The first washing machine with British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval

Main Category: Allergy
Article Date: 17 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Dyson 2-Drums Allergy washing machine CR02 - Dyson is launching its latest washing machine: 2-drums allergy. This is the first washing machine to gain the British Allergy Foundation (BAF) Seal of Approval.

Did you know..?

The average bed can easily have over 10,000 dust mites living in it, and over two million dust mite droppings - a primary cause of asthma and allergies. One of the environments dust mites love to breed in is our favourite place: the bed. They live in mattresses, pillows and duvets, where there is an abundance of food (our skin flakes) and high humidity (our sweat).

Only Dyson's patented 2-drum technology allows a more active wash action and a bigger drum size. This means that a king size duvet will fit inside the large capacity machine, while the 2-drum wash action ensures that the 60°C water necessary for killing dust mites will permeate right through the bedding.

Dyson 2-drums Allergy washing machine has specific features to help allergy sufferers at home:

-- Allergy duvet cycle - this is a unique approved allergy duvet wash, which kills dust mites and removes 90% of all allergens. The 2-drums allergy has the biggest drum available to fit in a standard cabinet space. It can easily take a 7kg load, while still leaving space for the material to move around. This means it will effectively and thoroughly wash a king-sized duvet.

-- Sensitive skin rinses - select up to three additional rinses to remove all possible traces of detergent, for people with sensitive skin and for eczema sufferers.

-- 2-drum action - conventional 1-drum machines go in one direction, relying on more detergent and time to get clothes clean. 2-drums replicates the movement of washing by hand (the most effective way of getting clothes clean), which means a better wash - and fewer beasties!

Dyson 2-drums Allergy washing machine: tackling a growing problem

Half the people in Europe could be suffering from an allergy in 2015, a study revealed this year. Allergies are becoming one of our top health concerns, with Britain already among the worst hit nations with more teenage asthma cases than anywhere else in Europe. The same study looked at children in 56 countries around the world, and put Britain second in the world for eczema and third for asthma - beaten only by Australia and New Zealand.[1]

One in three people are now suffering from allergy in the UK, growing at a rate of 5% per year, and four out of ten school children have an allergic condition of some sort. [2]

This means that sooner or later we're all going to be at pretty close quarters to someone with an allergy - which is something that prompted the establishment of the microbiology lab at Dyson in Malmesbury.

Microbiology at Dyson

The Dyson microbiology Lab was set up in 2001 with an initial investment of £100,000 and a further £50,000 is invested each year to keep them up to date with all the latest equipment. In this unusual facility, the scientists' days are spent meticulously researching every possible way to prevent and destroy allergens to make the home safer. The lab is also there to keep Dyson several steps ahead of competitors in making healthier, more hygienic appliances.

The Dyson scientists and technicians are fascinated with the house dust mite. The lab has one of the few pure house dust mite cultures in the UK, where house dust mites are bred in order to better understand their behaviour - and ultimately learn how to get rid of them! Funnily enough, despite being everywhere, they are notoriously difficult to breed 'in captivity'.

Around 85% of children with allergic asthma, and about 10% of the population, are sensitive to house dust mites, which are unfortunately found in every home, no matter how clean. What is less known is that it is actually the house dust mite protein (DER p1) found in their minute droppings and decomposing body parts, which cause respiratory allergic reactions. An allergy to house dust mites can also be linked to atopic eczema.[3]

Unfortunately, they breed in our favourite place - the bed. They live in mattresses, pillows and duvets, where there is an abundance of food (our skin flakes) and high humidity (our sweat). The average bed can easily have over 10,000 dust mites living in it, and over two million droppings.

And here are some more horrible facts:

-- There are 1,000 dust mites per teaspoon (1 gramme) of house dust

-- Their numbers have increased dramatically in the past 20 to 30 years, because of increasingly closed and warmer homes

-- They are so light and tiny that they float easily into the air when disturbed by our daily activities. Inhaling these minute particles causes allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to the protein

-- They feed off human and animal skin flakes in warm and humid conditions

-- People lose around 1g of skin scales per day and 2-3g per night, which is 28g per week - the weight of a bag of crisps

But here's how to keep the little blighters at bay…

-- Wash all bed linen weekly at 60°C

-- Thorough regular cleaning of mattresses, pillows and duvets will reduce the dust mite allergens in your bed

-- It is better to clean thoroughly once a week instead of lightly every day

-- Increase ventilation: open windows and doors, do not block up open chimneys -- Reduce the heat: turn down the heating in bedrooms

-- Reduce humidity: keep kitchen and bathroom doors closed when cooking or running hot water. Do not dry wet washing indoors

-- Regularly air your bedding

For further information or to be put in touch with a microbiologist, please contact:
Justine Bothwick or Guy Lambert in the Dyson Press Office
Telephone: 020 7833 8244
E-mail: press.office@dyson.com

Source: http://www.allergyfoundation.com/news_dyson.html