How to Diagnose Itchy Fabrics & Furniture
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Steps to diagnose possible causes of itchy fabrics and furniture
Recommended tests to screen furniture and fabrics for mold, allergens, irritants
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Itchy couch, chair, carpet, fabric diagnosis & cure: here we explain how to diagnose and cure the causes of itchy furniture or itchy fabrics in buildings. Is the itchy couch caused by mold, dust mites, insects, fiberglass dust, or other contaminants? How should we clean an itchy or allergenic couch or chair? Do we need to test itchy furniture or fabrics? Is steam cleaning effective in fixing an itchy couch? Is ozone treatment safe and effective for furniture?
Twenty Questions and Sampling Techniques to Diagnose Itchy Furniture Fabrics
There are lots of reasons why a particular fabric or piece of furniture may be itchy or cause allergic, skin, or
respiratory or even asthmatic reactions in people. Some people find particular fibers, such as wool, irritating. But
here we are considering the possibility that a fabric or piece of furniture may be contaminated with something
that is bothersome or even harmful.
We wrote this material in reply to a reader who asked us to assist in diagnosing an itchy couch covered
with a Microfiber™ fabrics. Microfiber fabrics have not been reported to me as a particular source of skin or
respiratory irritation.
An itchy fabric on a couch is a bit more than I can diagnose accurately just by email but
you might have a reaction to the fiber of the fabric itself, or to a chemical coating that could have been sprayed on it (a fabric guard or some such) or if it's old or has been wet or dirty, maybe to dust mite fecals or insect fragments or some other contaminant.
A List of Questions to Help Diagnose the Cause of Itchy Furniture or Fabrics
Does the couch have removable cushions that you can test (by skin contact or shaking dust loose) for irritability separate from the couch itself, or more generally, is there more than one fabric type on the couch?
If there is more than one fabric (say different-fabric cushions) are you equally irritated by all of them?
Has the couch ever been wet or in a room that was flooded?
Has the couch been exposed to high humidity?
Have there been pets on or around the couch?
Has there been a rodent problem including maybe inside the couch?
How old is the couch?
Did you buy the couch new?
Has the couch been sprayed or treated with any chemicals? (Stain preventers, water repellents, insecticide, pesticide)
If the couch is not new, has it been in other buildings besides its present location, if so what's its history?
Have you lifted or flipped back the couch to inspect the condition of its underside for evidence of rodent damage, water damage, or mold?
Do your complaints change when you vacuum the couch? That is if your vacuum is aerating problem particles you might notice it when vacuuming?
Can you get a sample of new fabric from the couch manufacturer or supplier (often a furniture store has fabric samples) and can you see if that fabric is equally irritating.
Can you go to a furniture store where you can sit or lie on a couch covered with this same fabric to see if you get the same reaction? (Keep in mind that a couch at another location could also be contaminated - we don't yet know if it's the fabric itself or a contaminant).
Do you have a history of allergies, skin conditions, stress, or illness that might be factors in sensitivity to this item?
Do other people also get any reaction when sitting on this piece of furniture or on others just like it but in other buildings?
Do any other furnishings in the home cause similar problems as those associated with this particular item?
Can you suggest other questions to add to this list?
Can you send me a photo of the couch including close-up of the fabric?
Do you have any literature describing the fabric used to manufacture the couch and its fabricator? What about the material used to stuff the couch and its cushions?
Itchy Couch Sample Analysis Options
We would not spend much on fabric or fabric-contaminant samples and testing unless you're hoping to salvage expensive furniture, suspicious that the furniture complaint might be indicative of a larger problem in the building, or you're dealing with a serious medical risk or allergy. But if those conditions apply or if your curiosity justifies it here are two test options we could pursue:
Can you send us a fabric sample? Even a few threads might be sufficient for a diagnostic examination in the microscope; in particular if taken from a soiled or stained area. (The fee for that type of sample analysis is $100. so let's not do this unless you have good reason to believe your sample is representative of some soiling or irritating material.)
OR you can try creating a vacuum sample of the couch by holding a new, clean paper towel over the end of a vacuum cleaner nozzle, mark in pen or pencil the area which will be receiving particles, then turn on the vacuum cleaner and vacuum 4 sq.in. of suspect surface. Fold the paper towel in over the vacuum-area, place that into a plastic bag and mail it to me. (The fee for that type of sample analysis is $100.)
problem.
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home",
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in Buildings - References & Products
Allergen Tests in Buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
"IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA
http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of Buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our
Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
"Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens,"
Patricia Donald,
Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology,
Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold
Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold
cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold"
remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the
areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic
bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details
see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings,
and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating
the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing
rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some
help from a licensed pest control expert.
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