Help! Any advice on buying a steam cleaner for dust mite allergies?

[mamefati28]

DS is really being bothered by his dustmite allergy and I think the problem lies within our house full of carpets. We rent, so I cannot pull the carpets out. I did get permission to do this in his bedroom, so that will happen this week.
I have been researching vapor steam cleaners and looks like the VERY expensive Ladybug is the best. I cannot afford this and was looking at the
http://www.amazon.com/WhiteWing-Stea.../dp/B0002D157M
Any thoughts on this or do any of you own it?
Do any of you steam your carpets every 4-6 weeks to eliminate dustmites?
Thanks so much!

[changingseasons]

Have you already tried running a HEPA filter in his room? I have no advice about the steam cleaner, never used one. But for my dust mite allergy (which used to be worse than it is now), I always had a HEPA filter running in my bedroom, I vacuumed with a HEPA filter vacuum every day, and washed sheets (and blankets if possible) at least once a week in HOT water. Get rid of curtains if you have them (try blinds instead), and anything else that might hold onto dust, like stuffed animals (in the bedroom.)

[mamefati28]

Thanks for responding!
Also, have you ever had your air ducts cleaned to help your allergy?
Yes, I do have an Austin Air purifier in his room that I run all night. I was running it 24/7 but my power bill went up SO MUCH, I can only afford to do it at night.
I also have a miele vacuum with hepa. I do not get to vacuum in there as much as I like as I try not to do it around my son and we are pretty much together all the time. It gets done about 2x week. I will work on increasing that.
I wash his sheets in boiling water once a week, no curtains, stuffed animals, etc.
I found out he had a dust mite allergy when he had chronic respiratory infections and I took him to many docs, including an allergist. Without that testing, I never would have know he had an allergy to dust mites as he did not cough or sneeze at night while sleeping. However, in the past two weeks, he has been sneezing all night long and his eyes are itchy.
We went out of town and my husband turned the a/c off, thus leading to a humidity level of 90%, and making for prime dust mite populations. I am thinking the carpet is the issue, as we have made so many other changes.

I guess I am worried that the vapor steam cleaner will backfire, in actually contributing to a higher population of dust mites due to the moisture.
Thanks if you got this far!

[sbgrace]

I haven't looked into that one particularly but most of those types of steamers have an issue with the heat dissipating too much by the time it comes through the tube to come out the nozzle. At least that is what I found when I researched. And I can't imagine using it to steam large surfaces like carpets! That would be nearly impossible in time I'd think.

What we got was a Monster Steam Mop. http://www.amazon.com/Euroflex-Monst...sr=1-1-catcorr Like this one. Much cheaper than what you linked, a snap/easy to use, and it has a device to attach to run it on carpets. I took the curtains off his windows because they, um, didn't survive a hot wash and dry. He now has vinyl roll shades that can be dusted. He has a hepa in his room. Hot wash and hot dry once a week for bedding should be fine (I'm not sure what you mean by boiling...we do use a sanitize cycle but that is over-kill in that a hot wash and hot dry should do the job).

He showers right before bed. Removing allergens before bed is key. He does do meds and supplements as well.

[mamefati28]

Thanks sbgrace!
I checked out the steamer, a lot more affordable! What do you think of using it on 900 sq feet of carpet every 4 weeks or so to help eliminate dust mites? Have you used it on carpet and if so, do you think it has eliminated some of those pests?
I plan on taking up his bedroom carpet in the morning, SO EXCITED!
Wish I could do the whole house, sigh.
DS has been on Singulair for the past month, and honestly it has helped him more than anything else I have done. Ugh, I never thought my kid would be on a daily medication at 4 and it really bums me out. I go from grateful to down in the dumps about it.

[JaneS]

natural whole food vitamin C (not ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate) 250 mg per day, from sources like acerola, amla, or camu. Some people like blends like Synergy C.

I have... or had.... dust allergy and pretty severe hay fever. I don't anymore. They come back if I slack on my whole food C.

[mamefati28]

Thanks Janes!
Yes, we do acerola daily. We get our powder from Dr. Ben Kim. It does seem to help and knowing that they really help you will help me remember to be vigilant with them for DS.
I am interested in looking at SynergyC.

[JaneS]

Cool, I hadn't heard of that version. Probably other things I did to improve my immune system too : high vitamin CLO, probiotics, etc.

[mamefati28]

I like Dr. Ben Kim and have wondered if any other mommas use his supplements or read his articles.
We also use his green food blend and are happy with it.
http://www.drbenkim.com/

We are doing udo's probiotics and water keifer. Just got the fermented cod liver oil from Green pastures. Looking into dosage on that one for a 33 lb. 4 yr. old.
Thanks!

[True Blue]

There is a powder you can get and sprinkle on the carpets, mite-x or something, to kill dust mites as well. Steam cleaning is great, but remember every time you do it you also open yourself up to mold (which is one of our big allergies here.)

I also don't think I'd turn off the air purifier. By running ours all the time and keeping DS's door closed most of the day, his room honestly barely gets dusty at all anymore! It's amazing how little there is to clean in there anymore. I also think that if you aren't going to run the purifier, then it's imperative you vacuum in there daily. Even if you kill the dust mites, you need to get their dander and such out of the carpeting or he will still react. You might consider a denaturing spray for the carpet. Actually, you could use a denaturing cleaner in a cheaper carpet cleaner if you wanted.

[sbgrace]

The steam mop on carpet is really easy and quick--the same time as it would be to vacuum. I can't see mold being an issue with a steam mop? It's so hot--the surface is dried by the heat. It's not like shampooing--carpets aren't damp.

That said, I'm glad the carpets are coming out of his room! That space is the most important for him for allergy control so that will likely make a big difference. We steam mop wood floors in bedrooms, kitchen tile, and the carpets in the living areas of the house as well. I really love that machine. And beyond allergies stuff it just makes cleaning floors easier. Basic/every day cleaning and situations like my kid vomited (literally--no exaggeration) all over the kitchen yesterday and I wiped with paper towels and then ran that mop over it all. I love that it's absolutely clean/sanitized and it is so easy to use.

I will agree that my son's hepa in his room means there is no dust in there anymore. It's been amazing. We do supplements like vitamin C (and folate and b12) but I didn't see control for my kid. Singulair, though, has made a world of difference for his allergies and related asthma both. I resisted that for so long and I regret it. He was miserable longer than he should have been.

[mama1803]

Originally Posted by True Blue

There is a powder you can get and sprinkle on the carpets, mite-x or something, to kill dust mites as well. Steam cleaning is great, but remember every time you do it you also open yourself up to mold (which is one of our big allergies here.)

We used a powder called Capture that kills dust mites. It used to be a bit difficult to find, but now it is sold many places--Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart. You sprinkle it on and brush it in with a broom then vacuum.

[mamefati28]

Thanks for the responses!
I went ahead and bought the steam cleaner that sbgrace recommended.
Also, I decided to run his honeywell hepa during the day (less energy consumption) and his austin air purifier at night. Hopefully that will help lessen the steep bill.
I do have the powder as well as the neutralizing spray. I have yet to try the powder but have used the neutralizer. Not really sure if I see results from that though.
Ah, sigh. It could be worse right?
Thanks for all the advice.