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Original ArticleOpen Access
Vacuum Cleaning Does Not Sufficiently Reduce Mite Allergens From Beddings
Vichyanon P 
,
Visitsuntom N ,
Malainual N
,
Visitsuntom N ,
Malainual N NUALANONG VISITSUNTORN, M.D.*,
NAT MALAINUAL, M.Sc.
**
Introduction:
Conflicting results exist with regard to the efficacy of vacuum cleaners on
the removal of mite allergens from bedding.
Objectives:
The authors prospectively compared a short term efficacy of two types of
regular vacuum cleaners (Nationai-N and Hoover-H) with a specialized cleaner (Vorwerk-V) in the
removal of mite allergens from mattresses.
Material and Method:
Thirty-five dormitory beds with high mite allergen concentrations
at the baseline period (month 0) were selected. They were matched into three groups according to
group I mite allergen concentrations (N 11 beds, H 12 beds, V 12 beds). Vacuuming was performed
on months 1 and 4 by the assigned vacuum cleaner in each group. Immediately after, mattresses
were vacuumed by a reference cleaner (another National vacuum cleaner) at both months. Vacuum-
ing was performed over the entire bed for 2 minutes/square meter. Group I mite allergens (sums
of
Der p I
and
Der
f
f)
were measured; concentrations and total mite allergens removed by the tested
cleaners as well as by the reference cleaner, at various time points, were compared.
Results:
Ability to remove mite allergens by vacuum cleaners depends on weight of dust
removed and also on mite concentrations in the dust samples. Despite the fact that H and V appeared
to remove higher mite allergens than N, such differences were not statistically significant (p
>
0.05), both at month 1, and 4. Surprisingly, mattress mite concentrations removed by both high
capacity cleaner groups (V
&
H) increased at month 4, whereas, it remained unchanged in the third
group (N). This increase led to a concomitant increase in total allergen removed by V and H. Never-
theless, remaining total allergens in the mattresses in V and H, as judged from the amount of
allergens obtained by the reference cleaner, increased at month 1 and 4 compared to baseline values
(p
<
0.05), whereas, no change was observed in N.
Vol. 85 Suppl 2
MITE ALLERGEN REMOVAL BY VACUUM CLEANER
8587
Conclusion: Although high capacity vacuum cleaners removed a large amount of mite
allergens from mattresses, they did not sufficiently reduce mattress mite allergen burden as deter-
mined by the reference cleaner during this short term study.
Key word : Mites, Allergen, Vacuum Cleaner, Mattress
NAT MALAINUAL, M.Sc.
**
Introduction:
Conflicting results exist with regard to the efficacy of vacuum cleaners on
the removal of mite allergens from bedding.
Objectives:
The authors prospectively compared a short term efficacy of two types of
regular vacuum cleaners (Nationai-N and Hoover-H) with a specialized cleaner (Vorwerk-V) in the
removal of mite allergens from mattresses.
Material and Method:
Thirty-five dormitory beds with high mite allergen concentrations
at the baseline period (month 0) were selected. They were matched into three groups according to
group I mite allergen concentrations (N 11 beds, H 12 beds, V 12 beds). Vacuuming was performed
on months 1 and 4 by the assigned vacuum cleaner in each group. Immediately after, mattresses
were vacuumed by a reference cleaner (another National vacuum cleaner) at both months. Vacuum-
ing was performed over the entire bed for 2 minutes/square meter. Group I mite allergens (sums
of
Der p I
and
Der
f
f)
were measured; concentrations and total mite allergens removed by the tested
cleaners as well as by the reference cleaner, at various time points, were compared.
Results:
Ability to remove mite allergens by vacuum cleaners depends on weight of dust
removed and also on mite concentrations in the dust samples. Despite the fact that H and V appeared
to remove higher mite allergens than N, such differences were not statistically significant (p
>
0.05), both at month 1, and 4. Surprisingly, mattress mite concentrations removed by both high
capacity cleaner groups (V
&
H) increased at month 4, whereas, it remained unchanged in the third
group (N). This increase led to a concomitant increase in total allergen removed by V and H. Never-
theless, remaining total allergens in the mattresses in V and H, as judged from the amount of
allergens obtained by the reference cleaner, increased at month 1 and 4 compared to baseline values
(p
<
0.05), whereas, no change was observed in N.
Vol. 85 Suppl 2
MITE ALLERGEN REMOVAL BY VACUUM CLEANER
8587
Conclusion: Although high capacity vacuum cleaners removed a large amount of mite
allergens from mattresses, they did not sufficiently reduce mattress mite allergen burden as deter-
mined by the reference cleaner during this short term study.
Key word : Mites, Allergen, Vacuum Cleaner, Mattress
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