Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night very uneasy because you’re itching all over? You wonder why because you just recently cleaned your bedroom and you’re confident that you haven’t missed a spot. The next day, when the guy from the termite control company comes to check on your ceiling and walls, you tell him of your nightly dilemma. He comes to check your mattress as well and found the culprit in a matter of minutes—the mighty and tiny dust mites.
Dust mites are considered to be microscopic relatives of the spider which live on mattresses, curtains, upholstered furniture, and carpets. They feed on flakes of human or pet skin that are shed on a daily basis. They love to linger in warm and humid environments, so it’s given that they like to be where we stay often! These critters are incredibly tiny and breed intensely—there could be a million of them in your bed and you will never know it.
It may seem impossible to eliminate all of them since they come in large numbers, but you may reduce dust mite sightings and lessen their destructive effects. In this article, we have gathered effective tips on how you can do this so you can finally say goodbye to dust mites for good!
Control the Temperature
It is advisable to use a dehumidifier or air-conditioner, which has more info here, to regulate the temperature in your bedroom. This would be ideal because dust mites thrive in warmer spaces. By maintaining a cooler environment in your room, you will attract less dust mites.
Change your Beddings
Dirty mattresses and pillow cases are a perfect breeding ground for dust mites. Wash them in hot water once a week to kill these pests. Replace heavy wool beddings with synthetic or tightly-woven ones. Hypoallergenic mattresses and anti-allergen mattress protectors are now available so consider investing on them. Throw away old stuffed toys that have lived on your bed for ages—dust mites might have already built an empire on those.
Replace your flooring
Carpets are no exemption when it comes to dust mite invasion. If your carpets haven’t been cleaned for years and you can’t get near them without feeling itchy, it’s probably time to ditch those. Linoleum, wood or tile floors would be best. Hard flooring keeps dust mites at bay, plus they’re easier to maintain. However, if it’s not possible to get rid of your carpets, make it a point to vacuum them regularly to strip them of dust and other allergens. Wear a face mask when vacuuming so you don’t inhale particles that may irritate the passageways of air in your nose and throat.
Don’t make your bed
At least not as soon you jump out of it. Before making it, give it some good airing to dry up the moisture that has accumulated on it overnight. Dust mites love humid and moist environments so by letting your bed cool, you practically deprive them of what they need.
Use steam cleaners
For those delicate ones that you can’t put in the washing machine such as your curtains, steam cleaners would be the best one to use. Steam could effectively remove dirt, and kill bacteria and dust mites.
Goodnight, dust mites!
With the tips listed above, it all still boils down to cleaning your place thoroughly and regularly. Use a damp cloth or mop when cleaning mite-infested surfaces; don’t use dry rugs as this may only transfer the dust mites to other parts of your home. Maintain your personal and home hygiene so you’ll stop tossing and turning at night, whatever the weather!