March, 2004
Dear
Everyone,
 Sometimes, my love of cats
and my allergies collide. My bedroom has
always been a relatively safe haven with
a very low particulate level, perfect
for an allergy sufferer. Imagine my dismay
to find out my newestSiamese
cat, Honeybear, has decided that the top
of our Blueair
501 Air Purifier is a perfect cat
perch from which to look out the window.
The Blueair 501 discharges some of its
clean air straight upwards, so Honeybear
sits with a nice cool breeze - dander
flying! She is tiny but clever, and all
attempts to date to move the air purifier
away from the window have been countered
by her pushing the Blueair [on easy to
move castors] back in place again. She
is winning so far in this battle.
Perhaps the most intriguing
new product we are announcing this Spring
is the new Miele
ART series vacuum starting at $378.95.
It is really an air-driven canister head
on a stick (as opposed to a powerhead)
for those of you who prefer upright vacuum
cleaners. It is only for those with bare
floors or very thin rugs. When I first
saw the sample come out of the box, I
thought it has to be the weirdest looking
new vacuum I have seen in along while.
However, when I tried and tested it out,
it brought a smile to my face. Do go and
take a look and also watch the product
video. I think Miele has a winner.
 Enjoy the good weather!
Mercia Tapping
President / CEO
AllergyBuyersClub.com
Contact Information
Disclaimer: Product and solution information reflect information available at the time of publication, including prices, availability, and reviews. To get the latest information, contact us or join our newsletter.
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Important
Features In A Quality Vapor Steam Cleaning System
How to Distinguish between
the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
by Randy Zielsdorf,
Distributor of Ladybug, Tidyvap and Vaporjet vapor steam
cleaning systems.
 Editor’s
note. Randy really knows steam cleaning
and he knows how a vapor steam cleaner that will
really last should be made on the inside. The Ladybug is my favorite steam cleaner of all the ones I have
tested and used to date and the one I gave to my
own family as a gift.
1. How does the steam cleaner system
produce steam vapor - by way of a high-pressure boiler
or just an enclosed chamber like an iron?
Only a boiler will give you sufficient heat and a true
dry steam vapor.
2. Does it matter whether the boiler
on a steam cleaner is made from stainless steel or aluminum?
An aluminum boiler is more susceptible to degradation
from the minerals in the water. An aluminum boiler will
consist of two halves fastened together with screws
over a gasket. Over time due to heating and cooling,
it will likely warp and leak, affecting other components
of your steam vapor system.
3. Is the boiler independently secured
to the lower housing or sandwiched between the upper
and lower housings?
Simply sandwiching the boiler between the upper and
lower housings allows the boiler to move inside the
system, particularly when it is set down hard or bumped
severely. This may cause severe damage to the system.
4. Does the boiler have a drain plug
mounted on the lowest point of the boiler or must you
turn the system upside down to drain the boiler?
Tipping the system upside down will allow scale particles
into the steam valve, causing the system to malfunction
and not allow the user to be able to control the steam
flow.
5. Is the boiler insulated, and if
so, with what type material is it insulated?
This is very important to keep the heat in the boiler
and not over-heat the interior of the system. Excessive
heat can degrade the insulation on the wire creating
a hazardous condition for the user. A form fitting,
solid thermal insulation is best as it resists heat
and moisture more effectively than loose fitting spun
fiberglass types.
6. Does the system use an independent
detachable steam hose for employing a variety of tools
and accessories?
A. A steam supply hose which is directly
wired into the base unit, can be difficult to store
and damage is often reflected by a broken steam supply
hose.
B. Does the hose have an electrical switch mounted
on the handle to turn the steam flow "on"
or "off"? Many less expensive systems use
120 volts to operate the hose switch, and doing so
may subject the user to hazardous electrical shock.
(Hose switches using 120-volt power are required to
use a clear plastic insulating cover to help protect
the user – be sure it is in place before operating
the system.
7. Is the base or boiler housing splash
proof?
