The Danger of Dust Mite

Yes, you read it right! Dust mites cannot be seen by human eyes, but they are present almost everywhere in a household. Some of the most common"hangout" areas for them are within mattresses, sofas, stuff animals and indoor plants. They, like most insects, love moisture and warmth; they also like to attach themselves to natural fibers.

 

Dust mites are only visible under microscope, and under which, they look like tiny spiders. Their lifespan is approximately 3 months, but they multiple fast. Dust mites like to feast on human skin flakes and animal dander. This is why most dust mites love our mattresses. According to medical studies, dust mites are the root cause of 80% allergic reactions from itchy skin, rash, wheezing, sneezing to stuffy nose. In severe case, dust mites might even induce asthma attacks. This is especially common for babies and young children because they have weaker immune systems.

 

What to do

 

If you can help it, make sure your mattress is off the floor and out of the basement. Keep household ventilated and in considerably dry condition. Cover pillows, blankets, comforters and mattresses in dust mite impermeable covers, and wash the covers every 3-6 months. *This type of cover is different from regular pillow cases and bedsheets* Wash bedsheets, pillow cases, and blanket sheets every 1-2 weeks.

 

The best option to prevent dust mites' existence is to cover everything in plastic. But, obviously, it doesn not create the most comfortable surface and it's certainly not esthetically pleasing. Since dust mites like natural fibres, choose furniture that is made of synthetic fibres or wrap it with polyester cover. Again, wash covers frequently.  

 

For stuffed toys, wash them in hot water and dry them thoroughly every 6 weeks or so. *Hot water or freezing temperature both kill mites, but I just can't imagine stuff toys in my freezer...* Vacuuming hardly removes many mites; it is best to shake out area rugs outdoor and leave them out for a while on windy days (yes, they get blown away). Dust weekly and wipe all hard surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuuming reduce the amount of skin flakes left behind by human and pets, which reduce dust mites' food supply.