Killing Dust Mites

The modern house fitted with carpets, soft furnishings, central heating, double glazing & poor ventilation, has provided the ideal habitat for house dust mites. Killing dust mites is one of the most common causes of perennial allergic rhinitis, asthma & eczema worldwide. Lifelong suppressive medication may be required, as attempts to dust mite control of infestations can be relatively ineffective if not properly addressed.

The dustmite can produce up to 200 times their own weight of faeces. These allergens trigger dust mites allergy symptoms over their lifetime. An acaricide, or dust mite spray, may not only kill the mites but also immobilise the faecal pellets & kill their eggs. It would be ideal to treat the environment with an acracide instead of treating the patient indefinitely with expensive drugs.

There are a range of symptoms, with debilitating health effects, from asthma and allergies to more serious health problems. So consider letting a breath of fresh air into your home or office with dust mite bedding, carpet treatment and treatment to furnishings as found at Mitey Fresh.

Research has shown that lowering exposure to dust mite allergens can help allergy sufferers by reducing the frequency and severity of their symptoms and by reducing their need for medication. To achieve these goals it is essential to understand the most important allergen reservoirs and learn how to deal effectively with them. Many people waste a lot of time and energy cleaning their homes without having much impact on allergen exposure.

In most homes, the dust mites mattress is the major reservoir of dust mite allergen. No amount of normal vacuuming or treatment will render it free from or get rid of dust mites allergens.

Complete encasement with specialised dust mite covers such as AllerProtect 100% Cotton is the only effective means of protection. The allergen barrier cover should be lightly vacuumed or wiped with a damp cloth each week and hot water (at least 55ºC) washed every 3 or 4 months to kill dust mites and prevent a build up of allergen on the cover.

Pillows are another major source of dust mite allergen, and our noses are pressed up against them all night long. Most of the dust collected from pillows consist of flakes of dead skin and dust mite droppings! A specialised allergen-barrier pillow cover or pillow such as AllerProtect 100% Cotton Pillow and regular weekly hot washing of the outer pillow case will protect you from this major source of allergen.

All sheets should be hot washed weekly. Blankets should be hot water washed monthly (at least) or if woollen, specialised anti dust mite laundry liquid such as Breathe-Ezy Woollen and Fabric Care. A doona fitted with a specialised allergen-barrier cover such as AllerProtect 100% Cotton Mattress Cover and weekly hot water washing of the outer doona cover is the best way of eliminating house dust mite allergens from the outer bed covers.

Polished flooring is the best solution. Loose rugs which can be regularly cleaned will help create a more comfortable environment.

Soft toys should be washable. Set up a regular schedule for washing the soft toys in hot water which is adhered to from when the toys are new. In this way, allergen build up should be reduced to a minimum. Alternatively, regularly placing soft toys in the freezer overnight is an effective way of killing any dust mites which may have taken up residence. Older soft toys which have been ‘loved’ for a long time may contain large amounts of allergens.

Regular dusting and cleaning and putting things away (reducing clutter) removes hiding places for dust! All should be done as often as possible. When dusting furniture, window sills, skirting boards, on top of wardrobes, use a damp cloth to avoid ‘stirring up the dust’. There is no need to vacuum more than once or twice a week, but it is very important that your vacuum cleaner is properly maintained. Clean the filters and replace the dust bag each time you have vacuumed. Don’t wait until your vacuum stops sucking because the dust bag is overflowing! If dust created during vacuuming causes obvious problems to the allergy sufferer, buy a new vacuum cleaner with a very high efficiency HEPA filter.

When was the last time you had your curtains cleaned? Curtains can be very dusty over the years. Clean them once or twice a year and take the opportunity on a sunny day to air them on the washing line. Another way to killing dust mites, naturally.

Click here to see our range of dust mite covers.