How Can I Get Rid of Dust Mites?

When you go to bed tonight you might not want to think about the fact that you’ll be sharing your sheets with hundreds of thousands of tiny invaders.  These are microscopic dust mites and it is estimated that the average mattress contains between 100,000 to 10 million of them.  To put the sheer volume of dust mites into perspective it is worth noting that 10% of the weight of a pillow that has been used for two years or more will consists of mite droppings and the remains of dead mites.  The thought alone is enough to make a person’s skin crawl, so just imagine the effect it has on those that suffer from dust allergies.

Approximately 20% of the population suffer from dust allergies, with common reactions ranging from eczema to disturbed sleeping patterns to wheezing.  Although it is possible to seek medical help from your local doctor it should only be used as a last resort.  Below is a list of simple rules that you can follow to lower the amount of dust mites within the home and hopefully lessen the symptoms for dust allergy sufferers.

• Any curtains should receive a regular wash, as these can be a good breeding ground for dust mites.  It is for this reason that some Doctors may recommend having window blinds as an alternative.
• Dust mites thrive in hot and humid environments.  It is therefore suggested that you keep the room temperature under 21 degrees Celsius and regulate humidity by using dehumidifiers.
• A spray devised especially to kill mites can be purchased and used on cushions, throws or any form of soft furnishing.
• It is also possible to kill a dust mite by exposing them to direct sunlight.  Cushions, carpets or even a child’s cuddly toy can be left out in the sun for three hours which will eradicate any creepy crawlies lurking upon them.

As mentioned earlier, there is one place in particular a dust mite likes to dwell and no doubt it is the one place you’d least like them to be.  We spend one third of every day tucked up cosy in bed, with that in mind below have been added a few more tips specifically focused on the bedroom:

• Bed linen should be washed on a hot temperature at least once a week. 
• When you are vacuuming try to spend the most time within the bedroom.  It is here that you are closest to the mites and therefore this area needs the most attention.  It is recommended to focus on areas around and under the bed, and to vacuum both sides of pillows.
• You may wish you change your feather duvet for the synthetic variety, also using cotton sheets and pillow cases may also help to keep the mites at bay
• It is also possible to purchase ‘allergy relief bedding’, this is a fabric designed to be less porous than regular bed linen.  What this does is remove the mites from their food source thus killing them over time.