Allergen removal, reduction, and avoidance in the home are now accepted as a vital part of an effective asthma and allergy management plan. That means families living with asthma and allergies can help reduce exposure to their triggers by simply working to create a clean and healthy home environment with better indoor air quality (IAQ).
But there’s no single product or approach that can improve IAQ on its own. Earlier in the summer, I wrote a few blog posts about how to reduce allergens and irritants in carpet through frequent vacuuming and professional carpet cleanings with Certified asthma & allergy friendly® products and services. Today I’m going to talk about washing machines and tumble dryers! Each one can play a unique role in creating a healthy home.
Washing machines and tumble dryers that are Certified asthma & allergy friendly® are proven through lab testing to considerably reduce allergens that can accumulate on washable items, such as sheets, pillows, comforters, clothing, washable rugs, small plush toys, etc. Some washing machines can be an important tool in an overall plan of asthma and allergy management. But not all laundry machines are equal.
In order for a washing machine to earn Certification, our strict scientific standards for appropriate levels must be met in lab testing. For example, some of the things we look at are its capability to:
- Reduce allergens and irritants from washable items;
- Reach washing temperatures of 130°F or more;
- Kill house dust mites; and
- Achieve the above requirements without exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Tumble dryers—the final step in a complete anti-allergen laundry strategy—can earn Certification too, but only if they also meet our strict scientific standards. We look at a tumble dyers capability to:
- Reduce allergens and irritants from washable items;
- Reach and maintain tumble drying temperatures of 130°F or more;
- Kill house dust mites;
- Keep humidity levels low during a tumble dry;
- Obtain low moisture levels after a tumble dry; and
- Achieve the above requirements without exposure to VOCs.
Want to know why these machines have to reach temperatures of 130°F or more? Because anything less than that does NOT kill dust mite eggs. Gross, I know. If those eggs stay on your bedding, clothes, and rugs, they’ll just hatch and create a new colony and home in your stuff. That’s why the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recommends washing your bedding once a week in Certified laundry machines. So who manufacturers these types of laundry machines, you ask?
LG Electronics currently has multiple washing machines that are Certified asthma & allergy friendly® and they are also the FIRST to pass testing and achieve this distinguishing Mark. Each washing machine was individually tested to ensure it met the strict standards mentioned above. To view and find more information about specific washing machines that are Certified asthma & allergy friendly®, click here.
Did you know dust mite eggs can survive washing temperatures below 130°F? #NotSoFunFact.