How to reduce your exposure to dust mites

Cleanliness of the home or the presence of animals has nothing to do with the population of dust mites. It has to do with humidity, temperature, and the amount of fabric or upholstery in the home.

Dust mites have sticky pads on their feet making it easy for them to burrow deep into carpet fibers and furniture, easily resisting the pull of vacuum cleaners. Dead particles will come up, but no matter how vigorously you dust or vacuum, you will not reduce the number of live dust mites deep within carpeting and mattresses.

Control difficult, time-consuming and expensive.There are, however, steps that can be taken to make it harder for dust mites to survive. For people who are extremely sensitive, the following measures should be taken:

ALL ROOMS:
Professionally clean carpet with super heated steam – dust mites can’t survive hot conditions. The ideal home should be carpet free with vinyl or hardwood floors.

• Use hypo-allergenic fiberfill pillows – they are more easily washed. Get a new pillow every 2-3 years.

• Enclose mattresses, box springs and pillows in airtight allergen/dust-proof covers. These are plastic, specially coated, or finely woven (pore size <10 microns) vapor-permeable fabrics.

• Wash clothing and bedding materials, including mattress pads, weekly in hot soapy water (130°F).

• Blankets can be dry cleaned or washed frequently. Heating blankets in a clothes dryer for several hours kills mites and reduces dry cleaning or washing to once a year. Using an electric blanket for eight hours every day can reduce dust mites in beds significantly.

•Thoroughly vacuum mattresses with a Hepa Filter, especially the seams and bed frame, on a regular basis. Wearing a well fitting dust mask while vacuuming and making beds can reduce the allergens you inhale.

The agitation and air flow of your vacuum cleaner draws a huge number of particles into it. These can easily pass through most bags and filters and be exhausted back into the air you breathe. Luckily, vacuum cleaner technology has come a long way in recent years. Look for a vacuum cleaner with an High Efficiency Purifying Air (HEPA) or ULPA filter – they work much better than conventional ones. It is better to clean thoroughly once a week instead of lightly every day. This means carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains and draperies. Throw away vacuum bags after use because dust mites can leave the bag.

Dehumidifiers will not help with humidity levels deep in bedding or carpet fibers.

Don’t waste money having your air ducts cleaned – there’s just not enough humidity or food in there for dust mites.

Filters on air conditioner or heater vents are expensive, impractical and not recommended.

Anti-Mite Chemicals such as tannic acid and Benzyl benzoate powder claim to help, but often the chemicals in these products affect people worse than the mites. Chemical control will NOT have a lasting effect on dust mite populations. Eliminating their food source is more effective.

Never sweep with a broom.

The inventor of the microscope, Anton van Leeuwenhoek, reported in 1694 that mites live in dust. At 0.3mm, dust mites are not visible to the naked eye. About three could fit inside the dot at the end of this sentence.

The mites themselves do not contain allergens. But their excrement, initially slimy, gradually dries and falls apart. These tiny particles get into the air and is inevitably inhaled as we breathe.

• Decorate with wood, vinyl, or leather furniture. Eliminate or reduce curtains, drapes, and fabric tapestries or pennants. Avoid clutter that collects dust such as books and knick-knacks.

• Purchase stuffed toys that are machine washable.

• Replace upholstered furniture with wooden or plastic furniture.

• Do not collect antiques.