Archive for May, 2010
Some Basic Knowledge About Dust Mite Allergy
In the United States alone, at least 10% of the overall population have dust mite allergy or have experienced a dust mite allergy attack.
Dust mite allergy is caused by dust mites. Dust mites are tiny little insects that belong to genus Dermatophagoides, which are in the same family as spiders—Arachnida in the kingdom Insecta.
Yes, dust mites are insects, and therefore, are living organisms that can be killed and eliminated. But, although they are living creatures, dust mites are surprisingly so small and so tiny that you can not barely see them with just your naked eye.
The insect known as dust mite
Dust mites are oval-shaped, eight-legged insects equipped with sticky pads on their feet that help them burrow deep into furniture and carpet fibers. Dust mites, when observed under powerful magnifying lenses will appear in a creamy color.
These insects thrive by feeding on small bits of finger nails, pollen, human shed skin, bacteria, fungi and animal dander.
Dust mites favor hot and humid environments because they absorb air moisture. Humidity between 70% to 80% coupled with optimum temperatures of about 75 degrees to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is the prefect environment setting for dust mites. Such climate will help dust mites consume their food well.
Dust mite allergy
Because dust mite is not parasitic in nature, is considered not a serious threat to humans. It does not suck blood, nor even bite.
However, dust mites become problems when they try to enter human bodies’ systems unintentionally along with dusts.
Because of their tiny structures and light weight, dust mites tend to fly around the room and go along with dusts when inhaled by humans. This makes dust mites dangerous.
Inhaling dust mites will cause an allergic reaction, which is commonly and appropriately termed dust mite allergy. Dust mite allergy takes the form of simple dust allergies, except that dusts are inhalant, are non living allergens, but dust mites are living creatures.
Symptoms may be exactly similar to a dust allergy attack. The victim experiences uneasiness in breathing, coughs occasionally and sometimes suffer from sore and itchy throat.
Treatment of dust mite allergy
The best treatment to dust mite allergy is to cut or eliminate exposure to such insects. If that does not bring along immediate results, then allergy shots and medications available in drug stores can be taken in.
For dust mite allergy, like in most allergies, the most basic medication or drug administered is antihistamine. Antihistamines contain enzymes that help curtail allergic body reactions to allergens.
However, the efficiency of antihistamines in treating dust mite allergy will not be assured unless exposure to dust mite is significantly cut down or totally eradicated.
Preventing occurrences of dust mite allergies
The best way to prevent dust mite allergies from occurring is through maintaining cleanliness in the surroundings, especially home and bedroom, where dust mites normally thrive.
Remember that vacuum cleaners can only suck dead dust mites, but the living ones will always find the way to resist and escape them.
Thus, another option to keep your house dust mite free is by installing air conditioners and air dehumidifier. Dust mites love hot and humid surroundings, and reducing heat and humidity inside home will surely knock them off.
Charlene J. Nuble 2006. For answers to All your frequently asked questions about dust mite allergy, please go to: dust-mite-allergy.allergyanswers.net/ or go to: allergyanswers.net/ blog
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Buying Wool Carpets – are Wool Carpets for Me?
Should I consider buying wool carpets? Wool carpets are wonderful! Wool carpets have made my life miserable! This is actually one of those situations where both of these statements can be 100% true. My hope is to help you determine which one of these groups you belong too before you go through the expense of investing in wool carpets.
I have been cleaning carpets in Boulder Colorado for over 17 years and I have cleaned some wonderful and not so wonderful wool carpets. Wool is soft and it feels great to walk, crawl, or lay on. It feels like walking on soft hair. Wow! It is soft hair! The wool fiber consist of three main parts. The epidermis (cuticle) consisting of protective, overlapping scales on the fibers outer surface. The cortex, which composes most of the wools fiber and the center of the wool fiber is called the medulla. One of the facts that makes wool kinda scary is that it is a protein. Why could this be bad? Wool proteins can chemically bond with other proteins that can permanently attach itself to the wool fiber.
The real protein problem usually arises from our pets. Most of our pets throw up their food which is primarily a Protein base. These pet accidents can quickly turn our beloved soft haired carpet into a visual tapestry of pet throw up, urine stains and other digestive processes that I do not like to think about. Often, these stains will permanently affix themselves and become part of the wool fiber. Another source of protein comes from the food we eat. Baby food may have a high protein concentrate and if applied to your wool carpet it may become a sentimental remembrance of your child’s baby years. Wool is considered the finest carpet fiber in the world and if I did not have pets and small children I would seriously consider the expense.You also have to be very careful not to get bleach on your wool carpet. Bleach will actually cause the wool fiber to dissolve and leave you with a hole in the middle of your carpet.This means that putting wool carpets in a laundry room may not be the best of ideas. Many over the counter cleaners have a small amount of bleach in them. The advantages of wool carpet include that it feels soft, holds color very well, wears well, soil resistant, cleans well and it is naturally non flammable. The wool fiber is also very elastic and it can expand 3 to 4 times its’ size. This helps the wool fiber be naturally durable.
The negative traits of wool fiber include that it is very sensitive to alkalinity (high PH soaps), costs more than synthetic fibers, costs more to clean, not resistant to Protein stains, will dissolve in bleach and can be damaged by carpet beetles and moths. Consider the pluses and minuses as they pertain to your life and if you decide to purchase the wonderful wool carpet fiber, see our special carpet cleaning care guide for wool carpets at
http://www.colorado-carpet-masters.com You will also find free carpet repair guides, allergy guides, carpet buying guides, carpet spot guides, carpet cleaning consumer guides an much more.
Keith Wroblewski is an IICRC Master Carpet Cleaner who has been in the cleaning industry for 20 years. He has produced several free help guides and now offers these guides at
http://www.colorado-carpet-masters.com
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