Allergies and Carpet, Minimize Allergens in Carpet

In my last blog post, I wrote about the disheartening trend in home decorating towards carpeting, especially in the bedrooms. We went over how carpet is a hotbed of dust mites and other household allergen activity.

However, I realize that in the real world there will be situations where you just can’t get rid of the carpets.  In that case, you just have to do your best given the situation and try to minimize allergens in the carpet.

Start by vacuuming regularly with a high-quality vacuum that was designed for containing allergens and reducing your exposure.  So, don’t let the handsome guy on TV with the cool accent convince you that his bag-less vacuum with cyclone technology is the best for you.  It is not.  He is just trying to sell you a vacuum. he is selling a vacuum that will not minimize the allergens in your carpet and will actually expose you to more allergens.

Ask yourself,  If the goal is to reduce my exposure, why on earth do I want something that will send a cloud of collected particles up in the air when I empty it?  Seriously, the entire concept of a bagless allergy vacuum is an oxymoron.

You want to look for a canister vacuum system.  You want the canister and the entire vacuum system to be sealed so that allergens don’t leak out.

You want a vacuum with a HEPA filter.  You want that HEPA filter to be post-motor, so the last thing that happens to the air before it is exhausted is that it is cleaned.

You want to make sure that you change that HEPA filter as recommended by the manufacturer.  There are several brands of vacuums on the market, (Lindhaus, Nilfisk, Miele, Vapamore) that meet all of these requirements and we sell two of them.

Secondly, no matter how well you vacuum, allergens will be left behind.  If you have carpets you are going to have to treat them on a regular basis to denature the allergens.

The standard product for removing allergens from carpets is X-Mite Powder.  It is a tannic acid-based moist powder that will brighten the carpets and denature the allergens.  It must be applied every 3 months.

It is effective, and that is why doctors recommend it.  It is also a bit of a hassle for people with busy lives.   You sprinkle the powder down, sweep it into the fibers with a broom and then wait 3 hours.  You then vacuum up the powder and throw the vacuum bag away.

I prefer to minimize allergens in the carpet with a treatment of  ADMS Spray.  It contains no tannic acid and is perfect for light-colored and low-pile carpets. You get the same denaturing action with much less hassle.  Just vacuum the carpet to remove loose soil and then lightly spray the ADMS down.  In about 15 to 20 minutes it will be dry and you can be on your way.

In the best of worlds, there would be no carpet.  But if you live in the real world, it is possible to live with those carpets and your allergies.  You just have to work at the relationship.

Until Next Time
Cheryl Krause

Will any Mattress Cover Do?

We get calls all the time from people who want to know if you need a special cover to protect against dust mites. They may already have a cover or pad on the mattress or pillow and want to know if it will do the trick. I don’t blame them for asking. I wouldn’t want to buy a new mattress cover if the mattress cover I already owned would do the trick.

The problem is most regular mattress covers aren’t made of barrier cloth.  Barrier cloth is the common name we give to microweave fabrics. The idea of a mattress cover made of a microweave is that the fibers have been woven so tightly that the allergens cannot escape through as air flows.

The most tightly woven microweave mattress covers are made from polyester fibers.  That is because polyester is a strong yarn that can be woven very tightly without breaking.  To get allergen protection, you want a mean (average) pore size of at least 8 microns.

The good microweave mattress covers are made with fabrics that have a 5-micron pore size and the really really good ones have a pore size of 4 microns. Of course, if you don’t like the idea of a mattress cover made from polyester and want the coolness of cotton, then you will have to sacrifice some pore size.

So, if the mattress cover you currently own totally encases the mattress, zips closed, and is made from a fabric with a mean pore size of under 8 microns, then you do not need to buy a special cover.  Chances are, your cover does not meet these requirements and the money invested in a new mattress cover will well be worth the relief you get from sleeping allergy-free

Cheryl

Best Mask for Gardening and Outdoor Activities

gardeningSpring has sprung and summer is just around the corner.   Time to get outside and enjoy the warm temperatures and fresh air.  If you have allergies and like to be outside, it can be a challenge.  Don’t reach for another dose of antihistamine; stop allergies before they start. Reach for a pollen-protecting mask.  Reach for the Qmask.  We think it is by far the best mask for gardening and many other outdoor activities.

The Pollen Problem

Spring brings tree pollen and summer brings grass pollen.  If you are gardening outside, you are going to breathe pollen.

It is in the air and on the plants.  Depending on the wind speed, the best mask for gardening blocks pollenpollen doesn’t even need to originate in your yard for you to be exposed.  The wind is important to pollen dispersal. Plants depend on the wind.  The pollen you can breathe in your yard can come from plants miles away.   The minute you go outside you are exposed!

Reduce reactions to pollen by reducing your exposure.  This doesn’t mean you have to stay inside.  It does mean that before you go outside you should put on a mask that stops pollen.  Be sure to pick a mask that doesn’t let in pollen and doesn’t restrict your airflow.  That’s where the Qmask comes in.

What Makes QMask Best Mask for Gardening

Gardening is physical. Digging, pruning, carrying debris, watering, mulching, and more.  All of this physical effort is good exercise. When you exercise your muscles need oxygen.  The last thing you need is a mask that restricts your airflow and your oxygen.

qmask blocks pollen easy to put onBreathe easy with the Qmask.  The revolutionary material won’t clog and it won’t restrict your airflow.  Instead of trapping pollen and other debris, it blocks and repels them.

In a nutshell, pollen hits the mask and bounces off.  You breathe easy and you breathe pollen-free.

Wear glasses?  Not a problem with the Qmask. The flexible edges conform to the contours of your nose and cheeks easily and comfortably.  Your glasses or sunglasses will not fog up and the Qmask won’t compete with your glasses for valuable real estate behind your ear.

Instead of wide straps, the Qmask uses soft ear loops to keep your mask in place.  It won’t interfere with your hearing aids either!

That’s just the start.  Unlike cheap paper-style masks that you use once and throw away, the Qmask is reusable.  Just rinse to remove any pollen and let it drip dry.  Wear it over and over and over again.  Al season long you’ll agree that the Qmask is the best mask for gardening.

Be Cool

With all that exercise, you can work up a sweat.  Be cool with the qmask is best mask for gardening and other outdoor activitiesQmask. It won’t get hot no matter how strenuous your activity.   Mary-Margaret “says it is cool, easy to breathe, and totally prevents inhalation of pollen You can’t ask for more in a mask for gardening.”

Other Ways to Avoid Pollen

When you come inside, head to the bathroom and remove all your clothing.  Your hair and clothes are like pollen magnets.  When you come inside you bring all that pollen with you.  You don’t want to spread it around the house.

Shower and wash your hair to remove pollen and mold spores.  Deposit your pollen-filled clothes in the hamper. Do not keep the hamper in the bedroom!

During Spring and summer months, check your pollen forecasts at Pollen.com.  Don’t hang clothes out to dry these days.   Keep pets inside as well.  Their fur picks up pollen and it will hitch a ride inside.

So grab your Qmask and get gardening! Tell us what you’ve grown in the comments below

Til Next Time

Cheryl