June 2005

Question:
I hear a lot of scary stuff about dust mites in homes. Is it true that if I pull out my carpets there will no longer be a potential dust mite problem in my home?

Answer:
In a word ... No. For most individuals, a reasoned approach to controlling the sources of allergens is going to allow you to breathe easy, and serve as a preventative measure to developing allergies to dust mites and their byproducts.

Let me qualify what I am about to discuss. I am not a medical professional or an entomologist. My experience and training is in specialty cleaning, with a focus on providing services based on the most up to date information available. Consumer awareness and sophistication has pushed the level of knowledge required by cleaning professionals to highly technical levels. Recent research exposes some problems with a line of thought that carpets are the source of all allergies.

It has been estimated that over 80% of dust mites live in bedding. Many live on upholstery. A small percentage actually survive in carpets, and most of these will be directly under a bed. Now if you’re hypersensitive to dust mite antigens, even a small percentage is a problem. But it would be more logical and constructive to clean up the linens and pillows in one’s bedroom than tearing out all the carpets in your home. Simply hanging quilts and blankets outside in direct sunlight will freshen them up, and kill most dust mites. Putting pillows and cushions in a plastic bag and freezing them will kill mites. I recall an infomercial for a vacuum cleaner that claimed that 40% of the weight of a ten year old feather pillow will be comprised of dust mites, dead dust mites, and dust mite waste. Even if those numbers were exaggerated by half, it seems like a good reason to regularly clean those feather pillows - or replace them.

You may ask why the focus on bedding? It has to do with food sources. Dust mites feed primarily on skin scales. As humans we constantly shed skin cells. Most cell rejuvenation occurs while we sleep, and most of us will sleep for a third of our life. Guess where we drop a lot of our skin?

Secondly, research involving years of study point to the benefits of having properly maintained carpets in a home or office. Clean carpets act as an extension of your furnace filter. As warm air is pushed into a room, the weight of airborne pollutants drags them down to the carpet. Because of the static properties of carpet, these particles
are then trapped in the fibres. Now this may sound dirty, but if these elements weren’t trapped in the fibres, they would continue to circulate in your breathing space. This is a good thing ... BUT like a furnace filter, carpets must be cleaned regularly to prevent them from contributing to air quality problems.

Did you know many folks religiously wash their lino or laminate flooring, but rarely arrange for carpet cleaning?

Dr Michael Berry (Ph.D.) formerly of the American EPA makes many interesting observations about antigens (substances that cause an immune response in people). In one of his publications, “Protecting the Built Environment:Cleaning for Health,” he outlines the most effective ways to manage mite antigens. It is interesting to note that he first points to keeping the humidity of your home 50%. Dust mites require high levels of humidity to thrive. In Medicine Hat, most homes are likely below 30% - we live in a semi-arid region. Dust mites are extremely sensitive to humidity levels as they do not drink, but absorb moisture from the air. Frequent vacuuming of carpets, upholstery and mattresses, as well as cleaning of bedding will reduce the food availability for mites. Routine hot-water extraction, or “steam cleaning” of carpets is also recommended. In fact, a 100% kill will result when the water is hot enough.

If your family is in good health, antigens from dust mites trapped by your carpets can be flushed away by arranging for a professional “hot water extraction.” One may question the wisdom of applying special chemicals to kill dust mites if simply cleaning will remove the issue.

Did you know if you are not using a hepa rated vacuum system, or a central vac that is vented outside of your home, you are likely stirring up soil particles trapped in your carpet and propelling them back into your breathing space through the exhaust of your vacuum. Hepa filters will trap dust mites, pollen and even certain bacteria!

For more information call
Les Graham - Graham’s Carpet Cleaning (403) 952-0318
IICRC Certified
Master Textile Cleaner
Master Restoration Technician