Dust in the Carpet
- Reduce Exposure
The best approach, if at all possible, is to remove the carpet from at least the bedroom. A hard surface such as hardwood, tile or vinyl flooring is a better choice, as it can be cleaned with a damp or treated cloth. If carpets cannot be removed, special carpet treatments should be used to inactivate the allergen accumulated in the carpet and to reduce the mite population. - Carpet Care
Frequent vacuuming is recommended for the removal of surface allergen from carpets. However, many vacuum cleaners leak, blowing allergy-causing particles (allergens) into the air. Allergen leakage may occur through poor connections of hosing and wands, through the dust collecting bag, around the closing seam of the unit, and through the exhaust. Allergen containment is an important consideration in evaluating the performance of your vacuum. - Improving Vacuum Performance
You can minimize allergen leakage while vacuuming by replacing your standard vacuum bag with a high filtration multi-layer bag and by adding a vacuum exhaust filter. A high filtration vacuum bag will help to contain allergen particles, and the exhaust filter will prevent allergen particles from escaping back into the air during vacuuming. These steps are an inexpensive way to improve the performance of your existing vacuum cleaner. - HEPA Vacuum Cleaners
A well-made HEPA vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter and offering a high degree of allergen containment is very effective at minimizing exposure to allergen while vacuuming. A HEPA filter added to a vacuum will retain particles at 99.97% efficiency down to 0.3 microns and will reduce the amount of airborne allergen dispersed during vacuuming. Scientific studies have shown that a vacuum with a completely sealed system is an excellent way to contain dirt and allergen particles within the machine.
