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Do you like bugs? Many do not. Knowing they are crawling around our environment may give some the willies - an uncomfortable, anxious, or fearful feeling. After learning about dust mites, you too, may want to see if your vacuum cleaner is a CRI certified product.
Dust Mites
Dust mites are microscopic creatures and are found in almost every high humidity environment that is capable of supporting plant life. In a survey of homes with dust mites, 60% of the dust mite population was found in the bed, mattresses and pillows, 30% in upholstery, and 10% in carpet. What do the two species of house dust mites found in North America eat? They feed on shed skin scales from humans, animals, birds, moths, and butterflies; also on pollen, fungi, and bacteria - which explains their high concentration in mattresses, and upholstered furniture where abundant skin scales provide a plentiful food source.
Since they have no ability to bite and their food must be moistened so the protein can be absorbed, dust mites require moist conditions, that is, a humidity level of 55%, and room temperature of 72 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. They live 2 to 2 1/2 months, but cannot survive more than 7 to 10 days in areas with humidity less than 50%. Efficient operation of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that maintains a humidity below 55% can effectively reduce the number of dust mites in a particular environment.
Importance of Vacuum Cleaners
Exposure to dust mite allergen material is minimized by keeping all indoor surfaces as clean as possible. The most important tool for managing house dust and dust mite allergens is the vacuum cleaner. CRI recommends regular, thorough vacuuming of carpets, furniture, and textiles. Doing so will remove food sources and dust mite excrement and will help keep the dust mite population low.
Will any vacuum cleaner work? Not necessarily. Some machines do suck up the dust and dirt, but due to poor construction or filters, they spew dust and particles back into the air. It is important to use a vacuum cleaner that sucks up the dust, locks it into the machine, and keeps it out of the air. Selecting a quality product is not easy. However, CRI's Seal of Approval program makes vacuum cleaner selection easier. By following these CRI suggestions, your carpet will not only look good, but your indoor air quality will improve.
