Dust mites eat skin cells shed by people, and they thrive in warm, humid environments. In most homes, such items as bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting provide an ideal environment for dust mites.
Locations inside the home where dust is allowed to accumulate, especially in dark areas such as inside closets or under beds and other furniture provide, are also ideal habitats for dust mites.
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.
Dust mites live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 75 to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 50 percent. They are not usually found in dry climates.
Predators. The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Dust mites are most active during the summer months as they thrive in temperatures of 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and prefer humidity levels of 70% to 80%. During the winter months, dust mites go into a dormant state and can only survive in very dry conditions.
Their only predators are other mites, silverfish, and pseudoscorpions, a beneficial arachnid, which also eats carpet beetle larvae, ants, and small flies.
Because dust mites are found wherever humans and their skin cells are, you can't really eliminate them completely. You can, however, take steps to reduce their numbers and impact in your house and on your health.
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.
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.
A simple washing procedure with eucalyptus oil for controlling house dust mites and their allergens in clothing and bedding.
Fortunately, an air purifier is great for dust removal, including dust mite allergens, and can help you breathe easier. An air purifier also prevents sickness by killing harmful airborne germs. Being exposed to dust mites at home on an ongoing basis can have a dramatic impact on your health.
They thrive in pillows, mattresses, box springs, blankets, rugs and carpets, "stuffed animals" and upholstered (cloth) furniture such as couches. They also live in dusty areas like furnace ducts. They are so tiny that they are hard to see without a microscope. Dust mites feed on organic matter such as flakes of skin.
Although they may “hitchhike” on clothing, dust mites do not live on people. They feed primarily on dander, flakes of dead skin that fall from people and animals. Upholstered furniture, pillows and mattresses typically harbor more dust mites than carpeting.
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.
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.
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.
One of the best ways to get rid of dust mites is to wash all your bedding—including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and duvet covers—on a hot cycle of at least 130 degrees. 1 If you are unable to wash your bedding in hot water, place them in the dryer for 15 minutes at 130 degrees.
Diatomaceous earth is a natural fine powder made from silica rock that you can sprinkle on surfaces where dust mites live (beds, pet beds, furniture, carpets...) to kill them. It works by piercing their exoskeleton as they pass through it, which will kill them instantly.
Since house dust mites, like crustaceans, belong to the phylum of arthropods and likewise contain a certain type of protein, some people who are allergic to house dusts mites develop cross-reactivity to lobster, crab and other seafood.
One can will be enough to treat up to 1000 sq/ft of surface area and should be applied as needed. This means having to spray 2-3 times a week might be needed until you “break” the dust mite cycle. After the initial, plan on treating once a month so they don't come back.
As we've already established, the best way to get rid of dust mites is to use a dehumidifier to kill the dust mites and an air purifier with a true HEPA filter to get rid of their waste and clean out the air.
Though too small to see with the naked eye (only about . 33 millimeters long), dust mites are easily visible through even a cheap microscope. You can pick up an inexpensive microscope from any store that sells toys, a hobby store, or a thrift store and use it to discover whether your home has dust mites.