How To Kill Dust Mites

For some people with asthma, allergies, eczema and hay fever, the home environment can be full of hazards.

Here we explore what steps you can take to minimise the amount of triggers, in particular, how to kill dust mites.

House dust mites have long been considered a trigger factor for asthma sufferers. Yet for many years, it has not been acknowledged that people with eczema could also be affected by dustmite until recent research showed eczema flare ups may be triggered by them.

Dust mites are tiny, invisible to the naked eye and live in mattresses, carpets and soft furnishings. They love warm, humid conditions, are found in every home and virtually impossible to remove. They eat skin cells which are shed daily. This is one of the reasons why dusting and vacuuming are important in dust mite control. It is not the mite, but their droppings that trigger reactions.

For some people, the house dust mite is one of the key factors in making their skin worse. For others, it is just a range of triggers and for the lucky few, house dust mites allergy will play no part at all.

Beds and bedding is where at least half the dust mites are found. We tend to spend at least one third of our day in bed, with them! The bed offers an ideal environment, warm, moist and a continuous source of food, about a teaspoon of skin cells a night, per person.

To minimise dust mites, hot wash sheeting every week, wash pillows and quilts every 6 to 8 weeks at 55º – 60º C. Specialized dust mite bedding provides continuous protection. The dust mites mattress protector prevents skin cells entering the mattress, as well as protecting the individual from coming into contact with dust mite allergens contained in the mattress.

Ensure the covers totally enclose the mattress, or quilt or pillow, with a pore size of well under 10 microns (not thread count). Those that cover only the top of the mattress or have a larger pore size, are ineffective against dust mite allergens. All Mitey Fresh range of dust mite covers have been tested and proven to give protection.

Dust with a damp cloth and vacuum carpets and soft furnishings once a week. Make sure you vacuum under the bed as there can be large amounts of skin in this area, floating down from the mattress. Avoid using toxic dust mite spray.

Change or clean the vacuum bag before storing it away. Dust mites love a holiday in the cupboard!

Unless you have had dust mites identified as a trigger for eczema, replacing carpets with hard surfaces such as wooden floor boards may not be a necessary option. Yet for those who suffer from severe dust mite related eczema, replace carpet with a different type of flooring such as lino, very short pile synthetic carpet or cotton rugs that can be washed at high temperatures.

About a quarter of the dust mites are found in the carpet and another quarter in soft furnishings such as lounges, cushions and curtains. Minimise symptoms by removing lounge and cushion covers to wash or replace with vinyl and leather fabrics that can be easily dusted and cleaned.

Pets can trigger an eczema flare up. The reaction is caused by the animal’s fur, hair, feathers, shed skin or dander added to the house dust. Pet dander is an additional dust mite food source.

Avoid allowing pets into the bedroom and living areas. Wash pets weekly and comb long haired pets to remove loose fur. Some people can cope with very short haired dogs, they can produce less dander. You may find you can live happily with your own pets but eczema flares up when you come into contact with other cats and dogs.

It is important to remember that if a pet is re-housed, the dander will remain in the carpets and soft furnishings for several months thereafter. Regular dusting and vacuuming must be maintained as well as cleaning kitchen cupboards and wardrobes. Remember, the pet dander can become airborne.

Good ventilation minimises moisture, dampness, relative humidity and discourages mould growth and dust mite activity which can trigger eczema flare ups. Ventilate rooms to let fresh air in and leave your bed unmade to air it out during the day. If the eczema sufferer is allergic to pollens and grasses, keep windows closed in the early morning and early evening when the pollen spores are most active during spring and summer.

Understanding your home environment is crucial to understanding how to kill dust mites effectively and efficiently.

Click here to see our range of dust mite covers.