This is a safety feature that protects the user from
electrical shock should water be spilled onto the base
unit when filling the system. Base units with protruding
switches, dials, or any other controls, are not splash
proof and require user caution when filling.
8. Is the system continuous fill or
are you adding water directly to the boiler?
This is important for both safety and efficiency. It
is important for the user be able to add more water,
anytime, safely to a cold water reservoir and keep right
on working, or be able to complete a project in a timely
manner.
9. Does the system have a steam volume
control?
It is important to be able to manage how much steam
you are using. Controlling the steam volume allows you
to get the most out of your system, from delicate work
to difficult jobs with the least mess and best overall
performance.
10. Does the system have self-locking
tools or do you have to remember to lock the tools on?
This is a safety feature that is very important and
it makes the system more convenient, easier to use.
11. Does the hose handle remain cool
to the touch even during extended use?
If the steam flow is routed through the hose handgrip,
the handle will become uncomfortable to hold on to,
particularly on time consuming projects. Routing the
steam flow so that the heat does not effect the user
is an important functional consideration.
12. Where is the steam volume control
located on the machine? Is it easily accessible to the
user?
13. Does the system have an over pressure,
safety release valve? If so, would it release steam
in a dangerous direction through the filler cap, or
safely, downward under the system away from the user?
14. How long is the electrical cord?
Many systems come with an electrical cord that is far
too short.
There are many other things to consider,
but this will give you a good educated start while considering
a quality Vapor Steam Cleaning System. Choosing a steam
vapor Steam Cleaner by price alone may not be the safest
decision.
Remember, the bitterness of poor quality
lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is
forgotten.
See
our Vapor Steam Cleaners Comparison Chart
See all the steam cleaners at Allergybuyersclub.com
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On
The Steam Cleaning Circuit
by Mercia Tapping, President, AllergyBuyersClub.com
 I
woke up on a recent Sunday morning with plans to indulge
myself with a trip to the local nursery to buy some
plants from my yard, and perhaps sneak in nine holes
of golf towards the end of the day. My reverie was abruptly
interrupted by my husband, who told me that the priority
of the day was for me to clean up one of our rental
properties with a steam
cleaner. You should know that even though I sell
these type of machines, cleaning is cleaning and not
my picture of how to spend an idyllic Sunday. With remarkable
good grace, I acceded to the change of plan and took
a WhiteWing
steam cleaner down to do its magic on a piece of
property, which while only 6 months old, was looking
as my Mother would say like a "pig pen," as
the tenants had done a moonlight exodus. My heart sank
when I opened the front door and saw the mess and the
dirt. However, with my Sebo
C3 powerhead canister vacuum to clean the carpets,
while the WhiteWing steam cleaner heated up, I rolled
up my sleeves ready for action. This is a summary of
what happened.
1. The bathtub could not have been cleaned
in six months and the dirt was caked on. Using the small
round brush on low pressure after spraying the area
with Formula
212 spot cleaner to loosen up the dirt, the filth
finally came off. It did not do any magical disappearing
act like in an infomercial. I still had to use some
elbow grease, but I was clear that without the steamer
I would not have even begun to make a dent.
2. The toilets were in a similar state,
beyond description in polite society. Using the regular
little nozzle brush around the rim and other medium
round brush below the water line, this time I did produce
miracles in a way that was satisfyingly painless.
3. The counter tops in the kitchen had
encrusted pools of something dark and sticky like molasses.
The large triangular brush wrapped in a towel blasted
through that mess in a very efficient manner and lifted
it right off. Then I continued with the rest of the
countertop, which ended up silky smooth after the steam
cleaning.
4. I could not believe that an oven top
could get so filthy in such as short time. Using a combination
of brass nozzle and small round brushes I manage to
get the stovetop to look almost brand new again, but
it did take a little time to get there. However, cleaning
the microwave was a slam-dunk.
