Dust mites develop naturally and appear in nearly all homes; in fact, an estimated four out of five homes in the U.S. have dust mites in at least one bed. Being one of the major indoor triggers for people with asthma, dust mite allergens can lead to severe and sometimes fatal asthma attacks. In most cases, however, dust mite allergy symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, a runny nose, and facial pressure. To prevent the onset of these debilitating allergens, below we list the most effective methods to rid your home of irritating dust mites.
What Are Dust Mites?
Before ridding your furniture, carpets, curtains, bedding, or mattress of these tiny pests, it’s important to know what exactly dust mites are. Being a close relative of spiders and ticks, dust mites thrive in warm and humid climates. When observed under a microscope, researchers have deduced that dust mites primarily survive by eating skin cells shed by humans. As household dust is heavily comprised of shed skin flakes, dust mites inhabit and feed off dusted environments.
How to Get Rid of Dust Mites
While it’s nearly impossible to completely eliminate dust mites from your home, here are some of the most effective strategies to drastically reduce their numbers:
- Allergy-Proof Bed Covers: Wrap your mattress, pillows, and bedsheets in allergen-blocking covers. Made of tightly woven fabric, dustproof covers prevent dust mites from infesting your bed.
- Utilize a Dehumidifier or Air Conditioner: Dust Mites need a water source to survive. By turning on a dehumidifier in the impacted room, you can keep the humidity under 50% which will eliminate these irritating pests over time.
- Regularly Clean the Dust in Your Home: By taking away their food supply, dust, dust mites cease to thrive. Observe where dust tends to accumulate in your house and wipe these areas with either a microfiber duster or damp cloth. Additionally, vacuum your floors, clean your carpets, wash your fabrics, and overall keep a clean house to increase your chances of eliminating dust mites.
- Freeze the Dust Mites: While this may not be achievable for most situations, dust mites don’t survive long when faced with extremely cold conditions. If your dust mites are invading certain objects, such as blanket or stuffed animals, just wrap the object in a plastic bag and place in your freezer overnight. The dust mites should all be eliminated by the morning!
- Alter Your Home: In extreme situations, completely throwing out your dust mite infested bedding and furniture may be necessary. Additionally, replacing your carpeting with hardwood floors will dramatically reduce the likelihood of dust mites seeing your home as their home.
How To Improve Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms
It’s important to visit your doctor if you’re experiencing dust mite allergy symptoms. In most situations, medical providers will prescribe antihistamines, decongestants, or nasal sprays to help reduce swelling and block oncoming allergic reactions. While at-home treatments can include flushing out your nasal passages with a neti-pot, wearing O2 Nose Filters is one of the top proven and highly effective ways to block dust mites before they ever enter your respiratory system.
While our nasal passageways try their best when it comes to filtering harmful airborne particles, such as dust mites, they aren’t perfect. That’s why O2 Nose Filters are such an effective solution when it comes to improving our mental and physical health. Nose filters are a discreet option to protect against airborne particulate matter. The O2 Nose Filter uses 3M’s patented AEM™ electrostatic technology to capture allergens, viruses, dust mites, and other particulates, making them a valuable tool for anyone who wants to drastically limit the pollutants and pollens they breathe in daily.
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