Vacuming around your children w/cf !!!

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anonymous

New member
I was wondering, it was mentioned today that vacume cleaners that use bags (the older ones) are bad for people with any sort of respitory conditions as the dust they blow out can be harmful.

I wasn't aware that vacume cleaners can be harmful, i have always vacumed with my daughter w/cf around as she loves the vacume so much she follows me around the house.

Do you all think its a bad thing?
How many of you vacume infornt of your children?
 
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Emily65Roses

New member
My mom always vacuumed in front of me. I vacuum my own room myself now... with an old one that has a bag. I don't notice any problem.
 
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thelizardqueen

New member
I have a hepa filter vacuum, where all the dirt and dust goes in a canister that I dump out. I love it! I've noticed that its cut back on my allergies a lot.
 
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eli

New member
oops, i thought i was logged in. That was me who posted the ???.

Thanks for your responce, guy's. I got a little worried, but then i thought what about adult cf'ers (mums) who do the house work and stuff. It kind of seemed a little weird to me.

I mean going out in the city and breathing in the fumes/pollution would be lot worse, don't you think.

Thanks for replying, anyway.

Take care
 
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julie

New member
You are right Eli, a there are a lot of things out there that are much worse than the vacuuming. Now if your vacuum cleaner is having an attitude problem and spitting out dust all over the place, that could definately cause short term breathing problems for your little one (or for anyone really). But for the most part, I don't think it poses a problem.

mark's taken over almost all the housework I can't do right now and he vacuumes once or twice a week (when I can get him to <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">). we do have a newer one with a hippa filter, but we had an old one about 2 years ago and it wasn't that bad for him. I vacuum when he's aroud all the time, so did his mother when he was growing up.

Definately a legit. question/concern but I dont' think it's too much to worry about.
 
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NoExcuses

New member
If you can avoid it, I would.

In normal lungs, tiny hairs called cilia beat rapidly and push foreign/bad debris out of the lungs.

In CF lungs, these cilia are paralyzed because they are covered in mucus. So anything that you kid breathes in is a lot more difficult to get rid of. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

So yes, pollution is bad. But so is breathing in any unnecessary dirt/dust/dust mites.

I use a HEPA filter like Liz for my vacuum. My allergies have always been a pre-cursor to lung infections for me, so this was a no-brainer for me. So were HEPA air filters in my living and bedroom where I spend most of my time.

There's only so much we can all control. But if you can avoid vacuuming around your kid, i definitely would. And if you can avoid air pollution, do that too <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Over the long run, every little bit can make a difference.......
 
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JazzysMom

New member
I suppose its like anything else it might affect one CFer & not another. For me I love vacuuming & I use the old, bagged ones. I dont believe it hurts me if anything it helps because it can be exercise if you have a lot to vacuum!
 
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LouLou

New member
I bought a Miele - considered one of the best for those with respiratory problems. They are expensive ($700) but well worth it. I love how whisper quiet it is and how I can get in and under everything and everywhere.

With a traditional one I noticed I coughed more than usual. It is for this reason that when we got money for our wedding that I used $700 of it for the vacuum and have no regrets.
 
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Seana30

New member
I vacuum around Courtney, but we use a Rainbow vacuum.

It is a pain in the butt to set up, but all of the dirt and stuff goes into a canister filled with water. I have NEVER noticed particles coming back out of the rainbow. The water seems to grab all of the dust and stuff right away.

Seana
 
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rcq925

New member
I never really thought about it. We usually don't vaccuum right around our dauhgter with CF, but don't necessarily avoid vaccuuming around her either.

Just a note on vacuums though, my husband has horrible allergies and we were told by his allergy doctor to use a bag vacuum, the Eureka Boss, instead of the bagless vacuums, he said when you dump the bagless into the trash the particles go everywhere again and apparently the vacuums with the bags, trap the particles better. Who knows?
 
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anonymous

New member
My 3 year old son w/CF likes to ride the vacuum when I'm using it. It's a HEPA certified vac so I've not been particularly concerned; gotta let a kid have some fun - though I draw the line when he sticks his face into the vent to feel the wind.....
 
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Joanne

New member
Great Ideas for vacuums.

Besides getting a Hepa Filter, or a Rainbow, or Miele, there is another expensive way to do it, and that is a central vacuum system. I would love to get one. At present I do use a HEPA filter, and I wear a mask. I am the one with CF and post Lung Transplant. It seems to do just fine for me. I also open all the windows in the house while I vacuum.

Good luck Cleaning
Joanne Schum
 
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Alyssa

New member
I try to avoid vacuuming while my daughter is in the same room -- just because she mentioned it bothered her a little -- she also cannot handle many cleaning solutions, like bathroom cleaners, she said they irritate her lungs -- but she is 17 years old and it was only a year or so ago she mentioned it -- younger kids might not notice it or verbalize it so you'd just have to watch for extra coughing. The type of vacuum probably makes a difference too, I'm sure some are better than others.
 
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Seana30

New member
My mom has the central vacuum system. IT IS SO COOL. All she has to do is carry the part that you actually vacuum with from room to room. There is a "plug in" in each of the rooms.

When she is done she walks out to the garage and emptys the large canister that is attached to the wall.

I would LOVE to get that, but I can't imagine how expensive it is!! I will ask my mom tonight how much it cost her.

Seana
 
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Seana30

New member
Ok,

Just called my mom. She said if she remembers correctly her central vacuum system was aroung $1000 to $1200.

She said the person that emptys the canister will get a face full of dust and stuff. She said that she prefers the rainbow because you never get a face full of dust. It is all in the water.

Seana
 
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eli

New member
Thanks to all of you guy's who replied.

I think the rainbow vac sounds like the best way to go, the water would definatley pick up/trap the dust particles. Although i don't know if they have it here in Australia, i hvan't heard of it myself.
Even if they do, it will have to wait a while as we only just baught a vac two years ago and its still new. We don't have too much money to go out abd buy a new one as yet. But its definatley next on the list, if i can get my hands on one.

Thanks again
Eli<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
 
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JazzysMom

New member
Just another tid bit with the Rainbow. I use to own one & tho it worked great for the topic at hand. It was a pain & messy to clean the canister. Granteed I had 2 dogs & lots of mud from the newly turned dirt outside, but just a heads up on that part!
 
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eli

New member
Thanks Melissa, i actually thought after i posted. Gee it must be messy cleaning the canister.

But i guess if its healthier, then i just gotta do it. lol
 
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