What's smaller in size? 1,2 or 5 micron?

[Gracey]

I'm looking for pillowcase protector's. I'm reading Dr. Oz's latest book and he mentions that dust mites excrete 2 lbs. of waste in our pillows a year. And he recommends a good pillow protector against dust mites. So I'm on the search for pillow protectors with the smallest pore's to keep that stuff out!!
I know just something else for me to fret about, but my daughter and husband both have allergies so I'm sure this stuff doesn't help.

Thanks, Laurie

 

[MILOIOWA]

The sizes refer to the size of particles it will allow to pass through. 1 micron would be the best. Someone correct me if I am wrong? I am comparing to automotive talk for fuel filters.

 

[Keitht]

I'm reading Dr. Oz's latest book and he mentions that dust mites excrete 2 lbs. of waste in our pillows a year.

If that's true then some of our older pillows should weigh over 20 lbs each by now I suspect this Dr. Oz has shares in pillow protectors.

 

[Gracey]

Thanks MILOIOWA! Good point Keith, but now that picture is in my head I'm not going to take any chances

Laurie

 

[DaveNV]

One word: "EEEeeewwww!!!!!"

Remember when we were ignorant, and life was easier? When we didn't know all this creepy stuff about the cooties that surround us in life? We followed a five second rule if we dropped our buttered toast on the kitchen floor, there was no crime in wiping your hands on your pants legs at the gas station if the towel dispenser was empty (back when gas stations still had public restrooms), and nobody knew that airline oxygen would make you sick. We were ignorant, but that ignorance was bliss.

Knowing all this new-fangled scientific stuff about bed bugs and dust mites and the germs that grow overnight on kitchen sponges makes me wish I was Opie walking alongside Pa Andy Taylor on the way down to the fishin' hole...

Of course, if that were true, I wouldn't have this computer and eBay and TUG. Jeez, ya can't win... LOL!

Dave

 

[nicklinneh]

Keith-
It was the British medical society that first published a report on dustmites in pillows, bedding etc., although not in the amount mentioned. (I think a certain % in an old pillow was cited.) The interesting thing in their article was the temp to kill the mites when laundering-- 136 F.; less than that and you'll have live but very clean mites. The trouble is most American households turn their water temps lower than that for fear of scalding children, high fuel costs, etc etc. --ken
cf C Mendelsohn, "Home Comforts"

 

[1341a]

not so anal

I used to think my wilfe was a little anal for bringing pillow covers and her own pillow cases on vacation.

not any more.

 

[Icarus]

A micron is a measurement like an inch, so just like 5 inches is greater than 2 inches is greater than 1 inch, 1 micron is the smallest size.

-David

 

[Rose Pink]

I'm looking for pillowcase protector's. I'm reading Dr. Oz's latest book and he mentions that dust mites excrete 2 lbs. of waste in our pillows a year. And he recommends a good pillow protector against dust mites. So I'm on the search for pillow protectors with the smallest pore's to keep that stuff out!!

Thanks, Laurie

Which begs the question, just how small is a dust mite poopie?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Which begs the question, just how small is a dust mite poopie?

And that question begs the more important question, why should one be concerned about dust mite poopies?

Our world is filled with waste products produced by all manners of biological life. The essence of life can be stated very simply, To live is to excrete. We, like all life forms, contact, inhale, and consume the wastes of life continuously and unavoidably. It's a fact of life.

So what is it about dust mite poopies that makes them worthy of more attention than other critters waste products?

 

[Keitht]

Dr Oz will shortly announce a specialist line in dust mite nappies (diapers) and toilet tissue to finally control the problem.

 

[Gracey]

So what is it about dust mite poopies that makes them worthy of more attention than other critters waste products?

I guess the old adage "Ignorance is Bliss" is correct but now that I know of this in my pillows I am NOT going to continue to snuggle my pretty little face in it!! Dr Oz recommends 1 micron size but the smallest I am coming across so far is 2.5 micron.

David, thanks for explaining about the micron I didn't know if it worked like a gauge where the number was larger as the size became smaller.

Keith, I am also going to get my husband a neti pot for his allergies too, Dr. Oz also recommends this. I wonder if he has the market on that one too

 

[Icarus]

The essence of life can be stated very simply, To live is to excrete.

:rofl:

-David

 

[Rose Pink]

I usually just buy new pillows at least once a year. I do change the pillowcases (launder in hot water and dryer) at least once a week.

Some people are seriously allergic to dust mites and so I can see the concern for them. I am not, so I don't worry too much about it.

 

[Kal]

That does it!!

From now on, I will only sleep standing up.

