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When we first started our HB franchise, my brother and I looked into duct cleaning as an add on option. Dust mites were becoming a “buzz word” in people’s minds and if we could make money off this while helping the customer, that’s a good thing. In our research, we found dust mites do not thrive in our local climate (low humidity and high altitude…who knew?). Due to this, and a few other reasons, we never pursued this service any further. I always laugh when I see carpet cleaners in my area advertising duct cleaning and showing a picture of a dust mite, although I know they are still making money off this customer fear. I always educate my customers on this fact. How many of you, in areas where dust mites are a problem, have lost jobs to hot water extraction guys because the customer thinks their system will get rid of dust mites better than our system? I was just reading the Nov. 08 Cleanfax and they have an article on dust mites. In the article it says “It has been shown that washing above 130 degrees fahrenheit does kill dust mites. However, for carpet it is a different matter as this high a temperature cannot be sustained for a long enough time -EVEN DURING HOT WATER EXTRACTION CLEANING – to have the needed impact on dust mite count”. Interesting.
My tip of the day: Do your homework and don’t lose jobs because you don’t know the facts. There is a wealth of info out there if you look for it.
Here’s the article.
http://www.cleanfax.com/article.asp?IndexID=6637009That is what I have thought. I have had people ask about that and I didn’t really say much because I was assuming and didn’t know for sure. This is why I like the bulletin board to share ideas and to educate each other on things we have learned.
How ironic that I search for dust mites today and the post has just been started. I received an e-mail from a friend who wants her carpets cleaned and at the end of the e-mail she wrote:
“PS – how does you product work for controlling dust mites? Our dog is allergic and I was just wondering. Thanks!”Thanks for the info and links Dave.
Lew
Some 2 years or so ago, I emailed a distant cousin of mine, Ed Mockford PhD. He is an entomologist of some distinction. I asked him via email regarding the possibility of cleaning for dust mites. He shared that in his home in Illinois…he looked and searched everywhere and found zero.
His feeling was that it was a lot of hype….we never pursued it for the same reasons stated above….there is so much carpet to clean, why be a Don Quixote?
If anyone is interested in an extraordinary life, you might Google Edward L. Mockford. One of a vanishing breed…kind of like a nerdish Indiana Jones with regard to lice. One of the world’s authorities….
(I almost went to grad school to work with him in 1976…but I had to go to Pakistan and Kashmir, India at the time.)
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