HEALTHY ARTICLES

Surfaces in your home may be infested with little creatures called Dust Mites. Every home has them. Don’t try looking for them—they’re microscopic.

A dust mite will produce 20 to 100 fecal pellets per day. A female dust mite will also lay 100 eggs during its approximately ten-week lifetime, with a new generation being produced about every three weeks.

According to the American Lung Association, dust mites are one of the most important asthma triggers. For years doctors and patients have known that some people with asthma can have an attack triggered by exposure to dust. This commonly was called a house dust allergy. But researchers have found that people are not allergic to the dust itself. Tiny insects, called house dust mites, are now known to trigger these asthma attacks.

Itchy, watering eyes, a runny nose, a cold or flu that seems to last forever and sneezing fits — these are all symptoms that can be aggravated by the presence of dust mites, their feces and skeletons.

You and your family come in contact with these surfaces every day. The surfaces we’re talking about are your carpets, furniture, and mattresses.

Most vacuum cleaner bags are unable to trap dust mites and other bacteria. These pollutants are so small they are ejected from the vacuum bag back into the air you breathe. Vacuuming can actually aggravate the problem.

You can control the level of bacteria, allergens, and dust mites in your home by having your carpets professionally cleaned and treated on a regular schedule. Experts recommend cleaning your carpet every six to nine months.

Beyond professional carpet cleaning, here are some additional things you can do to rid you home of dust mites:

Cover mattresses and pillows.
Wash bedding in hot water (at least 130 degrees F).
Remove stuffed animals from the bedroom.
Remove upholstered furniture and fabric-covered items from the bedroom, use washable curtains and area rugs.
Do not allow furry/feathered pets into the bedroom
Wet-mop floors.
Vacuum regularly, using special allergen-controlling bags or machines.
Improve ventilation.
Stop using humidifiers.
Dehumidify, keep the humidity level below 60%.
Place filters over heating vents.
Use high efficiency air filters on heating ducts.
Use air cleaners.