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For years, doctors have recommended that people with allergies wash their bed linens weekly in hot water to remove household allergens such as dust mites.
Unfortunately, “hot” water means water that is 140°F or higher. In most cases, this is a temperature cannot be had at home with residential water heaters. In most cases, your hot water is going to be around 102 to 105.
The good news is the marketplace listened and developed some products you can use to remove allergens from your sheets and other bedding.
Allerpet, Inc is the maker of De-Mite Laundry Additive for the elimination of dust mites in washable fabrics. De-Mite allows you to get the same results of washing at 140°F water in warm and cold water. De-Mite is not a detergent, it contains no soap. It is a mixture of benzyl benzoate, tea tree oil, and methyl salicylate and surfactants.
These ingredients are proven to reduce dust mite allergen when washing in temperatures as low as 85°F. When using De-Mite laundry additive, you add about 2 tablespoons of the product along with your own washing detergent. You then wash and dry as you normally would.
Because tea tree oil and methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) are both strong aromatics, this product has a distinctive aroma that lingers a short while after the fabric is dried, leaving a slight medicinal smell. I like the smell.
Allergen Wash is made by the Allersearch Laboratories division of Alkaline Corporation. This product is a super surfactant laundry detergent with Acaril™ (benzyl alcohol) added. The super surfactant properties of Allersearch Allergen Wash allow for the removal of all types of particles from all types of fabrics, without regard to the temperature of the water.
This means Allersearch Allergen Wash is effective at removing particles of dust mites and their feces as well as an animal allergen, molds, pollens and dirt. You use Allergen Wash in place of your normal detergent when washing bed linens.
Like De-Mite, Allergen Wash contains aromatic ingredients. However, when the fabric is dried, there is a very slight lingering aroma.
So, knowing the differences, how can you tell which product will give you the results you need? If you are only concerned about dust mites, dust mite feces, and dust mite allergens and like your laundry detergent, then De-Mite laundry additive will meet your needs.
This product is targeted at the reduction of dust mite allergen and dust mite allergen only. It will not remove pollens, molds, or animal allergens. However, it is highly effective in the reduction of the targeted allergen.
Allersearch Allergen Wash laundry detergent will work to remove a broader range of allergens. It is the only anti-allergen wash that will remove animal allergens as well as pollens, molds, and dust mite allergens.
If your only concern is removing dust mites from your bedding, De-Mite will do the job. If you are allergic to a variety of allergens including dust mites, then you may want to use the Allergen Wash instead.
Wishing you the best of health
Cheryl
AllergyStore.com - Serving Customers Since 1989