5. My final area of action was the tile
floor. No problems in the bathrooms but the kitchen
presented a challenge. I stared at it mournfully - stains
all along the grout lines and goodness know what else
stuck to floor. So I put a brass nozzle brush at the
end of the wand and ran it down the grout lines and
over the sticky spots. Here I was truly amazed. The
dirt really did lift off without effort on my part,
and then I went over the whole floor with a towel and
the floor brush. My only grumble was I had to back off
sometimes and let the pressure build up again to optimum
levels, something that doesn’t happen with my Ladybug
continuous fill steam cleaner.
So I ended up two hours later, sweaty,
tired, but triumphant. My husband emerged from the basement
where he had been cleaning up and just said "Wow!
That thing really makes a difference." And it smelled
really clean. Did I ever get to pick flowers or play
golf? Sadly no, it started raining and I could feel
a nap coming on. Such is life, but I did gain brownie
points with my husband. And as for the Whitewing Steam
Cleaner, clearly impressive performance for the money.
See
our Vapor Steam Cleaners Comparison Chart
See all the steam cleaners at Allergybuyersclub.com
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Customer
Reviews Of Whitewing Steam Cleaner
Dear Mercia
 We have been pleased with our White
Wing Steamer. We have 900 square feet of porcelain
tile. The grout in the kitchen was darkening and nothing
restored the color until we steamed it. Buying the steamer
and accessories saved us from spending twice as much
to have the cleaning done by a cleaning service! It
has already paid for itself, and we haven't even begun
to take advantage of all its uses yet.
-- Henrietta C
Dear Jeremiah,
What a truly amazing device we have received
from you! We tried out the "Whitewing"
steamer today for the first time and could not believe
the impact that it had on our carpets!!!
 You
should understand that we have two Yorkshire Terriers,
one of which is on double-dose diuretics and, bless
her heart, does not always manage to tell us when she
just MUST go out. BUT, no matter, with the "Whitewing"
(where did that name come from??) steamer we were able
to delete most of her past sins - and we are sure that
a revisit to the major sites next weekend will "clear
the air" for us. We are looking at all sorts of
other possible applications for this wonderful device
- so easy to use and so potent! Love it!!
Thanks, David O
P.S. It has occurred to us that it could
be used to poach eggs - has
anyone ever tried that?
See
our Vapor Steam Cleaners Comparison Chart
See all the steam cleaners at Allergybuyersclub.com
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When
Nothing Works For Your Allergies
"I've
Tried Everything: Shots, Puffs, New Pillows and Filters,
and My Allergies Still Make Me Miserable. What Can I
do?"
By Murray Grossan, M.D.
 If your allergy treatment plan isn't working,
you have to first remember that details count. You probably
haven't really done everything, and secondly, no amount
of drug therapies are a replacement for helping the
body fight an allergy on its own terms. So follow -
really follow - all the steps below and it should make
the difference.
"I have dust-proofed my home, stopped
smoking, given up lipstick, got rid of the cat and dog.
My medicine chest is full of Claritin, Allegra, Flonase
and most other brands as well. I've been to doctors
and done shots. Nothing works. It's spring and I'm miserable.
How come nothing works for me? What can I do?"
says Mrs ML of Houston, Tx.
The best drugs in the world will not help
a down allergy sufferer who works plucking ducks. Drugs
will only work if you remove the major sources of allergens
from your environment and help your body to get over
the related problems due to allergies. These include
allergy exhaustion and the negative effects of anxiety
due to your allergies.
When you think of an allergy, think of arithmetic. 2x
as much pollen is a 2 and 4x as much pollen is a four.
Perfume is a 2. Iced drinks is a 2. Dust is a two. When
you get to a 10, you sneeze. Subtract the perfume and
cigarettes and then maybe you won’t sneeze.
Step-by-step: The arithmetic.
If the outside pollen is high, remain
indoors.
Plants tend to pollinate at 5am and 5pm
during the day. Make sure to be inside with windows
closed at these times in high allergy season. Drive
with the windows closed and the air recirculated.
It is very difficult to get rid of cat
dander, even a very long time after the cat is gone.
