The mere thought of thousands upon thousands of wriggling mites is enough to make many people's scalps tingle and their bodies itch.
"6,000,000 mites will accompany you while you sleep every day!" "Mites reproduce so fast that a whole nest can be formed in a single day!"... These advertisements are sure to irritate our senses, making it seem as if if we don't eradicate the mites, they will crawl all over our bedrooms and overflow into our living rooms, baring their teeth and claws as they pounce on us.
Merchants have also thoughtfully stepped forward to "solve problems" for everyone, and various mite removal devices that advertise time-saving and efficient products have emerged in response to consumers' "mite fear" .
To combat these almost invisible but multiplying "invisible killers"—mites—many people are willing to spend money on "high-tech" mite removal devices. According to data from Zhiyan Consulting, the retail volume of mite removal devices in China reached 3.892 million units in 2019, a year-on-year increase of 32.6% . [1]
Source: Reference [1]
From ultrasonic to ultraviolet mite killing, different types of mite removal devices are using various methods to achieve their unique effects.
So, in this war between "black technology" mite removers and mites, who will win and who will lose?
1. Mites, everywhere
Mites are microscopic pests that are not easily visible to the naked eye . They are generally classified into several categories, such as dust mites, flour mites, leather mites, and chigger mites. Among them, dust mites are the most widely distributed and have the greatest impact.
They are widely distributed in dark corners of the home, carpets, mattresses, pillows, sofas, air conditioners, and summer mats . A study aimed at investigating the number and types of dust mites in the homes of dust mite allergy sufferers in Beijing showed that nearly 80% of carpets contained dust mites, and the probability of dust mites in mattresses was as high as 70%. [2]
Mites absorb moisture from the air and feed on human and animal dander. They do not bite and seem harmless, but in reality, their corpses, secretions, and excrement can become allergens, silently causing allergic dermatitis, asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and other allergic diseases. [3]
Mites are truly "invisible killers," so it's no wonder that people are terrified of them.
2. How many mites can a "black technology" mite removal device help you get rid of?
As high-rise buildings rise one after another, sunbathing to remove mites is no longer suitable for every household. As a result, mite removal devices that cost thousands of yuan have become a new favorite in urban life.
Most commercially available mite removers advertise advanced features such as ultrasonic waves, ultraviolet light, tapping, and suction, but in reality, not all of them are effective at removing mites!
Comparative test of 20 mite removers / Source: Reference [6]
1. Ultrasound
Ultrasound refers to elastic waves with frequencies exceeding the upper limit of human hearing, greater than 20,000 Hz . Theoretically, it can cause physical-biological effects by inducing changes in the properties of biological tissues, thereby causing damage to mites and other organisms [4].
However, the extent to which this effect is produced is positively correlated with the power level, and commercially available mite removers fall far short of this requirement . Even if they did, they would still cause incalculable harm to humans and other animals.
Therefore, buying a mite remover that claims to remove mites with ultrasound is undoubtedly a huge loss to both your wallet and your mental well-being.
2. Ultraviolet rays
Many people assume that "sunbathing can kill mites = ultraviolet rays can kill mites", but the principle behind sunbathing to kill mites is actually high temperature to kill mites!
Ultraviolet light can indeed kill germs, but many people forget that mites are microorganisms, not bacteria. Therefore, even the most effective medical-grade ultraviolet germicidal lamps are not suitable for eliminating mites. Moreover, whether ultraviolet light can penetrate fabric fibers to be effective is another matter entirely.
Even assuming, as the advertisements for UV mite removers claim, that "UV mite removers can achieve a 94.67% mite-killing rate in 10 minutes," it would still take at least 300 moves and about 50 hours for the various UV lamps on the mite remover to completely "clean" an ordinary double bed. It would truly be a never-ending battle against mites . [5]
3. Patting
This feature takes into account the living state of mites and the allergenicity of mite corpses and excrement, with the aim of shaking mites off the surface for cleaning.
However, the tapping technology of mite removers currently on the market is far from sufficient. Those mite removers that advertise tapping effects are often just gimmicks: the frequency is high but the amplitude is too small , which is more like a comfortable "massage" experience for mites. [5]
4. Suction
In the first half of 2020, the China Consumers Association selected 20 mite removers on the market for comparative testing. The results showed that the mite removal effect of a mite remover is related to its suction power; the stronger the suction power, the better the mite removal effect. [6] A mite remover with strong suction power can efficiently suck away live mites, mite carcasses, and mite excrement. Therefore, suction power is the truly effective weapon of a mite remover.
However, since there is currently no unified standard for the suction power of mite removers in the market , people have no idea how to calculate the suction power or what level of suction power it should reach. Therefore, choosing a mite remover with the right suction power is just a matter of luck.
However, even if you choose the right mite remover, and go through a lot of hard work to eliminate mites on bedding, sofas, and carpets by washing fabrics, vacuuming regularly, and using high-temperature mite removal, don't forget that there are also mites in the air ... It seems that enjoying a "mite-free life" is not so simple!
References
[1] Zhiyan Consulting, "2021-2027 China Mite Removal Device Industry Competition Status and Investment Trend Forecast Report" https://www.chyxx.com/research/202012/917918.html
[2] Yu Jingmiao, Sun Jinglu, Yin Jia, Li Zhi, & Diao Ying. (2014). Survey of dust mite populations in the homes of patients with dust mite allergy in Beijing. Chinese Journal of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (3), 188-194.
[3] Zhang Jinliang, Guo Xinbiao. Living Environment and Health: Chemical Industry Press, March 2004, 1st edition.
[4] Liu Biyue, Lu Kai. The necessity of mandatory inspection of medical ultrasound equipment from the perspective of the effects of ultrasound on the human body. Supervision and Management. 2001(5):45-48.
[5] Li Zengting. Mite removal machine: lack of standards and controversy over technical direction. Electrical Appliances. 2017(7), 34-35.
[6] China Consumers Association, "How to Get Rid of Annoying Dust Mites? Just Vacuum! -- Comparative Test Report of 20 Dust Mite Removal Devices" http://www.cca.cn/jmxf/bjsy/detail/29617.html
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