House dust mites are very tiny almost invisible to the naked
eye. Dust mites are not parasitic, but they have powerful allergens contained
in the mites, their cast skins, fecal material and secretions that can cause
allergic reactions in asthmatics and others who are allergic to their feces.
Their primary food is skin scales (dander) contained in house dust. Since the
greatest fallout occurs in areas of human and pet activity, the mites tend to
be most numerous in beds, sofas, chairs, and carpeted areas.
Studies show that
dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in
countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments. In the United
Kingdom, one in 10 children and one in 12 adults suffer from asthma (source
www.asthma.org.uk) while everyone either knows or is related to someone who
suffers from an allergy or eczema.
According to Mayo
Clinic, dust mite allergy symptoms caused by inflammation of nasal passages
include: sneezing, runny nose, itchy red watery eyes, nasal congestion, itchy
nose, roof of mouth or throat, postnatal drip, cough, facial pressure and pain,
frequent awakening, swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes, in a child,
frequent upward rubbing of the nose.
Here then are some
tips shared by Mayo Clinic to combat this household problem.
Use allergen-proof bed covers. Cover your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or
allergen-blocking covers.
Wash bedding weekly. Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot
water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens.
Keep humidity low. Maintain a relative humidity between 30 and 50
percent in your home.
Choose bedding wisely. Avoid bedcovers that trap dust easily and are difficult to
clean
frequently.
Buy washable stuffed toys. Wash them often in hot water and dry thoroughly. Also, keep
stuffed toys off beds.
Remove dust. Use a damp or
oiled mop or rag rather than dry materials to clean up dust. This prevents dust
from becoming airborne and resettling.
Cut clutter. If it
collects dust, it also collects dust mites. Remove knickknacks, tabletop
ornaments, books, magazines and newspapers from your bedroom.
Remove carpeting and other dust mite habitats. Carpeting provides a comfortable habitat for dust
mites. If possible, replace wall-to-wall bedroom carpeting with tile, wood,
linoleum or vinyl flooring.
Use Air purifiers
Air purifiers
collect airborne dust in your home and can help with controlling dust if you
also maintain vigorous cleaning practices.
Vacuum regularly. This is where
RAYCOP, the first UVC anti-allergy vacuum plays a big role.
Raycop is the first
UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaner that kills 99 percent of bacteria and
eliminates almost 94 percent of dust mites. It is especially designed to clean
bed linens and other fabrics helping to create a healthier home by cleaning
deep into the household fabrics, mattresses, sofas, chairs, futons, crib, pads,
bed sheets, pillows and curtains.
The process of
eliminating bacteria and other allergens employed by the vacuum cleaner is
through its patented 3-step allergy care system. First, the vibrating pad
shakes particles and dust mites away from mattresses at a whopping 3,600 times
per minute (twice that in some models), making sure that even the most stubborn
dust mites are removed.
This is followed by
the UVC sterilization lamp that kills bacteria to leave surfaces germ-free. The
lamp uses a highly efficient and effective 253.7 nanometer wavelength, the same
germicidal ultraviolet wavelength used in hospitals, clinics and laboratories
for almost seven decades now.
Finally, the device
uses a cartridge filter that captures the larger particles and traps them so
they cannot go back to the room.
Distributed by
Zinven Int’l Corp., the Raycop UVC anti-allergy vacuum cleaner is available at
Rustan’s department stores, S & R, Landmark, Wilcon Builders Libis, and Abenson’s
department stores. For more information about Raycop product lines and its
outstanding features, visit their Web site www.raycop.com.
