Dallas Allergy

Identification and avoidance of allergens represents the first and most important step in treating allergic disorders. For those who suffer from respiratory allergies (e.g., allergic rhinitis, asthma), avoidance of outdoor allergens such as pollens and molds is very difficult or impossible, as these substances are widely found in the air we all breathe. However, it is possible, by using relatively simple control measures to significantly reduce one’s exposure to allergens in the home environment. The following recommendations are intended to help you identify and eliminate potential sources of allergens in your home.

With the increasing awareness of the respiratory problems caused by indoor allergens, there is a growing industry of allergy control products and services. In most cases, the following products and services offer very little benefit for your investment, and in some cases they may actually create more problems.

1. H.E.P.A. air purifiers – These expensive units may help reduce levels of airborne allergens within a single room, but they offer little benefit over a less expensive electrostatic filter placed in the central air conditioning unit. Some manufacturers of these devices claim that they reduce levels of dust mite allergen in the home. Remember that dust mites live in upholstered fabrics (such as carpets and mattresses). They become airborne for very brief periods of time after vacuuming. Because cat dander may circulate in the air for longer periods of time, a H.E.P.A. filtration unit placed in the bedroom with the door closed will help reduce the level of cat dander in the bedroom; however, this is an expensive and less effective alternative to finding a new home for the cat.

2. Special vacuum cleaners – There are a number of expensive vacuum cleaners on the market that are advertised to reduce levels of allergens in the home. Models that use multiple filter stages, including a H.E.P.A. exhaust filter (e.g., Nilfisk GS 90, Meile, and others), have been shown to remove small allergenic particles most effectively. Water-filter vacuum cleaners (e.g., Rainbow) have actually been shown to increase the levels of indoor airborne allergens and are therefore not recommended.

3. Chemicals to kill dust mites – Recent studies have shown that these products are not very effective in killing dust mites in carpets. In the long run, the best way to reduce levels of dust mite in the home is to remove carpets and install hard surface flooring, such as linoleum, wood or tile.

4. Steam cleaning – It is impossible to eliminate dust mites from carpets, even with deep steam cleaning. This process may actually contribute to dust mite survival in the deeper layers of the carpet by increasing the humidity in their environment. The only situation in which steam cleaning may be effective is in hastening the removal of cat dander from the home following the cat’s departure.

5. Duct cleaning – There have been no studies in the allergy literature to date that address the effectiveness of these increasingly popular services. Experts in the control of environmental allergy recommend against duct cleaning. An electrostatic filter placed in the central air conditioning unit and cleaned monthly is a fairly effective and relatively inexpensive way of removing airborne allergens. An additional filter (such as a triple thickness cheese cloth) placed inside individual AC duct vents may provide additional filtration at very little cost.