Dr. Mary Lasley, M.D. is an expert on allergy and immunology. She is an allergist at the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center in Seattle and holds a clinical faculty position with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.
A. An allergen is any substance that can trigger an allergic response. Besides indoor substances, outdoor pollens and foods are common allergens. When an allergic person encounters an allergen, their immune system becomes activated. This triggers a complex chain of events, which produce the symptoms of an allergic reaction such as swelling of tissues, sneezing, wheezing, coughing and other reactions. It is unclear why some substances trigger allergies and others do not.
Q. Who gets allergies?
A. It is not yet fully understood why certain people get allergies while others do not. However, we do know that allergies can develop at any age, and heredity plays a key role in who will develop allergies. If one parent has allergies, the child will develop allergies 48 percent of the time, and if both parents have allergies, the child's risk grows to 70 percent.
Q. How can I find out more about allergies?
A. If you suspect you may be suffering from allergies, contact an allergist /immunologist. Your allergist can perform tests to determine the source of your allergies and then establish the best course of treatment. Often, the first step is to minimize your exposure to your particular allergen(s). You and your allergist can work together so that you can make appropriate changes in your environment.
How to reduce allergens in your home
Indoor allergens that can be found in the home include dust, dust mites, mold, and pet dander. An allergist may recommend environmental control measures for the home depending upon the offending allergen. Complete avoidance may be difficult, but simple steps can be taken to reduce exposure:
1. Lack of circulation
Opening windows to let indoor allergens out of the home can bring outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold spores into the house. Instead, use heat and air conditioning to clean, circulate and dehumidify the air in the home. Also, using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to remove airborne allergens, such as pet dander, can lessen the amount of circulating allergens. Dust mite and cockroach allergen are heavy particles that do not stay suspended in the air and settle quickly, so air filters do not work well for these allergens.
2. Moisture
Dust mites and molds thrive only in high humidity areas. Main,tain the home's relative humidity level below 55 percent by using heat and/or air conditioning equipment consistently and using a dehumidifier where necessary - doing so will discourage dust mite and mold growth. Repair all roof and plumbing leaks to prevent mold growth.
3. Cleaning
Cleaning is the best way to reduce allergens. Done regularly, cleaning stops allergens from accumulating, which helps minimize allergy and! or asthma symptoms. Pay special attention to the bedroom since most exposure to dust mites is while sleeping - 60 percent of dust mite allergen is found in mattresses and bedding. In order to control these allergens, wash bed linens in hot water (at least 130°F) weekly and vacuum mattresses regularly. Comforters, blankets and curtains should be washed frequently. Encase pillows, mattresses and box springs in "allergen control" covers, and freeze or wash stuffed animals weekly in hot water (at least 130° F).
Clean and disinfect wet, warm areas - such as kitchens and bathrooms - weekly to stop mold growth.
Smooth floors should be vacuumed, dusted and wet mopped weekly. When sweeping, take care not to circulate dust from the floor into the air.
Vacuum carpet and rugs at least once a week - twice a week in bedrooms and high-traffic areas. Use a wellfunctioning vacuum cleaner that has adjustable brushes, and bears the Carpet and Rug Institute's Vacuum Cleaner Indoor Air Quality (lAQ) Testing Program green label. These are vacuum cleaners that have been tested for and meet strict standards for removing soil and containing the dust within the bag and the vacuum cleaner. Vacuum cleaners may produce dramatically different cleaning results and impact on the indoor environment. The green label program endorses only vacuum cleaners that perform each of the following three tasks well: soil removal, dust containment (without putting the dust back into the air) and carpet appearance retention.
Vacuum upholstered furniture regularly, and clean hard furniture with a damp cloth. A damp cloth should be used on window treatments, windowsills and window frames, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and storage units as well. Dust also can be reduced by storing books and knick-knacks in closed cabinets - doing so leaves fewer places for dust to settle and makes cleaning easier.
For further information on carpet go to the Carpet and Rug Institute's Web site, www.carpet-rug.com.
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I would highly recommend First Class Carpet Cleaning to my friends and family.
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I can trust that a conscientious job is always done. You’ve always worked hard to get the job done well. You are always on time.
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Very professional, punctual fair pricing and friendly service.
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Thank you so much for the beautiful job you and your technician did on my carpet and three chairs. They looked terrible before you started, and now they look like new. I highly recommend your service as I am really happy and satisfied.
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First Class Carpet Cleaning is very meticulous and always does a wonderful job. Many times they have cleaned our carpets while we were away from the house. It’s a great feeling to come home to beautifully clean rugs.
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We are very happy with your work and we are going to call you again in the future. Now our 8 month old son can be on the floor as much as he wants!
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Very pleased with the sofa cleaning. Drying time was quick!
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Two of our furniture pieces are difficult to clean – a velvet chair and a leather loveseat. When you cleaned them, they brightened up and looked like new.
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This might seem insignificant to you, but the fact that you returned my calls from messages I left means a lot...
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Your technician did a very thorough and excellent job. He moved more furniture than I was expecting.
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My carpets experience lots of foot traffic and look great after cleaning. Also like the fact that the carpets dry in shorter period of time than I’d experienced previously.
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Healthier living through cleaner carpets. No annoying sales push, calls or gimmicks – which I don’t enjoy.
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Meeting my time line for arriving in town and the arrival of my furniture etc. from the moving van. Professionalism of your technician & their attention to doing an excellent job.
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I trust First Class Carpet Cleaning and know they will always do a great job. We’re getting ready to sell our home and it helps to have the carpet in tip-top shape!
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My 3 boys are constantly bringing dirty, mud... into our home. My youngest one used sharpies, paint, and nail polish on our carpet. First Class Carpet Cleaning cleaned and sanitized all the rooms. They also colored my carpet to one shade darker. Making my carpet almost new! I am extremely satisfied. Fantastic job, First Class Carpet Cleaning!
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Fully engaged from beginning to end of wood floor cleaning and resealing. Quick communications all the time. Tried hard to make the floors perfect, not just great. Definitely will hire again!
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I was very impressed by the prompt service I received from First Class Carpet Cleaning. They cleaned 2 sofa's, a loveseat, and recliner. They were courteous, friendly, and on time. Price was reasonable and fair. I would highly recommend their services and I plan on using them in the future.
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I called with a last minute request and they were able to squeeze in our townhouse in less than two days. They did a great job! The carpet was clean and fresh for new renters. Looking forward to using First Class Carpet Cleaning to clean our upholstery and maybe even our air ducts. Thanks!!!
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Kathy and her team always do a great job. When we need our carpet cleaned I always call her. They are personable, have high integrity, and good value for the money. By the way, they also do onsite automobile detailing as well.
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The outcome was better than I ever expected. Rodney, the professional was courteous, knowledgeable, expedient, and the results were EXCELLENT!! I already recommended them to a friend last night. My floor looks BRAND NEW! It was worth every penny.