If it is in your rug, nothing will work except thorough
intense shampooing. It might be cheaper to remove the
rug.
Use houseplants as natural air purifiers.
Good plants include lady palm, areca palm, rubber plant,
English Ivy, dracaena and Boston fern.
Use common sense for an allergy sufferer
when eating. Spicy food adds to the allergy. Try eating
only cooked and canned foods — nothing fresh and
ESPECIALLY no salad dressings. Note: this is only during
the allergy season and depends on the pollen count.
If the pollen count is very low you might be OK with
salsa, but not when the pollen count is high.
Dry or wet (mold-breeding) conditions
are bad for allergy. Fix all leaks, especially where
the garden sprinkler gets under the house. Keep the
bedroom humidity at 45-50%. Consider a room
dehumidifier to help do this for you.
Can’t sit on the couch all day.
Dust accumulates here and when you sit down the dust
flies in your nose.
DO NOT use an Ionizer - they tend to spread
dust and allergens. Use a Hepa
air filter - they decrease allergens and dust.
Exercise can help smooth out your autonomic
system that controls allergy. Exercise regularly, but
not during pollination times, and indoors during peak
allergy season.
Flushing the nose with Breathe-ease solution
removes the pollen as well as the IgE which causes
the allergy. Article in the Journal of Allergy and
Immunology shows that Hydro
Pulse Irrigation is an effective way to remove nasal pollen, nasal IgE
and it even lowers the blood level of IgE, thereby
reducing allergy symptoms.
Published studies claim that one cortisone
spray works as well as another and recommend using the
least expensive one. The authors feel it is pointless
– and expensive - to keep trying various brands
trying to find one that works. Better to spend that
money on Hepa
air purifiers. Other authors claim that the sprays
without benzalkonium are best.
Cortisone spray or allergy pill? In practice,
we see just as many persons who do well on pills as
on cortisone sprays. If a simple pill works for you,
without side effects, OK. Most patients try both and
decide which they prefer. One attractive feature of
the cortisone spry is that it only goes to your nose
and not to your toes.
Hot drinks, especially regular or green
tea are desirable. Cold drinks slow your cilia and stop
the body from getting rid of allergens. No 24 oz mega-gulps
with ice during allergy season!
If your allergy is severe you must conserve
your energy so your body can rest - take it easy during
miserable attacks.
If your not sleeping, that’s bad.
Does Benadryl 50 mg work for you for sleep? If not,
your doctor may have to prescribe a sleep medication.
Is anxiety making you worse? Anxiety can
re-enforce your symptoms. Relaxation can help your symptoms.
Try Guided Visualization for Allergy.
Guided visualization is visualizing when
you didn’t have the allergy. Use ALL senses:
- Sight
- Sound
- Touch
- Smell
- Taste
You can visualize going to the prom —
when you didn’t have allergy. What you wore, what
music you heard, what you ate — how it tasted,
what the flowers and perfume smelled like, and how the
shoe and clothes felt. Or think of a trip to the forest
or beach where you felt fine. This can favorably alter
the body chemistry.
When all the above fails, it denotes a
stage of "allergy exhaustion" and bed rest
may be the best answer. In the exhaustion stage, prednisone
may also be helpful, but try everything else before
heading back to the doctor.
In my experience you think you've tried
everything, but most patients who really carefully go
through all the steps above find a lot of relief.
Thanks to Susan Rudy, Nuances of Nasal
and Sinus Self- Help for the info on the flowers and
plants.
Disclaimer: Please note that all advice here is
general: all patients in a doctor's care must consult
their doctor regarding the use of our products. The
use of these products is NOT a substitute for seeing
your doctor for any potentially serious medical condition.
For information about Grossan products, visit
www.hydromedonline.com
Dr Grossan's Hydro-Pulse
Nasal Irrigator for sinus sufferers and Breathe-ease solution are available at AllergyBuyersClub.com
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When
Is Surgery Indicated For Allergies
By Murray Grossan, MD.
