Dust Mites = Allergies

This topic just makes me cringe!! I hate the thought that these little creatures are so invasive!
Did you know that dust mites are part of the arachnid family, and they are sleeping with us!?  This is just disgusting!!  Do you have problems breathing in the morning when you wake up?  Scratchy throat when you wake up? Do you experience worse allergy symptoms once you lay down at night?  The true allergy isn’t to the bug itself…it’s to their EXCREMENT, which is even more nauseating.  It’s not just our beds that contain these insects.  These dust mites are on our favorite upholstered rocking chair, couches, couch pillows, in our carpet, on our kids stuffed animals, inside our mattresses, on our sheets and pillows, and many many other places.  Dust mites feed on dead skin, and we shed about 1 ounce of skin per month.  We are a feeding ground for these bugs, and they really like our beds!  A typical full size bed can contain 2 MILLION dust mites that can more than double the weight of that mattress in 10 years!

Check out this Video ~

Here are a few ways to help rid your homes of these ugly and repulsive pests!

• For Carpet ~ Get rid of it!  Having hardwood/tile floors is a much better option since carpets are great habitats for these bugs.  If getting rid of the carpet isn’t an option, there are special carpet treatments that can be used to reduce the population.
• For Bedroom ~ First start off with your pillows.  Place them in a zippered Allergen Impermeable Cover.  I’ve also heard that you should use duct tape and tape the zipper edge because dust mites are so microscopic, that they can squeeze through the zippered area.  The same idea should be used for the mattress allergen cover as well.  You should also encase your mattress and box springs in these covers to prevent a nesting ground for these dust mites.  The best option for your bed clothing is to wash the pillow cases, sheets, blankets, and mattress pad ONCE a week in water that reaches at least 130 degrees.

Another great idea is to make sure you are also washing your curtains that are in your bedroom.  Anything that is great at collecting dust is most likely causing allergy issues.  Also, when dealing with this issue in a child’s room…remember that using a Vaporizer or Humidifier is mostly likely allowing a more stable and pleasurable environment for the dust mites.  They prefer humidity levels above 50%, so some parents could be helping them thrive with their children, and they don’t realize it!  It’s also a great idea to dress your children in cotton clothing so that it’s absorbing their perspiration during the evening hours.

If you’re one that is very interested in changing your indoor air quality, it’s also a great idea to add an Air Purifier to your home to help improve the quality.  You can also refer to a recent post of mine for a much cheaper option to Purifying your Home.

I’m not sure about you, but I’ve started this process because I’m a mission to reduce our allergy issues!

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