Dust mites are among the most common triggers for asthma and bronchitis, and are present in virtually every home in the United States.
Keeping the dust mite population in your home to a minimum is more of a priority than ever, especially if you are one of the approximately 10% of Americans that have an allergic sensitivity to dust mites.
Dust mites eat human skin cells and excrete them, and it's these excretions (and the dead carcasses they leave at the end of their life cycles) that can become a problem.
Here are a few recommendations to reduce the number of dust mites in your home: 1.
Protect new mattresses.
If you buy a new mattress, save yourself a lot of worry and effort by buying a mattress cover that is airtight at the same time.
Keeping your bedding clean by frequent washings in hot water will prevent dust mites from ever taking hold.
It's the same as bed bug treatments.
2.
Steam your carpets and rugs.
Cleaning your carpets and rugs with a hot steam treatment followed by a thorough vacuuming will keep the mites at bay if done frequently.
People who suffer from allergies and asthma might consider avoiding carpets altogether, however, opting instead for wood, tile or linoleum.
Smooth surfaces are easier to keep clean with a damp mopping and this can really make a difference for an allergy sufferer.
3.
Watch those windows.
Mites colonies can thrive on dusty mini-blinds, window ledges, and curtains.
Keep your blinds clean with frequent vacuuming and wash draperies in very hot water (130°F) and again, allergy sufferers might consider doing away with window coverings altogether.
Sunlight is an effective way to kill dust mites, since they prefer dark, slightly damp places.
4.
Tumble those pillows and stuffed animals.
M'ites can really thrive on soft surface items.
Pillows should be encased in an airtight pillow protector to prevent the mites from establishing a colony.
Plush toys and pillows can be cleaned effectively by a tumble in the clothes dryer on high heat.
Conventional wisdom has long indicated that feather and down pillows are more prone; however, scientific testing has shown that polyester and fiber-filled pillows actually seem to collect more mites.
5.
Vacuums and air filters.
There is no effective way to avoid dust mites entirely; keeping the populations to a minimum is the true goal.
Frequent vacuuming with a high quality vacuum cleaner is one key.
Look for machines that include a high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filter for best results.
The best models may even include an ultraviolet (UV) light, which also helps to eliminate mites.
Likewise, home air filters vary widely in quality.
The best ones for limiting dust mites are replaced monthly (not the models that boast "wash and reuse" - these can actually be a haven for dust mites and other microbes) and have a fine enough grade to trap mites and their excretions.
Where Are Dust Mites Most Commonly Found? Dust mites thrive in dark, slightly damp places, and throughout history have been found in the bedding and nesting areas of warm-blooded creatures.
Mites exoskeletons have even been found in the tombs of ancient Egyptians, who most likely had no idea thatexisted! Dust mites became better understood in the 19th century with the advent of microscopes, and by the 1960s, their contribution to allergies and asthma became more commonly known.
Dust mites are tiny (1/100 of an inch) arthropods, and they have a life span of approximately two weeks for male mites, and six months for female mites.
Each female dust mite can lay several hundred eggs during her lifespan, and colonies numbering into the tens of millions are not unheard of, for a single mattress and bedding set.
Each mite produces an average of 15 excretions per day, so over the course of a few years a colony can produce an astounding amount of excretions, which can have a pronounced effect on someone suffering from dust allergies.
Inhaling dust particles that contain dust mite excretions can cause a reaction, brought about by proteins released by the excretions.
These proteins cause the nasal passage to become irritated, and coughing and sneezing is the result.
Other conditions that can be caused byexposure include eczema, runny nose, watery eyes, and asthma.
Allergic conjunctivitis is another possible condition, causing swollen and red eyes and inflamed eye tissue.
If these symptoms are noticed, but tend to resolve once the sufferer has left their bedroom, and get worse again when they return, mites could very well be the culprit.
Avoiding exposure to dust mites in the first place is the most obvious remedy for this allergy, but that's not always possible.
Other treatments include antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays, and more aggressive treatments include inhaled corticosteroids, injections, and desensitization treatments.
Desensitization treatment has been considered somewhat controversial, with mixed results as to effectiveness.
One possible future treatment currently in testing, however, involves dissolving a small pill under the tongue, which prevents the mites proteins from irritating the nasal passages.
This treatment looks very promising for the worst dust mite allergy cases.
Evidence even indicates the new treatment may be effective with other allergic respiratory conditions as well.