House Dust Protects Against Allergies

House dust -- called endotoxin, which is released when bacteria dies or is damaged -- may protect children against asthma and allergies. In a new study, Arizona Respiratory Center researchers found the lower amount of endotoxin in young children's homes, the more likely they were to have wheezing or asthma by age 3. The higher amount of endotoxin in their homes, the less likely they were. Factors that contributed to homes having higher levels included: having a home older than 30 years, substandard home conditions, carpeting, a musty smell and interior wall leaks

The Hotter the Better to Kill Dust Mites During Laundry
Washing laundry in hot water -- 140 degrees Farenheit (60 degrees Celcius) -- kills all house dust mites, compared to just 6.5 percent of dust mites in laundry washed at 104 degrees Farenheit (40 degrees Celcius), or warm water, according to researchers from South Korea presenting a new study. They found hotter water temperatures are also more effective in removing dog dander and pollen. Don't want to use hot water? The researchers say an alternative is washing at a temperature between 86 and 104 degrees Farenheit, then rinsing the laundry twice with cold water for three minutes each.