  Sunscreens are a prime example of this.

Each year, the Environmental Working Group, and inter-agency group of researchers releases their recommendations for safe sunscreens.  As we reported previously, research is pointing to the presence of vitamin A in sunscreen as an ingredient that actually promotes the growth of tumors. Also, there is concern about the presence of oxybenzone and other ingredients that can act as hormone disruptors.  The EWG has just released their recommendations for 2011 and The Allergy Store is excited!

The EWG tested and reviewed the ingredients in over 1,700 sunscreens and were able to only recommend about 1 in 5.  The big names like Coppertone and Banana Boat didn’t make the cut. Most of these either contain vitamin A or don’t protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

We are proud that the only sunscreen we carry, SunSport35 is on the list of safe sunscreens.  Each product that was tested was rated on a toxicity scale of 0 – 10.  SunSport received a rating of 2, which means not only is it effective, it is safe.

So slather on the SunSport35 and get out there and enjoy the summer fun. You’ve got the EWG’s seal of approval if you do.

Cheryl

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

How to Remove Pet Allergen from your New Home

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Posted in Allergies
So you are excited! You have found that perfect apartment, condo or house.  It is just what you have been looking for AND it is just the right price. The only down side is that a cat/dog lived in the house and you have allergies.

So, is it possible to clean those allergens up?
It is possible.  It does require an investment of time and the goodwill of your friends as well as a little ADMS Denaturing Spray and X-Mite Carpet Powder. It also takes a bit of planning.  I spoke with someone today that was going to be moving in just a few days and because of the short time frame she had to pay for expedited freight. Ouch!

Time, because you will need to wipe down the walls, baseboards, door jambs, window sills, counter tops and cabinets. Friends, because that is a big job and “many hands make for light work”. ADMS Spray and X-Mite Carpet Powder because those are the two treatments that will denature the pet allergen left behind once the pet has moved out.

We get lots of these calls around the end of the month because people are preparing to move. They think if they run the vacuum or hire a carpet cleaner the pet allergen will be removed.  Unfortunately, that is not how it works.

Pets have a protein in their urine and saliva. As they lick, groom, and empty their bladder little bits of this protein adhere to the skin or fur of the animal. Once it is dry, it can flake off. Because it is very sticky, it will adhere to just about any surface it catches.. That is why it is important that the walls and other surfaces be wiped down to remove the pet allergen. Just a spray of ADMS is all it takes to break down that protein. On the carpets, you will want to vacuum first to remove any loose soil. Then sprinkle the X-Mite powder down and work into the carpet by sweeping with a broom.  Let the powder sit for 3 hours and then vacuum up. Be sure to throw out the vacuum bag when done.

If you are thorough, it should only take one cleaning to get rid of the allergens.  Then you can get on with the real work of unpacking those boxes!

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved

Allerpet is not just for Cats

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Posted in Allergies
I love catching up with old friends.  Sometimes you can go weeks and even months without seeing one of these valued friends and then “pop” there they are you and pick up like you never left off.

I had a great lunch a few days ago with a couple of those special friends.  While we were chatting, one friend asked me about the blog post where I discussed the Allerpet for Cats.  I assured her that I had not done the Photoshop treatment to the picture of my cat. Yes, the cat really was my cat and yes it really was that shiny.
She wanted to know if the Allerpet worked on dogs as well.  Seems that her beloved beagle causes her to be uncomfortable from time to time.  She noticed that when the dog is freshly washed, she has no reaction.  But, if the dog goes long without a bath, then the itchy, watery eyes and discomfort returns.  Knowing what I know about pet allergen, that makes perfect sense.

See, the protein that causes the allergic reaction is found in the saliva and urine of the dog. Ever time the dog licks or urinates, a bit of this sticks to the skin and fur.  It then dries up and can either flake off on its own and become airborne or it is shed with that piece of skin or fur, which then becomes airborne.  Once it is in the air, it is inhaled and triggers the reaction.  When the dog is first washed, all loose skin and fur is removed and the dried saliva is washed away.  However, it builds up quickly.

So yes, the Allerpet/D solution is made especially for dogs.  Not only will it gently denature that allergen, but it will make the dog as soft and shiny as my cat.

She is going to stop by The Allergy Store to pick up a bottle.  I’ll ask her to take a beagle pic and post that one too.
Stay tuned!
Cheryl

©Copyright 1996-2013 Cee DeeKay,Inc dba AllergyStore.com™ All Rights Reserved