 Although
I write of non- surgical approaches to Allergy, it is
true that many persons with allergies can be helped
by surgery. Actually, you want to recommend what is
best for the patient.
If a patient has a 100% obstruction to
breathing due to a deviated septum, and still has a
dust and pollen allergy, no matter how effective the
dust proofing and the desensitization treatment, he
will still end up with 100% obstruction to breathing.
Here it makes sense to fix the septum first, and then
see if he can be relieved with simple medication.
Where is gets difficult to decide, is
when the deviated septum is just 50% obstructive plus
a known allergy to dust and pollen. If you fix the septum,
the person will still have an allergy. If you do the
allergy Rx first, he or she still has the deviated septum.
Regrettably you will find differences in recommendation
here from different doctors. Each doctor tries to decide
what is best for the patient, or the patient is given
the facts and decides if he or she wants to try allergy
desensitization or surgery first.
With surgery, we usually include reduction
of blockage of turbinates in hopes that, with this reduction
there will be less blockage even though the allergy
persists. Many persons with allergies are comfortable
with the newer allergy pills and cortisone sprays.
For a history of painful sinus blockage
and infection, if the CT Scan shows blockage of sinus
drainage, we recommend surgery to open the sinuses rather
than wait for the allergy desensitization to accomplish
this task. Likewise, if there is an anatomical blockage
often it is best to clear this by endoscopic surgery.
If the blockage is purely due to inflammation, medical
and pulsatile irrigation treatment is tried first before
we go to surgery.
If the nose is fully blocked by nasal
polyps, first we try to shrink the polyps with medications
such as cortisone and antibiotic combination. If this
fails, then a CT scan can determine how much surgery
is needed for relief of obstruction. Following polyp
surgery, allergy treatment may help prevent re occurrence.
Nasal polyps will re-occur with exposure to aspirin
and aspirin related medications.
 For
asthmatics, a favorite surgery is Rhinoplasty. No, not
to make the nose more beautiful, but to make it function
better. For asthma, nasal breathing is essential and
can be improved by moistening the air and reduce post
nasal discharge.
However if the nose is crooked, this needed
nasal function may not be possible. In addition, in
aging, the skin of the top of the nose loses fat, and
this causes the tip of the nose to hang down. This in
turn creates a blockage by closing off a valve that
can obstruct breathing. Fist we try taping the nose
up at night to see is that helps. Then the patient can
decide to continue using tape at night or to have the
nose permanently fixed for better breathing.
Nasal/ sinus surgery for an allergy can
fail. The number one reason for failure is not appreciating
the degree of the allergy that the patient has. No matter
how skilled the surgery, when you have completed it,
he is still allergic to cats.
Another reason for surgery failure is
not recognizing an immune deficiency problem. Treatment
here is essential in order to avoid another surgery
because of repeated infection.
Failure to restore cilia function after
surgery, not dust proofing the bedroom, not doing irrigation
to restore the cilia function, using medications that
can harm the nose such as sprays with the preservative
benzalkonium are other reasons for failure.
Nasal sinus surgery can also fail if the
diagnosis is not correct – if sinus pain is due
to Migraine or Histamine Cephalgia or referred pain
from the neck. Failure can come with an overwhelming
infection is present, especially a fungal one.
There is no simple yes or no answer to
the question of doing surgery for an allergy and asthma
and it requires all the skill and experience of the
ENT and Allergy specialist to make the correct recommendation.
Murray Grossan, MD
www.grossan.com
Dr Grossan's Hydro-Pulse
Nasal Irrigator for sinus sufferers and Breathe-ease solution are available at AllergyBuyersClub.com Top
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Vocal
Survival Techniques For Singers
Here is an excerpt from the forthcoming
book on voice by Rosalie Loeding, a leading voice teacher.
"Vocal Survival Techniques for Singers and Professional
Voice Users"
Welcome
Sweet Springtime!
