UNDERSTANDING ALLERGY: DUST CONTROL TIPS

The type of vacuum cleaner you use can also make a great deal of difference in dust control. Most conventional air-bag-equipped vacuum cleaners work against you: they vent dust out of the exhaust hatch – and into the air again – while you zealously go after every last nook and cranny with the front end. And there’s hardly a housekeeper alive who hasn’t nearly choked on the cloud of dust stirred up every time the bag is changed – an utter disaster if you’re allergic.

In contrast, central vacuum cleaning systems get rid of dust for good – as long as the exhaust is vented well away from living quarters. A more convenient and affordable solution — especially for people who rent their house or flat or move frequently – is a water-trap vacuum cleaner. This model collects dust in water instead of an awkward air bag, so dust isn’t continually re-circulated into the air you breathe. An added advantage: water-trap vacuum cleaners don’t lose power the way bag-equipped models do when the pouch begins to fill up. Without that power loss, you can pick up more dust in the first place.

‘They really do the job – and they do help allergies,’ says Robert W. Boxer, an allergist in Chicago who recommends water-trap vacuum cleaners to his patients. ‘We’ve had one in our house for about fourteen years and it’s very effective,’ he adds.

A bonus to the chemically sensitive is that water-trap vacuum cleaners offer attachments that allow you to shampoo rugs and upholstery with nontoxic cleaning products, rather than having to hire professional cleaners who use strong chemicals.

Here are a few additional dust control tips to make your life as easy and dust-free as possible.

• Purchase only stuffed toys that can be easily laundered.

• Avoid furniture, pillows, cushions, quilts and sleeping bags stuffed with kapok.

(Check labels.)

• Wear a dampened cotton surgical mask over your nose and mouth while dusting,

vacuuming or mopping.

• To cut down on dust accumulation in wardrobes, hang clothing in zippered garment

bags. Use the compartmentalized ones for shoes and sweaters.

• If your house has baseboard heat, detach the front and side panels (if they’re

removable) for vacuuming. ‘Fried dust’ can be very allergenic.

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