How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites

The dust mite and forty nine of his relatives can live on the head of a pin, and up to 2 million can live in your mattress. Yet, how to get rid of dust mites?

Dust mites thrive in warm, dark, humid conditions in mattresses, doonas, pillows, underlays, blankets, quilts, carpets and rugs, upholstered furniture, curtains, clothes and soft toys. Here they live on a a diet of skin scales, shed daily from those lying in the bed, as well as animal skin, dander and mould. They produce up to 50 faecal droppings a day, the most common cause of asthma and allergies.

Wash normal bed linen regularly at 55ºC killing the dustmite. A few drops of tea tree oil in the wash may also kill dust mites. All bedding, including mattress, pillows and doonas should be covered with dust mite covers to form a barrier between you and the dust mites and their allergens.

Avoid sheep skin mattress covers as they can harbour a large number of mites which thrive on natural fibres.

Regularly air bedding, pillows and rugs in the sun.

Damp dust furniture and hard surfaces to prevent allergens from floating in the air.

Vacuum weekly. Empty vacuum cleaner after each use as house dust mites continue to thrive in the vacuum storage area.

Vacuuming is very important in dust mite control and airborne dust. Consider a good system that draws up the allergens and prevents them from being re-circulated in the atmosphere with a HEPA filter.

Consider Mitey Fresh service to do the work for you, carpets, mattresses, carpets and soft furnishings when you need it most and avoid dust mite spray.

Air the bedroom, keep windows open as much as possible except in Spring if you are allergic to pollen.

Consider an air purifier to clean the air in your home and reduce the number of dust mites. Mitey Fresh hire air purifiers when you need them most.

Natural light reduces indoor mould.

Consider dehumidifier hire or look at our range of dehumidifiers for sale to keep relative humidity below 65%, making it drier and more uncomfortable for dust mites and reduce dust mites allergy symptoms.

Carpets should be removed if possible, particularly if they are quite old. Dust mites do not thrive on uncovered surfaces.

Vinyl, leather and wooden furniture are preferable.

Use vertical blinds if possible and avoid heavy cloth curtains.

Dogs and cats should be prevented from entering bedrooms, or kept outside. Animals in the house increase dust mite numbers, providing pet dander as another food source.

Remove soft toys from the bedroom as they harbour dust mites in the fabric. Place toys in the freezer for 48 hours, freezing the water source and killing dust mites.

Invest in dust mite bedding, such as dust mites mattress protectors, providing welcome relief for sufferers.

Adhering to the above steps of how to get rid of dust mites will greatly reduce their numbers and related air borne allergens, improving your health and well being.

Click here to see our range of dust mite covers.