FAQ: Dust Mites

It seems a little strange to think about Frequently Asked Questions regarding dust mites, because asking questions about a creature too small to be seen without a microscope--that eats human skin cells as its main diet and that lives in your bed--seems a little “all over the map.”

But if you suffer from dust mite allergies, it pays to know a little bit about dust mites and how to prevent them from setting off allergy or asthma symptoms.

Where do dust mites come from?

They’re everywhere around the world, and they live in almost every home. So the answer to the question “Where do dust mites come from” is better asked in a different form, as in, “Is there anywhere safe from dust mites?”

The answer to that question is, not really. Dust mites thrive on human existence, and with more than 7 billion people in the world and lots of dust and human skin cells floating around, the entire earth is pretty much a banquet for dust mites.

Dust mites actually exist by the millions on your pillow alone, chomping up tiny bits of human skin shed from your body. But that’s where the problems begin, because their dust mite feces contain enzymes that contribute mightily to allergic reactions when breathed in, especially among children and the elderly. About 10% of the American population exhibits dust mite allergies, which in combination with spring allergies can make a person really miserable.

Dust mites particularly like humid atmospheres, yet drier climates play host to dust mites as well. So the next real question is more practical:

With dust mites living just about everywhere, what can you do to deal with them?

#1: Kill them

You can attack dust mites head on using Handheld Sanitizers like the CleanWave UV-C sanitizing wand. The handheld UV light wand kills bed bugs and knocks dust mites dead. You’ll also like the fact that it knocks out 99.9% of bacteria and mold, and is easy to use everywhere. Some people even take it on the road to hotel rooms to kill all the dust mites that hang out there, as well as for killing germs on the remote.

#2: Lock them out

Dust mites live a strange, little life cycle, hanging out in your bedding, pillows and even your mattress. So you’ve got to go with hypoallergenic bedding products that have a dense enough weave to seal off dust mites. It pays to wash your sheets in hot water to help kill off dust mites. Washing also removes any potential dust mite residues. Don’t worry, dust-mite free bedding is not some clinically sterile product that you’ll hate to use. Consider the Yala Bamboo Dreams Bamboo Duvet Covers. These covers and the matching Yala Bamboo Dreams Sheets are fairly priced, yet so luxuriously soft you’ll be ecstatic that you switched. Best of all, these sheets are environmentally friendly, being woven from the extremely common bamboo plant that is regenerated quickly. The fabric is soft and naturally draws off moisture so you’ll sleep in relaxation and peace.

#3: Clear the air

After you’ve converted your bedding and covers to dust mite free status, why take for granted the air you breathe. Air purifiers can filter the air you breathe to 99.97% purity, eliminating dust mite detritus and airborne allergens. There are many great models of air purifiers for all room sizes and in all price ranges.

Taking these steps can answer your concerns about dust mites and how to combat the allergies they produce for many people. If someone you know is experiencing allergy symptoms that do not seem related to pollen, or get worse when the person is indoors, house dust mites are to blame.

You can enact all these strategies that are good for anyone in the home whether there are allergies about or not. But the idea of killing off dust mites and clearing your bedding and the air is somehow appealing in its own right. Have at it and live healthier!

Stay Allergy-Free While Traveling

No matter where you go or how plan to get there while traveling this spring or summer, you are likely to encounter situations where allergies and other irritations can become genuine problem. Of course allergies aren’t really following you around.  It only seems that way. But it really can pay to have a simple, smart strategy in place to prevent problems before they occur.

The good news is this: Your allergy-free traveling plan can make use of simple yet effective methods to anticipate known and unknown sources of allergies or other illnesses. One of those sources is, of course, the surfaces you come in contact with while on the go.

Staying in hotels or even the house of a friend can bring you in contact with allergy sources. Since you can’t control every environment, it helps to have tools that can make your travels safer. One of the most effective ways to reduce allergens and even germs in any travel space is handheld UV sanitizers. These little miracle workers are the best friend in the world for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. A CleanWave UV-C sanitizing wand is portable enough to take with you in most travel bags and can be used to instantly eliminate 99.9% of bacteria and mold, kills bed bugs and dust mites and even wipes out E.coli, MRSA, Influenza A, to name a few.

