Approximately 10 percent of all Americans are allergic to dust mites. For the most part, dust mites are harmless, unless you’ve got allergy or asthma problems. People who already have problems with asthma (especially small children) will exhibit much worse symptoms when there are dust mites living in the home. Fortunately, there are things that everyone can do in order to get rid of their dust mites.
These tiny little creatures are microscopic in size and live primarily off dead skin and other types of dander. Approximately 1/3 of all dust mites live in the bedroom, manifesting in bed covers, mattresses, and pillows. They excrete waste about 20 times per day, so not only do they feed off of your skin, but they can also leave their droppings in your bed and on your body, which can create a very violent allergic reaction in more sensitive individuals. Another popular area for dust mites to manifest and breed is in your carpet and household rug.
It is very important that you do all that you can to prevent dust mites. One of the first things you can do is purchase a dust mite impervious cover to keep the mites out of your bed. You should also wash your bed covers at least once every two weeks in very hot water. The water should be approximately 130 degrees fahrenheit. For covers that cannot be washed in hot water, simply place in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours to kill the mites.
Another thing you can do is purchase an air purifier. Not just any type of air purifier will help, however. You must purchase an air purifier that uses HEPA filtration if you want to get rid of dust mites entirely. Using an air purifier that does not use HEPA filtration will only remove 50 to 70 percent of dust mites and feces, while HEPA filters remove up to 99 percent of all hazardous material.
Dust mites occur more frequently in warmer temperatures, particularly when the humidity is high. It is important to make sure that you keep your household temperature below 70 degrees at all times. Months when seasonal allergies are the worst may require that you practice a bit more housecleaning than usual. Using an effective dusting spray and keeping your carpet and bedding cleaned and washed is the most recommended way to prevent dust mites.
If you’ve got carpet and allergies are a violent problem in your household in relation to dust mites, it may be best to remove your carpet altogether and replace with hardwood flooring, particularly in your bed room. Remove all rugs and also keep your curtains cleaned on a regular basis. Wash your windows to keep levels of dust to a minimum and change your pillows every few weeks.
For an even more aggressive approach, wash your bedding and curtains in very hot water at least once per week instead of once every two weeks. If you own pillows, make sure that they are washable as well. Pillows that contain feathers may not be the best choice if you’re trying to prevent dust mites because they tend to rip and tear in the wash. Try purchasing pillows that are made with foam or cotton material instead.
Preventing dust mites doesn’t require as much effort as one might assume. All it takes is a little extra care concerning keeping your bedroom clean and dust-free. After taking the proper preventative measures, you should notice an immediate difference in your allergy-level, quality of breathing, and mood.
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