Bedcare

http://www.allergo.com/bedCareFAQ.html

Can I vacuum my bed with a water-based vacuum cleaner?

Vacuuming with a water-based vacuum cleaner is the worst that you can do for the bed. Third-party medical studies (University of Virginia) have shown that of various vacuum cleaners tested, the water-based vacuum leaked the most allergen.

This is because water is not a good filter - what goes in comes back out. In industrial applications, water filters are mainly used to remove the largest particles (example, sand from sandstorms in desert locations). Water is never used in any commercial applications where the dust is in the submicron level (1 micron = 1/1000th of 1 millimeter). Dust mite allergen is in that category.

While the water-based vacuum may be very expensive, and it may also be unique in various applications (like clearing a clogged sink, or cleaning a wet floor), it should not be used for removing house dust mite allergens. Any dust mites removed by the vacuum will be blown back into the air, where it causes more damage to the allergic individual.

View abstract of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology study.

back to top

Can I vacuum my bed with other vacuums?

The best vacuum that is recommended by medical professionals is one fitted with a True HEPA filter, and with a suction power that is strong enough to reach down through the mattress. Even a True HEPA vacuum without very strong suction will not do the trick. You can find more info on this in the Floorcare section.

If your vacuum is not a True HEPA vacuum, it will leak any dust mite allergens that it picks up from the surface of your bed. This is despite whatever manufacturer claims of filtration efficiency etc. The industry standard is True HEPA, which is the only type of vacuum used where leakage control is very important - namely industrial cleanrooms.

While vacuuming with a good True HEPA vacuum will do the job, any remaining dust mites (e.g. 5% left after vacuuming), can continue to multiply and cause problems. So, regular vacuuming is required, and vacuuming alone does not achieve 100% avoidance.

However, anti-allergen encasings can achieve 100% avoidance as the allergens from within the mattress cannot escape and harm the sleeping individual.

In this case, only the top surface of the anti-allergen encasings need to be vacuumed from time to time.

back to top

How about bedding that are treated for dust mites?

Recently, consumer anti-dust mite bedding like bedsheets and pillows have been made available. These are usually treated with chemicals (called acaricides) that kill dust mites, so that dust mites do not thrive in it. While this is a good thing, it is not a permanent measure.

Acaricides have been available for a long time. A consumer version is Acarosan, which has benzyl benzoate as the active agent, and is available as a spray or as a washing additive.

While patients have a choice of using this spray on their existing bed (which is similar to buying chemically pre-treated bedding), this is not recommended for two reasons.

Firstly, although manufacturers claim that their acaricides is harmless, the long term impact of constant skin contact with an acaricide is still unknown. Many people would not like to treat their mattresses and pillows with chemicals. Which is why acaricides are normally recommended for carpets, upholstery and other relatively low-contact environments.

Secondly, even if you use the acaricide, their effectiveness only lasts for a given period. In temperate climates, it may last up to six months. In hot and humid tropical climates like Singapore, it is usually one to three months. If the bedding is not treated again, then mites will continue to grow and multiply.

back to top

Are anti-mite mattresses useful?

As in the case of bedding (see previous question), anti-mite mattresses are usually chemically treated. Many people do not like the idea of sleeping on a mattress soaked with an acaricide

One can buy a bottle of Acarosan and spray one's own mattress to achieve the same effect, for a fraction of the cost.

Only that such chemical treatments are short-term, and require a re-treatment within 1 to 3 months to remain effective.

back to top

Will any US-made anti-allergen encasing do?

While there are other types of membranes available from the US, Allergy Control™ covers stand out on a few counts:

• it is the only one that has a US FDA Class II Medical Device certification.
• it has been tested by NUH, and the positive results have been published.
• it has the highest breathability in the market, more than ten times that of common polyurethane membranes going by different brand names. And yet the pricing differential is minimal.
• being the pioneer of allergy control covers in 1983, Allergy Control has the longest history.

back to top

Will mattress protectors help?

Mattress protectors are cushioned sheets that are placed in between the mattress and bed sheets. They help absorb any night soiling and adds cushion comfort.

However, they are useless against dust mites. This is because they are made of fabric, with filling inside. Dust mites will penetrate the fabric and filling, making the mattress protector itself an ideal breeding ground for dust mites.

back to top

Can't I just sun my mattresses and pillows?

Clinical tests published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has shown that sunning bedding had little effect on controlling mite population. The best patient action is still to encase the bedding items with anti-allergen encasings.

back to top