Go even more portable with the Zadro Nano-UV Disinfection Light Scanner. This cell-phone sized UV sanitizer can be tucked in your pocket and used on handrails, airplane seats and arm rests, bathroom door handles, TV remotes and even the pillows where you rest your head. There is probably no better investment in terms of instant prevention of the germs and allergens you least want to eliminate. Both these sanitizers are just $79.99, and the combo can give you peace of mind every inch or minute on the road. Even taxicabs and other public places can be rendered safe, and give you peace of mind.

When it comes down to it, you can’t be too careful with some aspects of your personal hygiene when seeking to prevent allergens or germs from invading your breathing and personal space. That’s why toothbrush sanitizers are a great way to kill 99% of the germs that linger on your most intimate device. Brush in clean confidence for only $9.99!

The other facet of allergy protection is the air you breathe. That means travel air purifiers are an important preventative step to keep your sinuses and lungs safe from allergens. So check this out, the Wein Mini-Mate Wearable Air Purifier cleans the air anywhere you go. Hang it around your neck and eliminate allergens, bacteria and viruses from the air you breathe before they can affect you! This little wonder is maintenance free and scientifically tested, so we aren’t talking about some low-benefit, hi-tech device that does not work. It simply purifies the air you breathe through the proactive use of air ionization while propelling clean, fresh air into your breathing zone. Only 1.5 ounces, it also comes with a breakaway strap for user safety.

When you get where you’re going and want to ensure the air you breathe is safe and clean, the Vapor Eaze Clean Air HEPA Air Cleaner will do the trick in spaces up to 180 square feet. You’ll feel peace of mind knowing you’re filtering air from germs, bacteria and viruses.

Ultimate One-Wipe® Dust Cloths are go-anywhere dust knocker-outers that can be used to prevent dust from kicking up into the air and setting your allergies off like an alarm. With six wipes per package they are already a bargain at $14.95, but when you add in the fact that they are machine washable and re-usable, you’ll want to buy some for around the house as well as on the road.

But let’s face it, there are some situations that are simply out of our control when it comes to controlling the environments we encounter. For those situations, it makes sense to have a direct strategy to deal with allergy sources. Allergy masks are simple to carry and even simpler to use.

The Multi-purpose allergy dust mask is a practical prevention tool for filtering out allergens. The air pollution mask is designed for outdoor and indoor air filtration and is especially helpful in regions where smog and high allergy counts can trigger reactions or asthma, which are proven to be related to allergies. Trust the 3M HEPA Mask to filter out 99.97% of airborne allergens and other irritants.

If you have chemical sensitivities, there are a whole range of products you can carry with you as you travel that are also vital protections at home. These personal products are great for eliminating risks from shampoos, water and other chemical sources.

All these products can make your trips safer and more enjoyable this spring and summer. Happy traveling!

The Worst Allergy Cities in America

It’s fairly common knowledge that an allergy is an immune response or reaction to substances that are usually not harmful. People who suffer from allergies therefore have to be cautious how they interact with the environment and manage their symptoms by either limiting the exposure to the allergens in their life or find ways to treat the symptoms when allergies do hit.

So here’s some interesting news. There are some cities in America where it is better to live if you have allergies. There are also cities that are not happy circumstances for allergy sufferers.

Pollen is one of the worst enemies to allergy sufferers. The ongoing combination of weather and climate trends, types of vegetation, humidity and wind in a specific area all combine to affect the likelihood of allergies. One thing is certain: All across the country allergies are coming on sooner and in many places resulting in more intense symptoms.

You might want to stay away from Jackson, Mississippi this year if you have bad pollen allergies. Jackson is rated number one on the list of worst cities for allergies. Early rains have made the southern coast a hotbed for allergies.

Knoxville, Tennessee is seated in the Smokey Mountains where tree pollen allergies can aggravate sinuses to no end. Right up the allergy road sits Chattanooga, number two on the worst cities for allergies in 2013.

Hey, welcome, y’all, to McAllen, Texas, where the ongoing drought means allergy pollens can be more intense (and itchy, and awful) and hang around longer.

Number five on the list is Louisville, Kentucky. They may have the best college basketball team in the nation but they are also America’s 38^th worst city for air quality due to pollution. That can aggravate allergies and even asthma.

If you’re in Wichita, Kansas you’d better hold your nose because being number six on the allergy capitol list is quite a tryst. The wind does Wichita no favors because pollen spores can carry for hundreds of miles. So if the first wave doesn’t get you, the second, third, or 50^th wave sooner or later will.

