Dust mites are too minor to be noticed with the naked eye, however, they do reside in the bed mattresses, or even the cushions, your couches, carpets, and rugs in most of the houses.
While they are not capable of biting or directly harming us, they can still cause problems. People who are allergic to mites or suffer from asthma, dermatitis, or other symptoms can be in great difficulty if they are exposed to them.
A vacuum cleaner is one of the most important appliances in a household for daily chores. It is simple to use and takes little effort on your end. Not only this, but vacuum cleaners are also a great means to remove dust mites easily from floors, furniture, etc.
Vacuums these days are also manufactured with UV germicidal lamps to make them more efficient. So in this article, we will enlighten you on how UV vacuum cleaners work and the effectiveness of these vacuum cleaners.Â
Understanding Ultraviolet Light
UV light is a kind of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is longer than and shorter than x-rays and visible light respectively.
Our Sun emits ultraviolet light, but ozone gas present in the atmosphere blocks much of the mid as well as greater range wavelengths.Â
Manufactured appliances that make the use of UV light, like black lights, fluorescent bulbs, or tanning beds typically have a lower range. It produces more lasting effects as it includes the ultraviolet extreme range of electromagnetic radiation.
What is a UV Vacuum Cleaner?
These vacuum cleaners are equipped with a UV germicidal lamp. They have been gaining popularity for both commercials as well as residential uses.
Dust mites, pet hair, pollen, and allergens — these vacuum cleaners will help you get rid of anything and everything and leave the surface as clean as new.
Features of a Typical UV Vacuum Cleaner
1. Cordless Design
A cordless design tool removes the need for fatal long cables and leaves you with a better and more comfortable experience. UV vacuum cleaners are a very easy and relaxing way to clean your house floor, carpets, curtains, and other furniture like beds, couches, etc.Â
2. HEPA Filter
A fine mesh HEPA filter helps to trap and to remove more than 99.9% of allergic dust, mite matter, and pet hair that settle on some surfaces.
Any of these particles will irritate the house members who suffer from certain allergies or even asthma.
3. UV Lamp
The UV lamp will screen all of the allergic dust and dust mites after being removed from the surface. The UV lamp has been shown to destroy 99.99 percent of ordinary mites.
4. High Beating Pace
It’s difficult to get rid of dust mites in your beds with a standard vacuum cleaner, but the UV vacuum cleaner’s flapping pads will remove mites off the surface quickly and efficiently.
Do UV Vacuum Cleaners Work?
The results indicate that integrating UV light’s germicidal properties into vacuuming can help reduce the number of allergens as well as pathogens in carpets, according to the researchers.
They also mentioned how carpets are infamous for exposing people to a range of toxic substances, comprising chemicals, allergen mites, and microbes. To curtail the civil health risk, resources are required that are both rational and effective. UV vacuum cleaner appears to be a positive move forward.
About the Study
In a study conducted by Timothy Buckley, Buckley along with his colleagues experimented on a regular vacuum cleaner. The vacuum was tested independently and also in combination with the traditional beater bar, also known as rotating brush, and our main component, a UV germicidal lamp.
A UV-C light having a wavelength of exactly 253.7 nanometers was taken into consideration and is being studied. It has been extensively researched for its features of disinfection in different surfaces like water, food, air, etc. However, this is the first time that it is being researched in how it works on surfaces of carpets.
Numerous 3-by-3-foot pieces of rugs of various types were chosen from three different settings by the Ohio State research team.
The three settings were a commercially available tight-loop rug in the conference room of a college, a medium-sized Berber rug with lengthier, thick loops in an apartment’s common area, and a one-family house.
Researchers used contact plates clutched onto the surface to rip off microbes from the rug to get samples from a segment of each carpet. To collect a figurative sample of the microbe species found on the carpets, they obtained all the samples from different locations on each experiment location.
After the sampling process, these contact plates were kept in the lab for the next 24 hours. They noted the number of colonies and proper research was conducted on all the samples.
