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Healthier Homes
Allergies
Mould and Mildew
Moulds are tiny fungi that form in damp and dark places. They form in laundries, bathrooms, drip trays of fridges, the top soil of indoor plants, and gutters full of leaf litter. They can be found on walls, in cupboards, and wardrobes, on clothing and on food. Moulds produce a musty odour and millions of spores which become airborne easily and can cause allergic responses.
Pet Allergens
Some people are allergic to dander (skin cells) of animals. They may react when they touch the animal or simply by being in the same room. These allergens can remain active in a home for years, even after the pet has gone.
Bacteria
As well as the obvious health treats caused by Salmonella cholereasuis and Staphylococcus aureus, bacteria are also responsible for many of the odour problems in clothing and furnishings.
House Dust Mites
Dust mites and the role they play in respiratory allergies are now well understood. In 1995, the World Health Organisation declared allergy to dust mites as the 6th most important sickness in the world.
Dust Mites: the ugly facts
 The most common house dust mite found in Australasia is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.
Dust mites are microscopic, varying in length between 0.2mm and 0.5 mm. About 6 could fit on the head of a pin.
Although not visible to the naked eye, they are found in homes around the world - particularly in the coastal regions - in the dust that accumulates in bedding, carpets, furnishings, even clothing.
They multiply rapidly as soon as the temperature reaches 20oC and the relative humidity is over 70%. To give you an idea of the scale of the problem, up to 200,000 can live in just one square metre of carpet.
Mites have three pincers and two claws on each of their eight legs so they hang on tightly and are very difficult to dislodge.
Dust mites feed on the minute skin particles that humans and pets shed when in contact with clothes, bedding, seats etc. They live for 40-80 days and during this time they can mate from one to three times. Each mating produces up to 40 offspring.
On average a mite can generate 20 faeces (droppings) per day. The health threat posed by dust mites comes from these faeces which contain powerful allergens. The faeces can be released into the air we breathe when we walk across a carpet, lay on a bed or sit on an upholstered chair.
Because the droppings are very light they can remain floating for many hours. Dust mite allergens, are non biodegradable, can remain active for years, and are easily absorbed in the breathing passages in our lungs to cause allergic responses.
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Asthma Cause
