This page is being updated... | Finedust | House dust mites and
especially their pellets are held responsible for certain
allergies and asthma. What is known ? Claims that carpets were
breeding grounds for dust mites have proven false. In carpets,
dust mites can easily be kept under control with regular
ventilation and proper cleaning. Carpet is not the ideal habitat
for mites. Carpet prevents the allergic material from being
released into the atmosphere by holding the fine allergen
particles in the pile until next vacuuming. Hard surfaces, on
the contrary, allow the allergens to become easily airborne with
the slightest draught or vibration. Thus, carpet improves the
quality of life of allergic persons. It is not the floor
covering, but the temperature and humidity that make the
difference. The map on the next page shows that conditions in
northern Europe do not favour mite growth, and yet, that’s where
carpet has been considered wrongly a problem. In southern
countries mites do survive, even on hard floors