Dust mites and other common household allergens are so tiny that they easily slip through the pores of regular bedding. Fabrics have microscopic (and some not so microscopic!)
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
They love to burrow in your fabric and feast on your skin cells. And, for this reason, your bed is the perfect place to make their home. Unlike bed bugs, mites don't pose any significant health risks. However, dust mite proteins can trigger congestion, a run nose, watery eyes, and other allergic reactions.
If you have a dust mite problem in your home, bedding—sheets, blankets, and bed covers—should be washed at least weekly in hot water (130 to 140 F) to kill the mites.
These can come from both animals and humans, found in mattresses, carpeted areas, lounging areas and furniture. Numerous dust mites have a short life span of 10-30 days. But, depending on the environment and moisture conditions, females can live up to 70 days – and lay hundreds of eggs.
If your mattress is not encased in a dust mite-proof case and you suffer from allergic reactions, you should vacuum your mattress at least monthly to reduce the number of dust mites. If the mattress has a dust-proof cover that is cleaned frequently, then a twice-yearly cleaning should be all that is needed.
Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.
Dust mites can be difficult to detect due to their small size. These microscopic arthropods are estimated to be only 1/4 to 1/3 millimeters long. You can only see them under a microscope, and even then, they only look like small white spider-like creatures.
The Mayo Clinic website has some good information here. They recommend a wash temperature of 130°F or higher to kill dust mites. You would need to measure the temperature of your wash water to make sure you actually are washing at this temperature.
Dust mites can even enter your closet and stick to your clothes. That's why sometimes when you wear your clothes, it itches a little. Dust mites will surely thrive especially through items that are often used.
Wash bedding regularly
This includes linens, bed coverings, your washable mattress cover and a washable pillow cover (or the whole pillow, if possible)—preferably at high heat. A temperature of 122 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes kills dust mites, according to one study.
Wash Your Bedding in Hot Water
One study found that washing your bedding items at least 140 degree Fahrenheit can be enough to completely eliminate all dust mites in your bedding. This should be a regular part of your routine to keep your bedding clean. It's usually recommended that you wash your bedding weekly.
In some people, bed bug bites can result in large, swollen welts. Dust mites, on the other hand, don't actually bite you. Instead, it is actually their waste and decaying bodies that can cause an allergic reaction in some.
The best essential oils for getting rid of dust mites are clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil. Add 20 drops of oil to four ounces of witch hazel, and spray your mattress, couch, drapes, and other dust mite hangouts.
However, it isn't a cure for dust mite allergies. It may take between 6 and 12 months of regular allergy shots before your symptoms start to improve. It's a 3- to 5-year commitment to allergy shots to get the most out of this treatment.
Dust mites are nearly impossible to get rid of entirely. However, there are steps a person can take to help rid their homes of most of these allergy-causing arthropods.
ExAller® is a scientifically proven, effective solution that eliminates dust mites from mattresses, bedding, furniture, carpets and more. Experience relief from dust mite allergy symptoms after just one use.
Dust mite allergies usually cause milder symptoms than hay fever (a pollen allergy) does. But they occur all year round, whereas hay fever is seasonal. The symptoms are typically worse at night and in the morning because dust mites tend to live in mattresses, pillows and bedding.
A mild case may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is ongoing, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure or even a severe asthma attack. People with asthma who are sensitive to dust mites face an increased risk of asthma attacks.
Dust mites are found in beds, couches, and rugs, and cause eyes to itch, noses to run, and skin to crawl.
They live in the dust of a room (be it as clean as possible) and, especially, in beddings, pillows and mattresses, carpets and upholstered furniture.
No, dust mites don't live in human hair.
While they don't automatically pose a threat to human health, the problem is that they produce an allergen that can be potent for some individuals. You may not know this, but you share your bed with lots of creatures. Every home, no matter how clean, houses dust mites.
In this study, it shows that unprocessed feathers contain dust-mite allergen that is removed by washing. It further shows that feather pillows, whether covered or not, do not internally accumulate dust-mite allergen when used in mite-infested bedrooms over a 3-month period.