Bed bugs are blood-sucking pests that bite people and animals whereas dust mites feed on dead skins left by people, ticks, and spiders. Dust mites do not directly bite homeowners, but their activities can cause skin irritation. Bed bugs and dust mites both pose a series of health and cleanliness hazards within homes.
Are dust mites bed bugs? Though dust mites are common and can impact your comfort level inside your house, they are completely different from bed bugs. They don't bite and are so small that you can't see them with your naked eye. Further, you won't ever be able to get rid of them entirely.
How do I know if I have them in my bed? Mites aren't visible without a microscope, so instead, you have to analyze your symptoms. People who are allergic to them may experience sneezing, coughing, wheezing, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, and itching.
Dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains in your home. Dust mites are nearly everywhere; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have dust mite allergens in at least one bed.
Wash bedding weekly.
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.
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.
Dry vacuuming doesn't pick up dust mites. Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites. You can buy chemicals (ascaricides) that kill dust mites and that you can use on carpeting and furniture.
Spray Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oil
So, once you have cleaned your bedroom, add 2 tablespoons of organic tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons of organic eucalyptus oil into 2 cups of distilled water. Pour into a bottle and spray literally everywhere in your bed and bedroom. This will kill and repel any dust mites.
When a person who is sensitive to the dust mite breathes in these particles, they can cause allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Dust mites can also cause asthma symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing.
Vacuum each section for 30 seconds each to collect an adequate sample of dust to test. This comes to 2 minutes total. You can test carpet, bedding, curtains, dusty shelves, and so on. The heaviest concentration of dust mites can be found in fibers, so carpets and mattresses are the best place to test.
Can You Feel Bed Bugs Crawling on You? It is possible to feel bed bugs crawling across your skin, especially when you're lying in bed or when multiple bugs are feeding at once. However, it's equally possible to imagine the crawling sensation, even after a pest expert has removed bed bugs from your home.
Unless you look through a microscope, you won't see dust mites. These tiny critters feed on the dead skin cells that people and pets shed. They favor warm and moist environments, so they often reside in mattresses, pillows, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpet and rugs.
They will still live in your sheets, pillowcases and blankets, but with regular washing with hot water, you can keep the numbers down. Myth #4: People with asthma don't have to worry about dust mites. Fact: Dust mites are a concern for people with dust mite allergy.
The symptoms are typically worse at night and in the morning because dust mites tend to live in mattresses, pillows and bedding.
Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in our pillows, furniture and carpets. They're not the same thing as bed bugs. To reduce your exposure to dust mites, follow these tips. First step, in terms of reducing dust mite exposure is to buy dust mite proof encasements for your pillows, mattress and box spring.
Killing dust mites in your curtains, clothes, and bedding
All you'll need is a washing machine, dryer, food-grade hydrogen peroxide 3%, and laundry detergent. The heat from the hot water and the antimicrobial properties of the hydrogen peroxide 3% are sure to kick those mangy mites to the curb.
We share these horrors to set up this fact: Hypoallergenic bedding is designed to stop dust mites from moving around so freely. This special bedding (such as mattress covers) acts as a physical barrier that serves several roles: It keeps new dust mites from setting up residence in your mattress or pillow.
Usually, during the warmer weather, windows are open and fresh air circulates through the house and dilutes the mite allergens. With cooler weather, windows are closed, and the heat comes on, re-circulating air in the house. This is when mite sufferers usually notice worsening of their symptoms.
Dust mites are repulsed by the smell of Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavendar, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Make your own aromatic spray by adding a few drops of one (or more) of those essential oils in a water-filled spray bottle.
Spray Lysol on dust surfaces to kill dust mites
After cleaning dust surfaces with a vacuum, apply and spray Lysol on your furniture and fabrics.
For most people the best thing to reduce dust mites in your pillows, sheets, and bed is to launder your sheets regularly in hot water, switch out your pillows about once a year, and make sure you buy a new mattress every 5 to 10 years from 2 Brothers Mattress.
Mop, dust, and vacuum to reduce dust and dust mites. Damp-mop hard floors (tile or hardwood, for example) once a day. Dust and vacuum once or twice a week to remove the buildup of allergens. Use a dry cloth to wipe hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, and other furniture.
If you wake up with itchy skin, watery eyes or a runny nose - chances are your allergies were triggered by dust mites in your mattress, pillow or bed sheets. If you suffer from dust mite allergies, your immune system identifies dust mite proteins as harmful, alien invaders.