How to Kill Dust Mites in Your Mattress and Prevent Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms
 Scientists first discovered dust mites over 300 years ago when the invention of the microscope made it possible to see these microscopic creatures. We now know that dust mites live in all house dust and can cause allergic symptoms in some people. Symptoms associated with dust mite allergies include sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, nasal stuffiness, runny nose, stuffy ears, respiratory problems, eczema and (in severe cases) asthma.About Dust MitesDust mites are microscopic, eight-legged creatures closely related to ticks, chiggers, and spiders. But unlike their cousins, they are not parasitic and do not bite humans. Adult dust mites measure 1/100th an inch long – smaller than the period at the end of this sentence, making them impossible to see with the naked eye.
Dust mites do not burrow under the skin, like scabies mites, or live in skin follicles, like skin follicle mites. They live in warm, humid environments, close to their food and water source, like your bed or carpet. Their primary food source is dander (skin scales) shed from humans and pets. Water they absorb directly through their skin, and again their source is mainly humans.
To thrive, dust mites need very warm temperatures (75-80° F) and high humidity levels, (70-80% relative humidity). Mite populations are dramatically reduced when humidity is 60% or lower.
People constantly emit moisture from their skin, and when they sleep at night, moisture passes from the body and gets into sheets and bedding. This makes your mattress an ideal breeding ground for dust mites, containing ample quantities of both food and moisture. Carpets also retain a lot of moisture, providing another good environment for dustmites. In fact, most homes have detectable levels of dust mites and their allergy-producing fragments most highly concentrated in beds and carpets.
The house dust mite is not the actual cause of allergic symptoms in humans. The allergen is their tiny feces and body fragments which collect in mattresses and carpets. These particles are so small they become airborne when dust is disturbed through routine activity like making your bed or walking across the carpet. Breathing air that contains these microscopic dust mite particles causes allergic symptoms in individuals with dust mite allergies. Dust Mite Control: How to Kill Dust MitesEliminating dust mites in your home can be accomplished with a 2 pronged attack: 1) reduce current dust mite populations, and 2) reduce exposure to dust. Make the following recommendations a part of your good housekeeping routine:
Vacuum – Vacuum once a week: carpets, curtains, furniture. Special vacuums with highly efficient filters (HEPA) are designed to do the best job without blowing a lot of dust back into the air. Steam cleaners are the best way of killing dust mites in your carpet.
Dust – Dust with a wet cloth before vacuuming. Using a spray bottle to wet surfaces can reduce airborne dust by over 90%.
Wash – Wash bedding once a week in hot water (above 130° F)
Remove – Remove items in your home that trap dust: carpet, stuffed dolls, drapes, furry pets, and old stuffed furniture. Carpets, particularly in the bedroom should be replaced with wood or linoleum flooring. If carpet cannot be replaced have it steam cleaned once per year. Stuffed dolls, drapes and other home textiles should be washed regularly.
Dehumidify – Pull back your comforter and bedding during the day to let your bed air out. Cover the ground in your crawls space with plastic. Use a dehumidifier if you have especially humid areas in your house or crawlspace. Air conditioning can reduce dust mite populations by a factor of 10.
 Cover – Pillow and mattress protectors prevent dust mites from getting on your bedding. Because you spend so much time in bed, this is where most of your skin cells are shed, feeding the largest poplulation of dustmites in your home. Using pillow and mattress protectors, and washing them weekly will kill dust mites before they have a chance to get down in your mattress. Mattress protectors remove dust mite's food and water source by keeping dead skin from building up and keeping the humidity down in your mattress.
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