Allergies are something that no one ever wished for. I want to think of it as something that hinders life and the way we should be living. A nuisance, yes. So, I have been living with multiple allergies for the past thirty years. I am allergic to shrimp, sweat (my own sweat), dust, milk, and alcohol. I cannot enjoy tempura, a good jog, dairy products, and of course cocktails. But what I hate the most is how I am allergic to dust, I get annoying hives when the air around me is not clear and how would I even know if it is not clean right? Unfair.
But thankfully I have discovered perhaps the best air purifier in Singapore that improved the way I deal with my annoying allergies.
My dust allergies manifested during my highschool years
When I was young I simply thought that my skin was sensitive to the extent level, if I spend time under the sun for too long, I get hives and when I touch anything that is questionably clean, I get hives again. Not until my mother decided to be a good mom and take me to see a doctor who told us that my skin condition is actually caused by harmful allergens in the air like dust mites and that purifiers and or ionisers in Singapore could help me did we know better.
Dust mites are extremely tiny bugs that belong to the spider family. They live in house dust and feed on the dead skin cells that people regularly shed. Dust mites can survive in all climates and at most altitudes. They thrive in warm environments, preferring those at 70°F (21°C) and 70 percent relative humidity.
When I breathe in the waste products of dust mites, my immune system kicks into high gear, producing antibodies against the normally harmless substances. This overzealous immune response causes the symptoms associated with a dust mite allergy, such as sneezing, hives, and runny nose.
An allergy is the immune system’s response to an unknown substance that is not usually harmful to your body. They may include certain foods, pollens, and dust mites. People like me who are allergic to dust mites have bad reactions to the remnants of the bugs. These remnants include tiny mounds of feces and decaying bodies.
I thought that we have a relatively clean household, but it does not take much to create an environment fit for dust mites. In fact, the average bedroom is often the ideal place for them. Bedding, carpeting, and furniture cushions all trap and hold moisture, allowing these tiny bugs to flourish. You could experience increased allergy symptoms over time as you continue to breathe in the dust mites’ waste particles.
How air purifiers did the magic
When antihistamine almost never worked for me anymore and my mother’s nonstop cleaning and dusting around our house did not suffice. We turn to a seemingly mundane solution. Air purifiers.
The promise of an air purifier to me was enticing one. An appliance designed to cleanse the air in your home, getting rid of all the impurities including odors, smoke, dust, and pet dander. Given the fact that indoor air can have levels of certain pollutants up to five times higher than outdoor air, we get it. But in reality, not all air purifiers necessarily live up to the marketing hype.
Air purifiers usually consist of a filter, or multiple filters, and a fan that sucks in and circulates air. As air moves through the filter, pollutants and particles are captured and the clean air is pushed back out into the living space. Typically, filters are made of paper, fiber (often fiberglass), or mesh, and require regular replacement to maintain efficiency.
The air purifiers we got have filters are reusable and washable, but they require meticulous maintenance, so you don't usually find them on the most effective air purifiers. Reusable filters are generally better at removing larger particles from the air, like dust mites and pollen. We also found UV (ultraviolet light) filters which claimed to destroy biological impurities like mould or bacteria.
After that, my mother and I developed an obsession with air purifiers, even car purifiers products in Singapore. We also got ionisers to help attract particles like static — negative ions bond to dust and allergens and make them settle out of the air. If you are interested in buying an air cleaner that uses ionisers, make sure it does not produce ozone, a gas made up of three oxygen atoms that is often marketed as helping break down pollutants, because ozone could be a lung irritant and further aggravate asthma conditions. Usually the air purifiers with ozone will have that listed on packaging or in the marketing descriptions. I suggest buying your ionisers from Purlife.
To sum things up
While many air purifiers are good at filtering pollutant particles out of the air (dust, smoke, pollen, etc.), they are not necessarily very good at removing gaseous pollutants like VOCs or radon from the air that may accumulate from adhesives, paints, or cleaning products. Allergens that are embedded into furniture or flooring are also not captured by them but this is where my mother and I did our part. With constant cleaning and these products, I started living at least normally inside my own place.
If you are looking for air purifiers and ionisers, I highly recommend Purlife, their products all walk the talk!
