Controlling Dust, Dust Mites, Mold

1) Remove as many sources of dust and reservoirs of dust, mold, and pollen as possible especially in the affected person's sleeping room. These include stuffed animals, stuffed furniture, carpet (if possible), drapes (use washable cotton curtains), etc.

2) Vacuum mattress well and encase it in a cotton barrier cloth or coated poly/cotton cover. We do not recommend vinyl because it gives off chemical fumes that can weaken the allergic person's system.

3) Frequently wash pillows, sheets, and blankets. We suggest a vegetable based laundry detergent or soap, available at health food stores or Whole Foods. Standard detergents are petrochemically based and could further aggravate the child's allergies as could fabric softener. Once a month heat bedding items that you don't wash regularly in the dryer for six hours at 140 degrees or more or put them in the deep freeze for 2 days to kill dust mites.

4) Exclude pets.

5) Reduce excess humidity in house, especially the allergic person's room. Free-standing dehumidifiers work well. Available at Best Buy. Look for one with a defrost cycle.

6) Air out the room with at least once a day to bring in fresh air and exhaust the buildup of carbon dioxide and any chemical fumes that may have accumulated, choosing a time that the outside air is the least problematic. Then use your air filter (see below) to remove the new pollens and mold spores which may have come in with the fresh air.

7) If you use chemicals to kill insects, weeds, or mold, stop. Learn how to solve these problems without chemicals. If you have an exterminator, ask for "Reduced Impact Pest Control Service" and specify no pesticides.

8) Have your heating and air conditioning system checked and balanced by a professional to keep molds down. Have them remove and clean the a/c coils and clean the drain pan, making sure the drain pan does not hold water. We are happy with Osgood. When the technician comes ask if the ducts need cleaning. If so have them cleaned mechanically (no chemicals.) Mad Hatter and Austin Air Duct offer this service. Consider installing an ultra violet lamp in the air ducts, preferably shining on the a/c coil and pan to keep mold from growing. These are sometimes recommended behind refrigerators shining on the drain pan and coils, another mold growing reservoir.

9) Filter the air with a special dust removing furnace filter. Be sure to clean it very often. These filter the air in the whole house when the furnace fan is on. They filter pretty efficiently down to 10 microns which means they remove skin flakes (food for dust mites)and pollen as well as some molds and house dust from the air that actually makes it to the return duct.

10) Filter the air in the allergic person's sleeping room with a free-standing room air filter. (see below.) These should be designed to filter out particles 0.3 microns in size. This will pick up lots more particles animal dander, mold, spores, and more (though not all) dust, smog, fumes, bacteria, and smoke. The addition of charcoal reduces chemical fumes and odors. The smaller dust particles can be attracted to a removable filter pad with anl electronic air cleaner (negative ion generator.)

11) Vacuum thoroughly at least once a week. This is better than daily superficial vacuuming. Use a special vacuum (HEPA or water) that filters out small particles or you will be aggravating the problem every time you vacuum.

12) Fix leaks and sweaty pipes and replace construction materials and furnishings contaminated with mold.

Tried and true products that are preferred by many chemically sensitive people:

1) Room air filters. I believe that the "Dust Free" (AHP or AQS) is the best on the market. It is a workhorse designed to last. The use of plastic (which can outgas toxins) is minimal. Dirty air is drawn in slowly from all sides and is shot out an adjustable vent on the top so that it does not get drawn back into the filter. This feature also allows you to direct the flow of filtered air to you if you wish. This feature also gives you more flexibility in developing a pattern of air circulation in the room for better cleaning. Another advantage of this filter is that you can substitute media when you have new needs. If you need better chemical control you can easily add charcoal trays or potassium permanganate trays for formaldehyde or ethylene control. You can even put zeolite in it to control ammonia odors in a baby or elderly person's room.

Austin Aire Healthmate air filters are also very popular with chemically sensitive people as are filters made by Allermed or E.L. Foust.

2) Electronic Air Purifier/ negative ion generator with disposable collection pad. This collects particles even smaller than those collected by a HEPA filter. (We do not recommend the use of ozone generators in occupied spaces.)

3) Vacuum cleaners. We can get two very effective machines that have proven to help in situations like yours. They are the Nilfisk HEPA, a canister vacuum and the Phantom upright. Chemically sensitive people also use Rainbow.

12/19/95

Return to Less Toxic Living

Air Filters

HEPA Vacuum Cleaner