As a result, it was found that Vacuuming itself decreased the number of microbes by 78%, while UV light independently decreased them by 60%. Beater-bar vacuum cleaners combined with UV light decreased microbes on rugs by 87%.
It was finally concluded that the UV vacuum cleaner roughly generated more than double the individual results. The UV vacuum cleaner was also successful in making twice as much the vacuum’s potency in lessening the total microbial amount on the surface.
How to Get Rid of Dust Mites with the Help of UV Vacuum Cleaners?
To ensure the effectiveness of UV vacuum cleaners, it is also important to use them in the right way. Following are the steps and tips to properly use a UV vacuum cleaner:
1. Linens Must be Removed
Make sure to remove all the linens from your bed before you move towards vacuuming. The sheets, bedspread, and mattress pad should all be washed and dried thoroughly. To fully destroy the dust mites, you must select the dryer heat option on the appliance and make use of hot water.
2. Start Vacuuming
Now it is time for the second step. Start vacuuming the entire surface of the mattress. Begin with the vacuuming process from the mattress’s top and work your way down to the sections which overlap.Â
You need to be attentive when it comes to the surfaces and joints while vacuuming the mattress, as these are the areas that accumulate most dirt, dead skin, pet hair, dust mites, and other contaminants. The UV vacuum cleaners are best suited for properly cleaning different flat surfaces.
3. Get Rid of the Stains
Search for any kind of stains that might be present anywhere on your mattress. Do this after you’ve finished vacuuming it. If the mattress has stains from spills, use the appropriate cleaner to get the stains out. Even though it is best to clean stains as soon as possible, there are times when a spill slips from your eyes.
To get rid of irritable stains from your mattresses, use any commercially available cleaner specifically for bed as well as upholstery. One spoon of detergent mixed in a mug of warm water is the easiest way to eliminate stains.
4. Deodorize
Spray baking soda over the whole mattress to deodorize it. To obtain the best results, try to leave the mattress with the baking soda for at least 24 hours.
Baking soda helps to absorb excess moisture that might be present in the mattress and leaves it smelling fresh. Take off the baking soda from your mattress with your vacuum cleaner.
5. Cover
Be sure to turn the mattress over and repeat this process on the other side. Cover the mattress after you’re done vacuuming. The mattress cover is simple to clean and keeps the mattress safe from stains and dirt.
You may also use a mattress pad to trap moisture that gets accumulated in the middle of your mattress cover and bottom bed sheet.Â
When Do You Clean Your Mattress?
Even though we know that your mattress is the dirtiest item in the house, we often ignore it when it comes to cleaning it.
It’s crucial to have your mattress clean at all times because it can become a breeding ground for not just dust mites but also fungal spores and various kinds of bacteria if you don’t.
Cleaning your mattress at least two times a week is recommended to keep it clean. The UV vacuum cleaner will make sure that not only the dust is neutralized, but also the bacteria as well as viruses.
You can also read our guides on how to vacuum your carpet and car.
Conclusion
This wraps up our discussion on the effectiveness of UV vacuum cleaners. They are easy to use and work efficiently. You will find many vacuum cleaners available online that work great, and you can easily choose one that fits your requirements while remaining within your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can we use a UV vacuum cleaner to clean wet surfaces?
No, UV vacuum cleaners are not advised to use on wet surfaces. The liquid may damage the appliance.
Is it possible to clean the HEPA filter?
Yes, the HEPA filter is washable. To start, dust it with a toothbrush to remove the larger dirt particles. Wash the filter from the inside out under a tap.
Note that washing the filter from the outside can bring dirt even deeper into the filter. When the filter is wet, DO NOT scrub it. Let it air dry after washing it. Do not use extreme heat or blow-dry. Before using the filter again, make sure it is fully dry.
Why does my UV vacuum keep stopping automatically?
It is possible that your appliance has overheated. You can try cleaning the HEPA filter or emptying the dust container as advised.
