(no subject)

[changeling]

Melbourne seems to have skipped summer this year, so we've just got our felted wool blanket down from the top of our cupboard, so we don't freeze at night.

Hooboy, is it setting off our sinuses something shocking. Clearly since we put it away the dust mites have been having wild dust mite parties, inviting lots of other dust mites with loose morals, and generally having unprotected dust mite sex. And unfortunately, crapping out little bundles of allergens all through the blanket. We've spent the last few days leaking from our eyes and nose. My eye, nose and throat membranes are all red and inflamed, partly from the reaction, partly from the my unconscious rubbing. We pulled the duvet out of storage last night, and left the blanket on the floor. Suspect it kicked up dust while we were folding it.

I took the wool blanket out the back to beat it with our rug beater. I took the precaution of putting a silk kerchief over my mouth to try and lessen the nastiness. Within a few beats, the clouds of "dust" have filled the air of our tiny backyard. I've been beating it for a couple of minutes, then retreating indoors, but it hasn't solved the problem. My left eye is now so red and sore that you could use it for a traffic light. I tried splashing cold water in it but it just burned.

I've given up and taken a Claramax. It slowly seems to be settling it. I might just chuck the wool blanket in the wash since it looks like it'll be fine today. I'm not sure how many more flare-ups I can take in order to clean it.

Comments

[naewinter.livejournal.com]

Have you got a good vacuum? I try to do that to doonas or blankets, washing machines are good too but don't use soap on feather ones, they strip the little feathers and you end up with more dusty remains in your lungs.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I didn't think of using a vacuum. Mind you, I usually find trying to vacuum something not nailed to the floor to be a bit trying. Usually beating rugs out works fine; I think the problem was the build-up. Not going to let that happen again!

I have never put a doona/duvet through the washing machine. I'll keep your advice in mind and make sure I don't use soap! The soap nuts we have would probably be OK, though.

[naewinter.livejournal.com]

I like to vacuum my pillows every once in a while, it just gets a bit of the dust out. Mum has one of those Dyson ones, it's scary how much dust we get out of everything now.

I've washed very smelly old brown doonas that I put lavender disinfectant in with and they came out sparkling. Mum thought I'd got new ones. I'm not sure how soapy the nuts are but if it's going to strip the oils out of the feathers that's going to be the problem. Hot water should do fine on it's own if it isn't dirty too.

[zoe-me.livejournal.com]

I have bad dust allergies, and I vote you just wash it. And probably best to bite the bullet and use super hot water to kill the beasts.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

It's in the wash as we speak. The only reason we didn't wash it earlier is that it's been too wet and grey. It's 27 and fine today, though, so it should dry OK!

I'd already put the wash on by the time I read this, so it's on our standard cold wash. I'm not sure how great hot water would have gone anyway, since it's wool. Putting it to dry in the sun should kill the buggers, though.

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

You poor thing!

You are very noble!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I AM. Nobleness is like my middle name.

I should get extra kisses for my sacrifice.

[daharja.livejournal.com]

I've washed wool blankets (camel hair) and they've come through just fine. Just shoving them in the washing machine with cold water. The main thing is to line dry them straight away and straighten them out to shape them properly.

But check online as well before doing it.