The average household is vacuumed and dusted weekly.
But is it really clean? Experts say NO! Indoor air is up to 10 times more polluted than outside air.
The reasons are many - well insulated homes, deterioration of materials & fabric treatments, chemicals used in cleaning & air freshening, bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, pollen and dust.
There are no standard compositions of contaminants in the home.
It depends on where and how you live, the time of year and what you bring into your environment.
How you clean and what you use to clean are also of great importance.
Most people vacuum first, then dust.
This presents a problem as many vacuums stir up dust in to the air and it can take up to 2 hours before it completely settles.
Many vacuums discharge air from motor housings which have a blower effect scattering particles throughout the air.
Still others have beater brushes which are designed to loosen dirt and lift carpet pile but also contribute to scattering particles.
More expensive models attract buyers by waving the HEPA flag.
Units can be rated HEPA but many fall short of really protecting you from making your environment worse.
The most common have HEPA rated bags.
Efficiency is widely different between synthetic vs.
glass fiber bags.
How they attach to the vacuum is also very important as any gaps negate the purpose of HEPA.
Since HEPA bags restrict air flow many vacuums do not have proper suction to deeply clean.
Lastly, it is important to know how effective your HEPA filtration is.
The best units capture down to 0.
3 microns.
To give you a better picture: Dust Mites range in size from 180-300 microns.
Human hair is 50-100 microns.
Dust Mite feces are 30 microns.
Dust Mites eggs and pollen are 20 microns.
A lymphocyte is 10 microns.
Red Blood Cells are 8 microns.
E.
Coli & Ebola viruses are 2 microns.
Staphylococcus is 1 micron.
The best units have multi-level filtration, are true HEPA and have high levels of suction.
INDOOR CONTAMINANTS Household dust contains up to 80% of Dust Mites.
These microscopic insects are of the same family as spiders and scorpions.
They live and breed in fabrics, the most common being mattresses.
They feed on dead skin cells which humans shed up to 50 million, or 1/5 ounce,per week.
They do require heat and moisture which is why mattresses are the most common place to find them.
Your body provides the food and your body moisture and heat provide the rest.
A typical 2 year old mattress will contain a Dust Mite population of between 100,000 to as many as 10 million.
Mattresses gain weight due to dust and contaminants by as much as 10% within just a few years.
Vacuuming helps but does not get rid of the Dust Mites.
Dust Mites live 3 months and lay 20-30 eggs in their life cycle.
They shed their exoskeletons and deposit feces which contain the chemical Guanine.
This chemical inhibits lung function and about 40 million people in the U.
S.
alone are allergic or sensitive to this chemical.
Just washing linens does not rid your bedding of Dust Mites.
Most water heaters are set to 110°F-115°F which protects from scalding, extends water heater life and is energy saving.
Dust Mites die when exposed to temperatures over 130°F.
Washing linens with a laundry detergent specially formulated for allergens (dust mites, pollens, etc.
) is best.
Make sure you launder sheets, pillow cases, pillow covers & mattress pads with this allergy detergent before you reconstruct your bedding.
Vacuuming the mattress, sterilizing and treating the fabric with a topical enzymatic surfactant is the best way to solve this problem.
Using chemicals is not the answer.
Chemical agents leave residual compounds which can actually contribute to illness by triggering allergies, asthma and respiratory ailments.
After evaporation of chemical compounds they enter your air and many are irritants to your skin, mucous membranes and lungs.
Long term effects of chemicals are not known.
While studies have been done on individual and formulated compounds there are no studies available on poly-chemicals.
Poly-chemicals are the result of using numerous products with varying compound mixtures and formulations.
(i.
e.
, when you clean you use glass cleaners, floor cleaners, furniture polishes, disinfectants, stain removers, odor eliminators, detergents, bathroom cleaners, bleach, etc.
) All these products chemicals are mixed and in your environment.
Other contaminants are in your home which challenge your immune system and can cause chronic and life-long problems.
Mold, mildew, fungi, pollen, spores, bacteria, viruses & insects.
THE SOLUTION Invest in a commercially rated, multi-filtration, HEPA vacuum and clean without stirring up dust.
Then utilize a UV-C sterilization unit.
These units sterilize without chemicals and eliminate up to 99.
9% of contaminants.
They alter insect DNA so they cannot reproduce and even destroy bacteria and viruses.
UV-C is utilized in food processing, industry, water sterilization and even DNA labs to prevent cross-contamination.
Finally, treat surfaces with an enzymatic surfactant which inhibits Dust Mites, bacteria & viruses.
If you don't want to spend all that time and money to research and buy everything you need to really clean your home check the internet or local directory to find a company that can provide these services.
Many clean you mattresses, pillows, bedspreads, curtains, chairs, etc.
to create a "GREEN" home environment.
By cleaning, sterilizing and protecting your home environment, you will stay healthier and live in a truly clean home.
To learn more about hygienic cleaning, contaminants and allergies use the following link: [http://www.
hygenikleen.
com/factsfaqs.
html]