2 Responses

1. Theo Fleury

   November 29th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

   1

   . Dust mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders and ticks. There are two common dust mites, the American house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) and the European house dust mite (D. pteronyssinus). Due to their very small size, these dust mites are not visible to the naked eye. They live in bedding, couches, carpet, stuffed toys and old clothing. Dust mites feed on the dead skin that falls off the bodies of humans and animals and on other organic material found where they live. When dust mites grow, they shed their skin. The shed skin and feces are what cause allergic reactions in people.

   Control of dust mites can be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. For people who are extremely sensitive, the following measures should be taken:

   * Enclose mattresses, box springs and pillows in zippered allergen- and dust-proof covers.

   * Wash bedding materials, including pillow cases, sheets, blankets and mattress pads every other week in hot water (130 °F).

   * Eliminate or reduce fabric wall hangings such as tapestries or pennants.

   * Purchase stuffed toys that are machine washable.

   * Avoid using curtains, drapes or blinds on windows. Use plastic shades instead.

   * Remove carpeting from the bedroom of the allergic person and replace it with tile or wooden floors.

   * Replace upholstered furniture with wooden or plastic furniture.

   * Vacuum often with a vacuum cleaner provided with a high efficiency purifying air (HEPA) filtration system. Throw away vacuum bags after use because dust mites can leave the bag.

   Complete elimination of dust mites is unlikely. Reducing populations is the only likely way to reduce allergens in the air. Reducing humidity in the home by using a dehumidifier may help reduce populations, but reducing humidity levels in microclimates, such as in bed fibers or carpet fibers, is impossible.

   One of the most important is to have regular showers, this will remove the dead skin on your body that is feeding the dust mites. Head and Shoulders might be a good suggestion for shampoo.

   PS…Aim small, miss small.

2. homebound

   November 29th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

   2

   It’s probably due to the place you live at – near highways and such: that generates a lot of dust and grime. Also the amount of electrical appliances – they generate static electricity and so help in the build up of dust. If it bothers you so much, up your cleaning routines, change vacuum cleaner bags more often, don’t use feather dusters (they just dislodge settled dust, it flies up in the air and resettles somewhere else) but microfibre dusting rags that actually get rid of the dust; use anti-static cleaning products on your tv-screen and such.