Break out the bubble-boy suit or lock yourself in an air-conditioned room with the air purifier turned all the way up: The pollen forecast in New York today is hilariously high, and it’s probably making you miserable. The pollen tsunami is real! The long weekend was kind of an allergy hellscape, and today we’ll get no relief. The pollen count is at a 9.3 out of 10 today, with tree pollen at especially high levels. Unfortunately, those sniffle-free days will be short-lived. The pollen count is expected to shoot back up by Friday, because life is a tapestry of never-ending misery punctuated by brief phases of mild relief.An hypoallergenic vacuum cleaner uses suction and sometimes brushing to remove particles from flooring, carpet, and furniture and furnishings and purports to retain the vast majority (ideally at least 99.97%) within the vacuum system, which, if successful, would greatly reduce the amount of potential allergens in the environment in which it is used, as compared to regular vacuum cleaners in which most very fine dust and many allergens simply are too small for the system to trap and are released

from the system along with the exhaust air. However, studies have shown that even vacuum cleaners featuring HEPA filters tend to release a large amount of allergens back into the air in the exhaust, although in general, more recent and more expensive models perform better than older and less expensive ones. While regular vacuum cleaners are designed to simply contain visible dirt and debris, hypoallergenic vacuums are designed to trap almost all of the smaller particles which in a regular vacuum are simply re-circulated into the ambient air. 12v mini auto car fresh air ionic purifierWhile this is not an issue for most people who do not suffer allergies, many with particular sensitivities to allergens (including asthma) can find that this not only does not help their condition, but stirring the dust into the air can make the condition worse. cab 001 air purifier

Most modern hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners use a system consisting of four primary components: the final output filter (generally a HEPA or similar filter), the motor and fan or impeller assembly, secondary particle filter to protect the motor assembly, and a primary filter - a bag, cup or wet filter bucket (each of which provide the initial filtration and retention of most dust and contaminants). Modern high quality hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners generally use HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arrestor) filters to trap the vast majority (at least 99.97%) of very small particles that other vacuum cleaners would simply re-emit into the ambient air - ideally specifying a recognised and independently tested HEPA filter grade (see HEPA article) rather than just using the term. mopar performance air cleaner lidRecently many cheaper 'HEPA type' filters have appeared on the market attempting to capitalise on the term, these are generally inferior and do not meet the stringent requirements set by the US Dept of Energy (or in Europe EN 1822) to call themselves HEPA, and have not been independently tested to assess their ability to stop dust egress.

[2] While many dry bagless systems include HEPA grade filtration, the user is generally exposed to the very dust and allergens they are trying to avoid during emptying/cleaning the system. Anti-allergy bagged systems avoid most of this risk with a bag that will contain dirt and contaminants, and wet filter bagless systems also allow emptying without exposure to airborne particles as it is contained in a 'mud'. While Wet filter systems do avoid the cost and environmental waste of needing new bag for every filling, like wet/dry and shampooing machines they do generally require a very small amount of anti foaming agent, though this is generally environmentally benign. Some Hypoallergenic vacuum bags differ a great deal from non-hypoallergenic bags. Hypoallergenic bags often come in two pieces, an inner and outer bag. The inner bag (which captures the dirt) will be disposable and completely contained. Outer bags will sometimes take the place of a filter all together filtering out dust and allergens out of the air.

Some modern hypoallergenic vacuum cleaners will use the two bag system with the outer bag made up of high-performance filtration material treated with antimicrobials to impede the growth of mold, bacteria and other parasites. A two bag system will still require a final HEPA filter to be able to comply with the standards of HEPA filtration.[3] All good Hypo-allergenic systems are designed, not just to contain 99+% of containments (99.97% in the case of HEPA systems), but to clean the air while cleaning the floors, some, including water filter models, achieving retention of particles over 0.3 micrometer diameter of 99.99% (1 particle in 10,000 released). HEPA filters alone are not enough for even the best vacuum cleaner to work effectively. Whether it’s bagged or bagless, a truly hypoallergenic vacuum requires that it have a completely sealed system. All intake air must pass through the dirt capture and filtration systems before it exits the vacuum, any leaks will allow dust and allergens to be ejected back into the air you breathe before the HEPA filter has a chance to do its job, meaning the system itself is no longer HEPA grade despite the presence of such a filter.

[5] However, some users who suffer from dust mite allergies, evidence a preference for bagless technology; as most of the dirt is trapped inside the chamber via the use of cyclonic technology, which is, by design, a potentially inherently cleaner technology. Despite progress in filtration systems for vacuum cleaners, central vacuums that vent outdoors or into a nonliving space are preferable for individuals with allergies or asthma, because they prevent indoor emissions altogether. List of vacuum cleaners ^ /hepatypefilter.html Dust filter information ^ Karcher Mediclean DS5600 Specifications ^ http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html EPA residential air filtration guideAvoid These 7 Mistakes Misery loves comfort, and with approximately 50 million Americans plagued by seasonal allergies, there are plenty of people feeling miserable and seeking comfort when pollen is in the air. But in an attempt to relieve their sneezing, stuffy or runny noses, and itchy eyes, allergy sufferers might make a few mistakes.

The good news is that "seasonal allergies are totally treatable," said Dr. Clifford Bassett, medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of New York. "The key is to have a plan in place." Bassett described seven common mistakes that people with seasonal allergies make, so you can know to avoid them. Mistake 1: Spending unwisely on over-the-counter medications When people with allergies feel lousy, they may head to the drugstore and try a variety of products, such as antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops. This isn't necessarily a smart or cost-effective way to relieve their symptoms, though. It's better to see an allergist who can pinpoint exactly what your allergies are and create an allergy action plan, said Bassett, a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.  Mistake 2: Opening the windows "Wind is not a good friend to people with seasonal allergies," Bassett told Live Science.But when the weather gets warm, it's tempting to let fresh air and cool breezes into your home or car.

"This is a big mistake for people with seasonal allergies because this allows pollens to visit," Bassett said. He recommends keeping windows shut, running the air conditioner to recirculate inside air and using HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to trap pollen. Mistake 3: Not taking steps to keep pollen away Your shoes, clothes, hair and glasses can all track pollen from outside into your home. Pets also bring pollen inside, so keep them clean. You should keep your own hair clean, too. "Wash hair at the end of the day to avoid transferring pollen to your pillowcase and sleeping on a pollen cloud," Bassett advised. It can also help to use saline nasal sprays, which are like a shower for your nose, to gently irrigate pollen from it, Bassett said. He also recommended that people avoid hanging laundry on an outdoor clothesline during allergy season. Mistake 4: Neglecting your eyes Many people don't realize that lots of pollen enters the body through the eyes, Bassett said.

Protecting your eyes offers a great opportunity to reduce the pollen load your body experiences, he said. A brimmed hat and sunglasses can help block pollens from your face before they find their way into your nose and eyes. Eye rinses can wash away pollen, and antihistamine eye drops can relieve red, itchy eyes. Mistake 5: Waiting too long to take allergy medications Treat allergies at the onset of pollen season, rather than waiting until symptoms get more severe, Bassett said. He advises his patients to begin taking their medications one or two weeks before their allergy season typically begins. A proactive approach works better for many people; it may reduce the severity of symptoms, and the patient may end up needing less medication, Bassett explained. Mistake 6: Overusing nasal sprays People should generally limit their use of over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray to a maximum of five days in a row; otherwise the spray may irritate the lining of the nose and sinuses.