Keep the house clean Dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other allergy symptom triggers can be reduced, although not eliminated through regular cleaning.
Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner once a week. A high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) vacuum cleaner is recommended because it is much better than ordinary vacuums at trapping very small allergen particles.
Wash pillow cases and sheets once a week. Dust mites can be killed by water at 130°F (55°C) or hotter. Use non-allergenic detergent to help remove dust-mite allergens. They can also be killed by freezing.
Keep relative humidity levels below 50 percent. Dust mites as well as other allergens thrive on high humidity. Homes with air conditioning constantly have lower mite counts then non-air conditioned homes.
Use a high efficiency air filter. Most of the cheap ordinary air filters an not capable of trapping mites and their by-products. One should also look for a filter that has anti-microbial properties, to prevent the filter from becoming a breeding ground for allergens. Filters that call themselves "washable" should be avoided because it just is not possible to wash 100% of the biological contaminants out of them and they can also become a breeding ground for microbes.
Use an allergen barrier pillow case. They creep, they crawl, they trigger allergies while you sleep. Dust mites are the leading source of allergens in the home, and their prime breeding ground is right under your nose. These microscopic, indoor inhabitants have set up camp in your pillow, the warm and humid environment where you spend one-third of your life.
There’s no such thing as getting rid of them completely. Do vacuum regularly, take the cushions outside & beat the tar out of them, and keep it as dust free as possible. Mattresses and pillows should be replaced periodically.
if you want to get drastic, you can bomb the house with an insecticide, but that is UGH…….get cans of Lysol spray, the original brand, and spray the furniture with it…lift up the cushions, and spray the crap out of them…if your furniture allows you to remove and wash the coverings of them, wash them in hot water, spin them alot, don’t dry them or they will shrink, put them on and let air dry, and spray the crap out of your furniture…the only alternative is to cover them with plastic…have to vaccum alll the time, as pain in the a** as that is…but dust mites love when winter time comes, and the house is closed up…no matter how clean you are….I live in the country, and know what you are talking about…I have cans of lysol all over the place, almost compulsively spraying…you have to ….they multiply like nothing else…
4 Responses
atomictulip
March 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
1Here are some tips on controlling them.
Keep the house clean Dust mites, pollens, animal dander, and other allergy symptom triggers can be reduced, although not eliminated through regular cleaning.
Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner once a week. A high efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) vacuum cleaner is recommended because it is much better than ordinary vacuums at trapping very small allergen particles.
Wash pillow cases and sheets once a week. Dust mites can be killed by water at 130°F (55°C) or hotter. Use non-allergenic detergent to help remove dust-mite allergens. They can also be killed by freezing.
Keep relative humidity levels below 50 percent. Dust mites as well as other allergens thrive on high humidity. Homes with air conditioning constantly have lower mite counts then non-air conditioned homes.
Use a high efficiency air filter. Most of the cheap ordinary air filters an not capable of trapping mites and their by-products. One should also look for a filter that has anti-microbial properties, to prevent the filter from becoming a breeding ground for allergens. Filters that call themselves "washable" should be avoided because it just is not possible to wash 100% of the biological contaminants out of them and they can also become a breeding ground for microbes.
Use an allergen barrier pillow case. They creep, they crawl, they trigger allergies while you sleep. Dust mites are the leading source of allergens in the home, and their prime breeding ground is right under your nose. These microscopic, indoor inhabitants have set up camp in your pillow, the warm and humid environment where you spend one-third of your life.
Flo
March 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
2There’s no such thing as getting rid of them completely. Do vacuum regularly, take the cushions outside & beat the tar out of them, and keep it as dust free as possible. Mattresses and pillows should be replaced periodically.
quick_sand
March 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
3if you want to get drastic, you can bomb the house with an insecticide, but that is UGH…….get cans of Lysol spray, the original brand, and spray the furniture with it…lift up the cushions, and spray the crap out of them…if your furniture allows you to remove and wash the coverings of them, wash them in hot water, spin them alot, don’t dry them or they will shrink, put them on and let air dry, and spray the crap out of your furniture…the only alternative is to cover them with plastic…have to vaccum alll the time, as pain in the a** as that is…but dust mites love when winter time comes, and the house is closed up…no matter how clean you are….I live in the country, and know what you are talking about…I have cans of lysol all over the place, almost compulsively spraying…you have to ….they multiply like nothing else…
norag
March 6th, 2010 at 8:22 pm
4dust mites r uaually in clothing and bedding. as far as i know the only way to keep them to a minimum is to vacuum, vacuum, vacuum. good luck
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