How Do I Get Rid of House Dust Mites?

What are dust mites?

No matter how clean our home is, dust mites cannot be totally eliminated.

However, to live and breed, dust mites require the following:

• Microscopic scales of skin shed by humans and pets.
• A continuous supply of humid air.

If there are high levels of relative humidity in an occupied dwelling then you will find a breeding ground for dust mites. Also, since you can’t see dust mites, it’s easy for them to move into other areas of your home. A common way for how they travel is by clinging onto your clothing and then dropping off in other rooms.

Dust mite allergy

Dust mites don’t bite but they are allergenic. People with dust mite allergies are most often allergic to the proteins found in their droppings but they can also be allergic to the body parts of the dust mite. They produce about 20 droppings per day and these continue to cause allergies even after the dust mite has died.

The quickest and most effective way in reducing the population of dust mites in a home is by reducing relative humidity by providing adequate ventilation.

House dust mites are also a common known trigger of asthma and they live in the dust that builds up in the home. Unfortunately, it is impossible to completely rid your home of all house dust mites but there are ways in which you can reduce them.

How Do You Know if You Have Dust Mites?

Although dust mites do not bite you, you can not feel them crawling on you. The allergic symptoms are caused by inhaling the microscopic fecal matter and shed skins. Symptoms of dust mite allergy include but are not limited to respiratory such as sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, difficulty breathing, and asthma.

In addition, skin symptoms such as eczema and dermatitis can result. Rashes and hives are rarely a symptom of dust mite allergy. Dust mite control is all about controlling the places dust mites congregate. The fewer fibre filled surfaces in a room or a house the fewer places for the dust mites to set up housekeeping.

6 Way To Get Reduce House Dust Mites

1) Wash your bed linen weekly at 60 degrees.

2) Use specially designed 'allergy' covers for pillows, duvets and mattresses.

3) Clean your home on a regular basis.

4) Try and opt for wooden floor rather than carpet.

5) Use a damp cloth to clean dust. 

6) Open the windows or install a whole house ventilation system to supply a continuous source of fresh, filtered clean air.

Ventilatation reduces dust mites

By keeping the home well ventilated, high levels of humidity are controlled.

Dust mites thrive in dwellings where the humidity levels are high, therefore, by controlling the humidity levels in the home effectively you are also controlling and reducing the dust mite population.