 

[Rose Pink]

We, like all life forms, contact, inhale, and consume the wastes of life continuously and unavoidably. It's a fact of life.

So what is it about dust mite poopies that makes them worthy of more attention than other critters waste products?

Okay, I looked it up. Dust mites have rudimentary digestive systems. They eat our dead skin cells. They cannot digest them completely the first time around and so they continue to re-eat them until a fully digested particle is left, voila, the feces. Most digestion occurs outside their bodies--they excrete an enzyme that is a primary cause of human allergies and asthma. They also use a fungus to help them digest our old discarded skin cells.

A human sloughs off about one ounce of dead skin cells every 5 weeks. The mites eat them. "Micro-predators" destroy dust mites.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Okay, I looked it up. Dust mites have rudimentary digestive systems. They eat our dead skin cells. They cannot digest them completely the first time around and so they continue to re-eat them until a fully digested particle is left, voila, the feces. Most digestion occurs outside their bodies--they excrete an enzyme that is a primary cause of human allergies and asthma. They also use a fungus to help them digest our old discarded skin cells.

A human sloughs off about one ounce of dead skin cells every 5 weeks. The mites eat them. "Micro-predators" destroy dust mites.

Oh-oh. You better watch out for those micro-predator fecies as well, then.

And I hope you don't drink beer or wine, or yogurt or cheese. Or wear cloth that comes from a textile mill.

All that stuff is waste - excreted metabolites.

 

[Icarus]

David, thanks for explaining about the micron I didn't know if it worked like a gauge where the number was larger as the size became smaller.

It's actually 1 x 10^-6 meters or shorthand for 1 micrometer. If you google search for "1 micron in meters" it will show you the conversion. I don't know how to show an exponent in BB code.

-David

 

[bigrick]

Wow! I didn't know there were so many things to worry about! Especially so close to me while I am sleeping!

Let's see. If the mites didn't consume all my dead skin cells then my pillow would one day be full of my dead skin cells. Maybe those mites are ok. Perhaps if I could train them to only re-eat them a few times so there's still more of my discard than their discard in my pillow.

For those who change pillows regularly, it seems to me like you'd want to do this every day. Why chance it?

As far as I know we have the same pillows as 20 years ago.

Too much to think about tonight. Time to go to sleep using that same old pillow. I wonder what I'll dream about tonight?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Too much to think about tonight. Time to go to sleep using that same old pillow. I wonder what I'll dream about tonight?

The mites go in. The mites go out.
The mites play pinochle in your snout.
Mite poopies come out like whipping cream
And ...

 

[Rose Pink]

That does it!!

From now on, I will only sleep standing up.

Won't help you much. Dust mites float in the air as well. They also are in your clothes, on your furniture and in your carpet. Unless you have a large infestation or are very sensitive to them, they are not a problem. You can keep the population reasonable by laundering your clothes and bedding at regular intervals and showering your body. Vacuum your carpets and furniture with a HEPA vaccuum to prevent blowing more of them into the air. Just reasonable hygiene and housekeeping should keep them under control. You aren't going to rid yourself of them completely. I guess you could try spraying yourself and everything around you with insecticide but I'd prefer the dust mites over the chemical haze.

Think of them as miniature biodegraders. Just think what the world would be like if we were all mushing our way knee-deep through human dander (dead skin cells). Dust mites are just part of the circle of life. Everybody sing with me now, "the circle of life ...." Sounds better when Elton John performs it.

 

[Rose Pink]

For those who change pillows regularly, it seems to me like you'd want to do this every day. Why chance it?

Chance what? Unless you are very allergic, dust mites in a reasonable population aren't going to hurt you. I change pillows once or twice a year just for hygiene's sake. They can get smelly from drool, sweat, body oils--I hate that dirty hair smell. I like freshly laundered bedding and that includes a fresh pillow every six months or so.

 

[Rose Pink]

Oh-oh. You better watch out for those micro-predator fecies as well, then.

:hysterical: I thought about that last night as well. Let's see, dust mites eat our dead skin cells, micro-predators (whatever they are) eat dust mites, so . . . what eats the micro-predators and does it ever end?

 

[dmharris]

:rofl:
This is the funniest thread! Ya'll need to get a life! Oh, I guess that would apply to me too! Back to work!

 

[Rose Pink]

:rofl:
This is the funniest thread! Ya'll need to get a life! Oh, I guess that would apply to me too! Back to work!

I feel gratified that it injected some fun into someone's life. Now my work is done.

-------
For those of you who really do have an allergy problem with these little arachnids and their enzymes, I do not mean to make light of your situation and I apologize if I have offended you. For the rest of us, laughter is a very good remedy.