Mr. Asthma

Question:

Hello My  7 year old daughter suffers from asthma and is allergic to dogs and/or cats. We have just bought a new house where the previous owner had a dog. Is there a certain type of cleaner or cleaning service that would rid any evidence of the dog and any allergy/asthma causing substances. Please e-mail with a reply if possible. Thank you PHOTOFIXER

Response:

Hi. We carry the Austin HealthMate Air Purifier, which can be found at:  http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot/austin.htm HotSpot for Birds is actually a bird supply "store", but we’ve added this item because birds give off stuff that causes allergic reactions in people the way that dogs and cats do.   The reason we picked the Austin air purifier is that the people who have them seem to like them a lot (based on the discussions we’ve followed here and in rec.pets.birds). Adrienne Vincent > Hello > My  7 year old daughter suffers from asthma and is allergic to dogs and/or > cats. We have just bought a new house where the previous owner had a dog. > Is there a certain type of cleaner or cleaning service that would rid any > evidence of the dog and any allergy/asthma causing substances. > Please e-mail with a reply if possible. > Thank you > PHOTOFIXER

–                HotSpot for Birds – Where the Best Nest                 We carry products and information relating                   to the care and enjoyment of birds.                     http://www.multiscope.com/hotspot                  NEW!! We now offer the Austin Air Purifier

Response:

> Hello > My  7 year old daughter suffers from asthma and is allergic to dogs and/or > cats. We have just bought a new house where the previous owner had a dog. > Is there a certain type of cleaner or cleaning service that would rid any > evidence of the dog and any allergy/asthma causing substances. > Please e-mail with a reply if possible.

The dog allergen is slightly different than the cat allergen and should decrease in the house relatively quickly.  You might consider duct cleaning – it’s become a trendy thing to do…… In general, though, if you really want to rid the place of past allergens – you would need to replace the carpet.  Short of that – a great cleaning job.  You can steam clean the carpets, really get in and scrub the corners of rooms with vinyl/tile, etc.   You can buy a 3% tannic acid spray for treating carpet.  THat should decrease dust mites. This is the reason when I buy a house – I’m buying a new one. — Kathie Sindt

Response:

>  > Hello >  > My  7 year old daughter suffers from asthma and is allergic to dogs and/or >  > cats. We have just bought a new house where the previous owner had a dog. >  > Is there a certain type of cleaner or cleaning service that would rid any >  > evidence of the dog and any allergy/asthma causing substances. >  > Please e-mail with a reply if possible. >  The dog allergen is slightly different than the cat allergen >  and should decrease in the house relatively quickly.  You might >  consider duct cleaning – it’s become a trendy thing to do……

Let’s strengthen that and say "professional duct cleaning," with your daughter away from the home for a while. Do-it-yourself could be *very* risky. We were also told to have the carpets professionally steam cleaned (we removed them) and to have the walls scrubbed up to at least 3 feet off of the ground. >  In general, though, if you really want to rid the place of past >  allergens – you would need to replace the carpet.  Short of >  that – a great cleaning job.  You can steam clean the carpets, >  really get in and scrub the corners of rooms with vinyl/tile, >  etc.   >  You can buy a 3% tannic acid spray for treating carpet.  THat >  should decrease dust mites. >  This is the reason when I buy a house – I’m buying a new one.

A new one, and suffer through all of that outgassing?  I’m staying where I am! — Mark Feblowitz,   GTE Laboratories Inc., 40 Sylvan Rd.  Waltham, MA 02254

Response:

A friend of mine, Dr. Schmidt, just started carrying an ozone/ion air purifier in his business, Health-Net.  My mother used one and it helped her asthma a lot.  They not only get the stuff out of the air, but they actually oxidize the contaminants and break them down (he says it works for getting the gasses out of new carpets, too). He told me he used one in his daughter’s room and it completely eliminated the urine smell that her cat had deposited on her carpet  (He turned it up full blast for 8 hours).  It might be worth a try.  His number is (800) 469-3022, I’m sure he’d be happy to answer your questions. Good Luck! Jordie

Response:

>Hello >My  7 year old daughter suffers from asthma and is allergic to dogs and/or >cats. We have just bought a new house where the previous owner had a dog. >Is there a certain type of cleaner or cleaning service that would rid any >evidence of the dog and any allergy/asthma causing substances. >Please e-mail with a reply if possible. >Thank you >PHOTOFIXER

If you haven’t done so yet, wash all surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors, windows).  You can use plain water, or a mild vinegar solution, or a nontoxic product like Simple Green diluted in water.  If you home came with any draperies or wall-to-wall carpets, have them cleaned professionally.   Good luck.  

Response:

: This is the reason when I buy a house – I’m buying a new one. This is not necessarily helpful as you will have to deal with all those chemicals outgassing from all that new stuff (eg bench-tops, paint, misc. fittings).  Of course, at least you will know where the potential problems might be. Cheers, Kin Hoong

Response: