Vacuum cleaners. Buying a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA attachment may be helpful. Such vacuum cleaners can trap allergens which are less than one micron in size. Regular weekly vacuuming of all fabric items will reduce the allergen load in the house.

This is an expensive investment and should only be done after careful consideration of all the other options to reduce dust mite allergens.

Alternatively, mop the floor with a damp cloth. Also, replace soft fabric-upholstered furniture with false-leather or plastic or wooden furniture that cannot harbour dust mites.

Air filters. When we walk across the carpet, or settle onto the couch or into bed, the dust mite allergens are stirred up, sending them airborne. Air cleaners or air filters with medical HEPA attachments are effective in removing allergens that are airborne, but the equipment have no effect on the allergens found in upholstered fabrics or bedding. Their role is limited to filtering the air of airborne allergens.

Ionizers are not effective at removing allergens. Air filters must be used in combination with other measures to be effective in limiting the dust mite allergen load in the bedroom.

Ventilation matters. Ventilate the house by opening the windows and doors as often as possible. Fresh air removes allergens that are airborne in the home environment.

Homes close to major highways with heavy traffic should keep their windows closed since exhaust fumes are strong promoters of allergy.

Travel precautions. Take dust-proof allergicovers with you when you travel. Spare beds with old mattresses in relative's homes are likely to be a real problem. Hotel beds vary in quality and are completely unpredictable with respect to dust mite load. Wash the allergicovers when you get back home.

Humidity. One effective way to control dust mites in the home is through controlling humidity. Dust mites are very sensitive and perish at low humidity (less than 35 per cent). Since the relative humidity in Malaysia is usually very high (greater than 60 per cent), it is not an easy task to reduce the humidity to a low enough level to be effective.

High quality dehumidifiers used in closed rooms may be able to accomplish this task, but this is an expensive option.

Keep it covered. If you're allergic to dust mite allergens, it is advisable that you keep all flour in closed containers, preferably in a refrigerator, so that dust mites cannot get access to the flour and multiply in it.

If the flour has been in an unused container at room temperature for many months, it may be advisable to dispose of the flour.

Desperate measures. As a last option, consider moving house if your house is old, damp or unavoidably dusty.

Also buy furniture that is dust mite-proof - made from leather, false-leather or wooden materials.

m1

The Star/Asia News Network

This story was first published in The Star.