The roller coaster weather patterns around Dayton, Ohio help make it the seventh worst city for allergies in America. The tree pollen peaks in early April. Grass pollen comes along in late June. When it gets humid you have to watch out for mold counts. Sounds like the best strategy in Dayton, Ohio is to get an air purifier and stay indoors on some days.

So, what is up in Memphis, Tennessee, besides Graceland and Elvis? Well, Memphis cracks the Top 10 in worst cities for allergies because it is essentially a hunka-hunka burning love due to warm overall temperatures, long growing seasons and a lot of tree and grass pollen that lasts well into the fall. If you travel to Memphis, you might want to bring along your own allergy prevention device.  Elvis won’t mind, he’s already left the building.

Likewise in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Besides the fact that saying the word “ohk-lah-homa” already sounds like you’re stuffed up, the allergy season there is long, starting in mid-March and lasting well into late summer.

The down low on Baton Rouge, Louisiana, our tenth city for worst allergies in America, is that it sits in a basin where air settles, pollution can drag on and pollen can just float in the air like wet dust waiting to go up your nose. No bargains here, folks. Not if you have allergies and want to enjoy the South.

There are ways to combat allergies if you live in one of these places or wind up in one of the pollen hotspots somewhere else in America. Conditions are constantly changing but one thing doesn’t: Your need to prepare for and treat your allergies when conditions, or locations, are ripe for allergy symptoms.

Weekly Challenge: Keeping the Kitchen Clean and Allergy Free

Keeping the kitchen clean is a never ending job, but if you have allergies, the need to combat potential allergens makes kitchen cleanliness an even higher priority.  Allergy free cleaners for household use can help control your allergies.

Get down close and really look at your kitchen counter, or nose up to those shelf corners and give a good sniff or a finger wipe, and you might be disgusted with what you find. But it’s the seemingly invisible dust, particulates, pet dander, molds and mildews that are the greatest dangers to people with allergies. Even germs and stickiness can build up quickly, yet many traditional household cleaners can be risky for people with chemical sensitivities.

You don’t have to live in fear of your household cleaners failing on the job or actually making you sick from the chemicals they contain. There are intelligent ways to clean your kitchen clean and allergy free.

Meeting the Challenge: Cleaning products

The entire line of HomeFree Cleaning Supplies is specially formulated for people with chemical sensitivities, allergies and asthma. For effective, chemically safe daily cleanup the 100% biodegradable HomeFree Multi Cleaner is entirely plant based and environmentally friendly. While this cleaner is extremely powerful, getting rid of dust, dirt, grime and “kitchen leftovers” with simple spray and wipe ease, it does not contain caustics, acids or solvents that can hurt your skin or irritate eczema. It is safe for use on any surface and will not harm fine paint finishes.

HomeFree Glass Cleaner is designed for the subtle task of getting class clean and clear, and, like HomeFree MultiCleaner, does an incredible job of getting your windows and glass, or other shiny surfaces clean without harmful chemicals.

Meeting the Challenge: Sanitizers

People who dislike the thought of germs around the kitchen can put their minds at ease with Handheld UV Sanitizers. The CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Wand kills 99.9% of the germs hiding invisibly around your kitchen. The hand held UV light wand knocks out bacteria and mold, kills e.Coli bacteria, MRSA, Influenza A (H1N1), and every other kind of microscopic bug that might be hiding around your kitchen. 

The Nano UV Water Disinfection and Surface Sanitizer can literally disinfect water or a kitchen surface with the safe, yet intense and directed, power of ultraviolet light. This handheld wonder kills germs on the surface of your counters or appliances in 10 seconds. You can even scan water for 40 seconds to remove harmful germs. When you’re done cleaning the kitchen of germs and allergens like mold or mildew, bacteria or cold viruses, you can head up to the bedroom and get rid of dust mites and bed bugs.

Meeting the Kitchen Challenge: Anti-Allergen Sprays

Like it or not, the kitchen tends to be a gathering place for both people and pets. That’s not always a good mix for people with allergies. Allersearch ADS Anti-Allergen spray stops allergens from creating allergic responses. You spray Allersearch on the surface you want to treat and leave it for 3 hours. When it dries, just vacuum the area you want to clean and up comes the dust and allergens you want to remove. Apply it to kitchen carpets where dust and dirt can accumulate. And if you want to specifically deal with pet dander use Allersearch ADMS Anti-Allergen Spray, another non-staining formula that picks up pet dander also as well as allergens due to dust mites, pollens, mold and mildew.

There you go! You’re healthily armed with products and techniques to make your kitchen clean and allergy free.