 Allergies,
Gardening And Singers
When the snow begins to melt and sunny
days return, our thoughts turn to spring and the joy
of gardening. Allergy sufferers have mixed emotions.
Spring also brings sneezing, itchy eyes and rashes.
There are a number of strategies that can minimize these
hazards. Do not despair, there are many more trees,
shrubs and flowers that are more friendly than highly
allergenic. I will list plants that cause the most problems
and those that cause the least.
If your allergies first appear during
spring the probable culprits are the oak, elm, alder,
birch, cottonwood and maple pollens. Other trees to
avoid are poplar, sweetgum, sycamore, and pecan.
Late summer and fall allergies are usually
caused by weed pollens such as ragweed and molds. The
pollen grains are light, so the wind carries them for
miles. A single ragweed plant generates a million grains
of pollen each day. Goldenrod and dandelion pollen is
heavier, so they only cause problems when one is in
close proximity to the plants. In other words, if you
are allergic, have someone else deal with the dandelions
and goldenrod. Don’t use zinnias, cosmos and goldenglow
in flower arrangements because they are heavy pollen
producers.
Plant your gardening when the pollen count
is low – after a rain shower or on a cool, humid,
cloudy day when there is little wind. Plan ahead. It
might be wise to wear a mask and take an antihistamine
before gardening. Remember to drink more liquids because
antihistamines are very drying to the nose and throat.
If certain plants cause a rash or itching,
wear gloves. If you are allergic to grasses, have someone
else mow the grass and stay inside to avoid freshly-mown
grass. The most common grasses causing allergic problems
are timothy, sweet vernal, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson
grass, and Bermuda grass.
First and foremost, keep your grounds
and gardens free of flowering weeds. Better still, have
someone else do the weeding. Some flowering weeds are
very beautiful, but they are also highly allergenic.
The worst of the lot are ragweed, mugwort, cockleweed,
dock, English plantain, lamb’s quarter, pigweed,
sagebrush, amaranth and Russian thistle. Never bring
them into the house. Get them off your clothes before
you sit on the couch. Most patients benefit by simple
or pulsatile irrigation to remove these pollens from
the nose and to lower the IgE of the nose.
The American Lung Association recommends
the following trees, flowers and
shrubs as the least likely to trigger allergies:
- Trees: Dogwood,
pear, pine, redbud, tulip, crepe myrtle, palm
and magnolia.
- Shrubs: Boxwood, pyracantha
and hibiscus.
- Flowers: Azalea, begonia,
bougainvillea, camellia, poppy, iris, tulip and pansy.
It is usually wise to avoid very sweet
smelling flowers because you may be sensitive to the
perfume. Better to be safe than sorry – do not
have bouquets of sweet smelling flowers in your house.
Houseplants are a major source of mold.
You may not see it, but it is there. There are many
very natural looking silk plants to substitute for live
plants. To avoid collecting dust, be sure to regularly
vacuum and wipe with a wet cloth.
On the other hand, house plants can serve
as air cleaners. Use houseplant natural air purifiers
such as the lady palm, areca palm, rubber plant, English
ivy, dracaena and Boston fern.
During the early spring and the fall the
mold count is higher. In the fall the lovely, colorful
fall leaves drift gently down and begin to mold. Do
not rake them without a heavy-duty mask. Remember, mold
can be airborne. You may not be able to see it and you
may not be able to smell it. Keep windows closed during
the late spring, summer and fall when plants pollinate:
5 AM and 5 PM. This is when the pollen is prevalent
in the air. Drive with your windows closed and the air
re-circulated.
In one study in the Journal of Allergy
and Immunology, twice a day pulsatile irrigation significantly
reduced allergy symptoms by removing pollen and IgE.
(Subiza)
If you have allergies to pollen and mold,
plan your landscaping to be as carefree as possible
and stick to the plants, trees and bushes that are least
likely to cause problems.
More excellent articles by Ms Loeding
on Voice are at www.ent-consult.com.
Murray Grossan, M.D.
www.ent-consult.com
Hydromedonline.com
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