Allergens Beware: Furnishings and Fixtures At Home - Part 1

Choosing furnishings and fixtures for the home is a very individual affair, but more than personal taste is involved - your choice affects the level of allergens and irritants in the home.

Soft furnishings
Leather or vinyl is the preferred covering for soft furnishings, as dust mites find it inhospitable, while fabric-upholstered furniture provides the ideal home for dust mites. Consider replacing fabric upholstery with leather or vinyl, or other hard-surface materials, such as wood or plastic - or at least reduce the number of soft furnishings you have in your home.

Leather or vinyl only needs wiping over with a damp cloth weekly to keep it clean of dust and mites, while controlling mites in fabric-upholstered furnishings is far more difficult. Several approaches are used to try to do this, or to neutralize or remove the allergen, and these who apply to other mite reservoirs, such as carpets.

Acaricides
These mite-killing chemicals penetrate only the uppermost layers of fabric, so mites deeper down survive - and the mite allergen still needs to be removed afterwards by vacuuming. The most-researched acaricide, benzyl benzoate, may persist for up to a year after application, although most studies suggest it should be reapplied several times a year. One study suggests acaricides may reduce symptoms of mite-related rhinitis, but there is a lack of evidence that they are generally beneficial. As no long-term safety studies have been done in the home, you may not want to use acaricides in children's rooms.



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