Dust Mites and Allergies
Posted on April 1, 2008
Filed Under Health, Home |
Dust mites are surprisingly common, and for some people they can cause huge problems. These microscopic bugs are found in nearly every home and survive on old skin cells shed by humans and pets. Dust mites are not usually harmful to humans - they don’t bite or suck blood - their waste products and dead remains are so small that they can be inhaled as dust and cause allergies in some people. An allergist can find out if you are allergic to dust mites.
If someone in your home has an allergy to dust mites, you’ll need to try to get rid of many of the mites and remove the source of the irritation. The best place to start is by making the conditions less hospitable to the mites.
Here are some things you can do to make dust mites less of a problem:
1. Lower the humidity in your residence; when the relative humidity is lower than 50 percent in your home, the number of dust mites will go down significantly.
2. Clean your house regularly. If you don’t have the tools to clean properly, then use a professional upholstery and carpet cleaning service, especially when there are pets in the house. Clean and vacuum your floors, upholstery, and drapery regularly.
3. Change the bedding on all beds at least weekly and wash it in hot water to kill any existing mites. While your sheets are being cleaned, clean and vacuum your mattresses as thoroughly as possible. Dust mites love living in our bedding, because we shed millions of skin cells in our beds.
4. Use an air filter to clean and recycle your interior air. Be sure to use one of the top-of-the-line filters that can catch the microscopic mites and their byproducts. Washable filters are not appropriate because mites can actually live in them and contribute to the problem. Be sure to use approved allergen-reducing filters in your furnace as well.
5. If you have a more severe case of sensitivity, you may have to take more drastic steps. Unfortunately, household pets are one of the biggest sources of dust mite problems since mites love to feed on their dander. If you cannot reduce the mite population with a pet in the house you may have to move the pet somewhere else.
6. Try to reduce the attractiveness of your home to mites. Use things such as latex covers on your mattresses, special hypoallergenic pillows, and short-pile carpets. Do not have overstuffed furniture, since this type of furniture can be a good home for dust mites.
These steps may seem extreme, but dust mites are our natural companions and can be very difficult to get rid of. You may need to try several of these methods until your problems decrease. Once you are able to breathe easier and live more comfortably in your own home, all of your effort will be well worth it.
More Resources:
Dust Mites: Everything You Might Not Want to Know
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[…] the bedding on all beds at least weekly and wash it in hot water to kill any existing dust mites. While your sheets are being cleaned, clean and vacuum your mattresses as thoroughly as possible. […]
[…] you have a more severe case of sensitivity to dust mites, you may have to take more drastic steps. Unfortunately, household pets are one of the biggest […]
[…] in your residence; when the relative humidity is lower than 50 percent in your home, the number of dust mites will go down […]
[…] help eliminate dust mites use an air filter to clean and recycle your interior air. Be sure to use one of the top-of-the-line […]