Let's Talk Allergies

Why Can’t I Just Spray The Bed?

Why can’t I just spray the bed, why do I have to have a cover? WOW! We get that question quite a bit. Especially when people are watching every penny and making sure that they don’t spend more than they need to get the results they desire.

I hear from people more and more who want to know why they must cover their mattress to protect against dust mites and why they can’t just spray the bed with ADMS or ADS AntiAllergen Spray.

In order to understand why, you have to understand the dynamics of how you are exposed to dust mites.

The dust mites live in your mattress and feed on the shed human skin cells. They have burrowed down into the mattress where it is nice and dark. They are not walking around on the top so much. Too light there! When you sit on the bed or move about on the bed, the force of your movement sends the particles of dust mites, their dead bodies, and their feces into the air. Once these particles are in the air, you inhale them. It is like a rain shower of allergens. It is your movement that forces the particles out from deep inside the mattress.

If you were to spray the bed, you would only denature the allergens right on the top. Even if you sprayed all sides of the mattress, you would not penetrate very far. In order to get through a 9 inch mattress you would have to all but soak it in the denaturing agent. So, once you had it soaked through….how would you dry it out? See, you couldn’t! So, you would have a wet, soggy mattress on your hands and probably looking at mold growth. What a waste of your time and money and several bottles of spray.

When you put a zippered dust mite proof cover on your mattress, you put a barrier between you and those particles. No matter how much you move about on the bed, the particles will lift up out of the mattress, hit the barrier and then fall harmlessly back to the mattress. You won’t ever be exposed.

Now, that isn’t to say that I haven’t ever sprayed my bed with ADMS Spray! Since I don’t wash the dust mite proof cover very often, I will on occasion spray the top side of my dust mite cover with ADMS Spray. This is usually when I have stripped the bed to wash the sheets in De-Mite and am spraying the dust ruffle, comforter, and decorative pillows. I always make sure the cover is dry before I put the sheets back on. To tell the truth, when recovering from a bad cold or the flu (and that is rare now my allergies are under control) I have been known to spray my sheets with ADMS. I know that it really isn’t doing anything more than the washing in De-Mite, but it still makes me feel better. That counts for something doesn’t it?

Til next time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Bed Bug Treatment if you Bring Bed Bugs Home

The last few posts have been about bed bugs. We talk quite a bit about avoiding bed bugs. But what do you do if you didn’t manage to avoid them and now you have them. What is the scoop on bed bug treatment.

Bed Bugs Like to Hide

Many people try to handle bed beg treatment on their own. While you can vacuum and wipe and clean, the problem with bed bugs is that they will hide in small cracks and crevices that you can’t get into. One of their favorite hiding places is the crevice between the wall and the baseboard. So, if you try to do it yourself, keep in mind you will need to also be handy with a caulk gun to fill all the cracks and crevices in the room. You will also need to invest in a high quality steam cleaner.

You will also want to take apart all the furniture. I’ve so many stories of people finding them on top of the rails for the drawers in their dressers.

No EPA Registered Pesticide for Bed Bugs

No pesticide is registered with the EPA for bed bugs. There are many cedar oil companies that make claims about cedar oil and bed bugs, but none are EPA registered for bedbugs. The EPA only requires efficacy studies when the pest in question is a public health menace (bed bugs are annoying but not considered a public health risk). So, if you are trying to do it yourself, you are truly going it alone, with no government standards or studies to back you up.

How to Hire a Professional

If you want to hire a professional, take your time. Look for someone that practices Integrated Pest Management. Make sure they are licensed and ask for references. Ask if they provide a written inspection report. Avoid companies that quote one flat fee. Every home is different, every infestation is different, every bed bug treatment plan is different. Anybody that quotes flat fees isn’t taking into account these differences.

No Matter the Bed Bug Treatment Don’t Forget the Covers!

Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, they all agree that you must encase all bedding in zippered bed bug proof covers.

Bed bug proof covers should be constructed so that no bed bug can get out, no bed bug can get in, and the ones that are trapped in by the cover can’t feed through the fabric. Most dust mite covers that are marketed for bed bugs don’t meet this criteria. Ask if there are lab certifications for the covers you buy. A reputable dealer will have no problem with this request. We are so proud of our bed bug cover lab reports, we posted them on the web for everyone to see! Read lab results here.

I surely hope that you never need to put any of this information to use in your home.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl

The Allergy Store

Allergies and How to Prepare for Summer Camp

School ended here in South Florida last week. Parents and kids alike are starting to prepare for sleepaway camp. If you have a child with asthma or allergies, you need to know how to prepare for summer camp.

Prepare for Summer Camp -Food Allergies

Before your child leaves, make sure to speak with the director about any medications that will need to be administered. Also, if your child has food allergies, the time to discuss special diets is before you commit your camper and pay your fees.

Prepare for Summer Camp – Asthma

If your child is a seasoned camper, you have been through this routine before. Find out if they have a nebulizer on hand for emergencies or if you need to pack one. Find out their Epi-Pen policy. When out on a hike, who carries the Epi-Pen in case of an emergency insect sting? Critical if your child is allergic to bees or wasps.

Prepare for Summer Camp – Dust Mite Allergy

If your camper is required to bring their own bedding, you get an allergy-proofing break.

You can make sure that your camper is sleeping on sheets that you washed with De-Mite or Allergen Wash. No matter who is providing the linen, be sure to send an inexpensive zippered allergy-proof cover for the mattress and pillow.

For campers, we recommend using either the SMS or vinyl. You wouldn’t want to sleep on them every night as they are not the sturdiest (that is why we recommend them for the boxsprings) but for 1 to 4 weeks of sleeping at camp, they are perfect to use and then throw away. Most camp beds are long twin, be sure to ask the camp in advance so you get the right size.

Don’t forget the sunscreen. Read the label to make sure that there is no PABA, parabens, or vitamin A. Same for the soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

While Your Camper is Away

While your little camper is away, take advantage of the time to do a good deep clean of their room. Start at the top and work your way down, wiping down walls, furniture, doorjambs, window sills, and such. Strip all the bedding and wash in De-Mite or Allergen Wash. Clean the floors (including under the bed) and baseboards. Don’t forget to clean any picture frames and wash the curtains. Turn the air cleaner on high and close the door. Your little camper will return to a clean, fresh room.

When Your Camper Returns

Make sure that their bag and belongings stay in the garage until unpacked and inspected. Bed bugs are tricky hitchhikers and you don’t want them coming home with your camper.

Summer camp is can be a great experience but…no matter how far you travel and how much fun you have…there is no place like home!

Til Next Time

Cheryl

The Allergy Store