Household dust mites are a daunting reality for many homeowners. These creatures thrive in warm, humid environments and feed on human skin cells. For allergy sufferers, the presence of dust mites can mean misery. Luckily, there are ways to reduce the number of dust mites in your home and make life more comfortable for everyone in your home.
While there is no way to remove dust mites from your home altogether, you can take a few simple steps to reduce their numbers. Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, installing an air filtration system, washing bedding in hot water, and using allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows can get rid of dust mites and improve your family's health.
Why Are Dust Mites a Threat?
Dust mites are tiny creatures that live in dust and other small particles. They are found in mattresses, curtains, carpet, and clothing. Notably, they thrive in warm and humid environments, which means that they inevitably live side-by-side among us. They are so small that you can only see them with a microscope, yet they are one of the most common allergens globally.
Dust Mites Irritate Respiratory System & Allergy Symptoms
Dust mites are a problem for two main reasons: first, they reproduce very quickly, and second, their bodies and feces contain proteins that can trigger allergic reactions in humans.
While they are not harmful to humans, they can cause asthma and other respiratory problems. If you or someone in your family has asthma or allergies, it is imperative to get rid of dust mites.
Symptoms of a dust mite allergy include sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes. In severe cases, dust mite allergies can lead to asthma attacks. If you suspect that you may be allergic to dust mites, it is essential to see a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Identifying an Excess Dust Mite Problem
If you think you might have a dust mite problem, you can test for the presence of dust mites in your home by using a special allergen test kit. If you find dust mites, it's important to take steps to get rid of them.
How to Get Rid of Dust Mites
There are a few proven steps to reducing the number of dust mites in the home. The following four methods are simple and effective measures for everybody:
1) Vacuum with HEPA Filters
One method is to use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. This will help to remove dust mites and their droppings from your home and should be done regularly. However, it must be done with HEPA filters because they're the only filter that can trap and contain dust mites. Otherwise, they're too small to be vacuumed up.
The HEPA filter uses a very fine mesh to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. That means it can effectively remove dust mites from your home. Other filters will have dust mites pass right through it, and vacuuming without one is pointless. The dust mites would just get recirculated back into your breathing air.
Does your vacuum cleaner use a HEPA filter? Search here for HEPA filter compatibility.
2) Install an Air Filtration System
Another tried-and-true step you can take is to install an air filtration system to remove microscopic particles. This will help remove dust mites and other allergens floating around the air in your home. Dust mites don't like dry air, so if your household has a lot of humidity, you might want to consider a dehumidifier. Otherwise, a standard air purifier with HEPA filters should work perfectly.
3) Wash Bedding in Hot Water
Additionally, you can wash bedding in hot water to kill dust mites. Dust mites do not survive past temperatures of 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
4) Make Use of Furniture Coverings
Finally, you can use allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows. These covers will help to keep dust mites from getting into your bedding. By following these steps, you can reduce the number of dust mites in your home and improve your family's health.
Reduce Dust Mite Count Organically
Dust mites are tiny creatures that can cause many problems for people with asthma and other respiratory issues, and it is vital to take steps to get rid of dust mites if you or a family member has asthma or allergies.
In this article, we have outlined four simple steps that will help to reduce the number of dust mites in your home. These steps include vacuuming with a HEPA filter, installing an air filtration system, washing bedding in hot water, and using allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows. By following these steps, you can improve your family's health by reducing the number of dust mites in your home.
Start by using an air purifier and a HEPA filter. It does a lot of the work with little effort on your part. You may instead want to use a dehumidifier depending on your home environment. Remember, dust mites like humidity so you may need to reduce it.
