How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites - 6 Steps

Introduction To Dust Mites

Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms

Getting Rid Of Dust Mites

1. Dust Mite Cases on your pillows, mattress and blanket

2. Get Rid Of Carpets

3. Reduce Humidity

4. Use A HEPA Air Purifier

5. Remove Fabrics

6. Washing / Freezing / Cleaning

Tips and Tricks To Reduce Your Dust Mite Allergy

Introduction To Dust Mites

• Thousands of house dust mites live in your home: they are too small to see (0.2mm) and look like an 8 legged arachnid

• Dust mites mostly live in bedroom: items like mattresses, pillows, and curtains.

• Do Dust Mites Bite? No Dust Mites cannot leave bite marks but will cause an itchy red rash

Click Here to See Pictures of What A Dust Mite Bite is and What Dust Mites Look Like

 

Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms

• Runny or Blocked nose
• Itchy, red and watery eyes
• Tired
• Mucus in throat (Rhinitis and Sinusitis)
• Cough
• Facial pressure
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
• Difficulty breathing
• An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
• Poor Quality sleep, often caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
• A child, often rubbing their nose upwards

Getting Rid Of Dust Mites In 6 Steps

1. Anti Dust Mite Cases on your pillows, mattress and blanket

• Use a dust mite protector for your pillow, mattress, and duvet. This will keep dust mites from getting in or out.

• Washing your bedding every week at 60 degrees will kill 100% of the dust mites, so you don't need to wash your pillow, mattress, and duvet

• Signs of a Good Dust Mite Cover:
• 1. Waterproof Zip And Material: The cover and its zip should not let water through. If there are any holes or gaps, dust mites can sneak in, making the cover not work well to stop allergies. Most cover materials you find will stop water, but do not have a waterproof zip.

• 2. Freeze Friendly: The best dust mite cover can go into the freezer for a week if it's sealed tight. Studies show this kills 100% of dust mites.

• 3. Breathable Outer Layer: It's important that the cover has a breathable layer. This will improve sleep comfort.

Click Here to View Our Recommended Dust Mite Protectors

Click Here for more information on Why You Need To Stop Dust Mites Reinfesting Your Bedding

 

2. Get Rid Of Carpets

• Remove all carpets from your home as dust mites cannot thrive on hard surfaces
• Replace with a hard surface such as wood or titles

• The fewer gaps between your floor panels, the better, as this minimizes places where dust can accumulate.

• If you are unable to replace the carpet
• Weekly vacuum the carpet

• Weekly spray dust mite solution

• Consider buying a steam cleaner for maximum results

 

3. Reduce Humidity To Below 50%

• Dust Mites will die of dehydration when humidity is below 50% 

• Use a dehumidifier with a sensor to turn on whenever humidity drops below 50%

• Reduce humidity further by:

• Drying items outside or use a drying machine

• Keeping windows closed when it is humid/wet outside - you can google the current humidity using the term "humidity in my area"

• When you wake up, fold your blanket at the end of the bed. This Helps let out any damp air 

4. Use a HEPA Air Purifier

• Using an air purifier helps remove dust mites and their allergens from the air. This reduces the number of them that can get into your breathing passages and spread to clean areas of your home.

• Select an Air Purifier that has a HEPA filter, as this will capture all dust mite related matter. 

• Run the Air Purifier 24 hours a day and 7 days a week at full power to stop dust from settling. Running the air purifier on a low setting might let dust settle before it can be filtered out.

 

5. Remove Fabrics 

• Remove fabric bed frames
• Instead use wood or metal
• Remove Rugs and Mats
• Instead, try get used to a hard floor! (or if required wash them weekly)
• Remove Fabric Sofas:
• Instead use leather
• Remove Curtains
• Instead use metal or wood blinds
• Remove Fabric Cushions
• Instead use Leather Cushions 
• Remove Fabric Toys
• Instead use hard toys or regularly wash them them by placing them in a laundry bag and washing at 60 degrees
• Remove Old Wall Paper
• Instead use paint
• Remove Pets from the bedroom
• instead allow them to access other rooms

If you need help or have questions about making your home dust mite-free, consider buying a one-on-one consultation. 1-2-1 consultancy click here

 

  6. Wash at 60 Degrees, Freeze Protectors and Cleaning

• Wash bedding at 60 degrees to kill dust mites.
• This should be done weekly or if you are experiencing severe allergy symptoms, every 4 days.

• Anti Dust mite protectors and encasements are damaged over time at 60 degrees and will lose their protection. Instead, freeze them you can find freezer-safe covers here, Check out our freezer friendly covers here

• Weekly Clean using:
• Best Practices
• Clean from the "Top Down". When you clean high surfaces, the dust will fall down, so always start from the top. 
• Wet damp cloth or disposable wet wipes
• Use HEPA vacuum on floor and any fabrics in home
• Mop floor with an eucalyptus oil solution 
• Spray all fabrics with eucolyptus oil
• Ensure Ventilation system is clean and filters have been changed
• Bedroom
• Clean and Vacuum bed frame
• Mattress Vacuumed 
• eucalyptus based spray on mattress
• Follow practices on Dust Mite Covers on your pillows, mattress and blanket
• Bathroom
• Mold removed from shower basin, ceilings, walls and windows
• All towels / floor mats washed on a weekly basis

 

 7. Tips and Tricks To Reduce Your Allergy

• Just doing one of these steps is not an effective way to reduce your dust mite allergy. You need to focus on reducing dust mite reinfestation, which can be done by follow all 6 steps. Find out more information here on reducing dust mite reinfestation
• Remove old wall paper as this may contain mould
• Do not make your bed in the morning - to allow damp air to escape
• Reviews on different Dust Mite Treatment applications
• Unsure what to do with a household item when assessing your home?
• Remember CREVT - 
• C lean the item
• R inse - Can't Clean? Rinse at 60 degrees
• E ncase - Can't Rinse? Encase the item
• V acumn / freeze - Can't Encase? Vacumn / freeze the item
• T rash - Can't Vacumn / Freeze? Trash it!

 

Here is a quick cheat sheet - be sure to take save this picture.

Note from Author - Richard Williams 

Thanks for reading! As someone who has always had allergies, I hope my page improves your allergy symptoms. Let's make a deal, let's look at each other in the eyes... If you share this page, I promise to dedicate more time to providing free advice and helping others reduce their dust mite allergies. Thanks!

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