Dust Mites Can Make You Sick – 6 Ways To Get Rid Of Them
No one likes the thought of dust mites invading their home. They can make you sick and are just plain gross! Fortunately, there are things you can do to get rid of them.
Even though dust mites might seem to be considered a small insect, they really can cause a tremendous amount of problems. Simply put, they can be difficult to get rid of when they are in the house.
There are many steps you can take to make sure dust mites remain outside your home and not in it!
I have asthma so it’s important to keep our home free from dust mites. Even though I have a cleaning obsession, I still need to make sure I follow these steps below.
There are many things you can do around your home to rid it of dust mites but here are some surefire ways to get started.
Consider some of these strategies:
How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites In Your Home
1 – Keep the Temperature and Humidity Low and Wash all Fabrics in the Correct Manner
Dust mites thrive in areas where there are high temperatures and high humidity. This is because they usually can flourish in an environment where the temperature remains between 75 to 80 degrees and the humidity is between 70 to 80.
Thus, if you keep your interior temperature a little bit lower than 70 degrees, it will slow down their breeding and in some cases even kill them.
If you aren’t sure what the humidity is in your home, it would definitely be worth the investment for you to purchase an electric humidity monitor. You need to keep the humidity below 50 degrees.
2 – Dust as Often as Possible To Get Rid Of Dust Mites
As arduous as it might seem, I make sure I dust every day. The easiest way to get that done is with a Swiffer 360 Duster. They make dusting so easy and quick too! It only takes a few minutes to go through your home and give it a quick dusting.
“Dust Mites”, the name literally says it all, and no, it’s not a misnomer. These little insects look to feed on dust. This is why you should dust your environment at least a few times a week.
You can also use a wet cloth or a duster that works microscopically to get the job done. Personally, I use these microfiber cloths for so many cleaning jobs around my home.
Moreover, you must make sure your tool is picking up the dust and not just sweeping it aside. Unless you remove the dust totally, dust mites can still live there.
3 – Have Your Carpet and Upholstery Professionally Cleaned
Besides the removal of dust mites, there are many advantages to giving your carpet some professional attention. First of all, a professional carpet cleaning will keep your carpet looking in great shape for many more years than if you just let it sit and neglected it.
Carpet cleaning will remove years of trapped debris. Professional carpet care will keep the dust mites from thriving on old and trapped dust.
Moreover, when you couple this with the fact that a professional carpet cleaner will often use hot water extraction techniques. And that’s something that dust mites cannot stand! Then you definitely have a winning combination.
We have our rugs professionally cleaned once a year and more depending on traffic. It’s so important to have your rugs cleaned to get rid of dust mites in your home. Don’t forget to clean your area rugs too!
4 – Use a Vacuum With a Hepa Filter
Are you vacuuming fabric? If so, you definitely will need a vacuum that has a HEPA filter. A HEPA filter is a high-efficiency particulate air filter. It’s designed to remove 99.97 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns in size that pass through it.
When vacuuming your fabric, a HEPA filter vacuum will perform head and shoulder above a normal vacuum. It will not only attract large dust clouds, but it will just kick out the microscopic particles instead of just releasing them back into the air.
Of course, this can still be difficult if you are allergic to dust. In this case, you should wear a mask before you utilize a HEPA vacuum. Keeping your home sanitized is so important for getting rid of dust mites.
5 – Use a Steam Cleaner on Your Couch, Bed, and Carpeting
I always use a steam cleaner around my home. I love using it for all types of items too like chairs, beds, curtains, floors, and so much more. It’s great for disinfecting your bathroom too. A good steam cleaner will make sure your home fresh and clean too.
It’s a great way to kill dust mites. Steam cleaners reach temperatures of 200° to 250° and disinfect by killing bacteria and mold spores. It’s important to note that steam cleaning does kill dust mites but you have to vacuum too.
The dust mites leave droppings and dead bodies around your home. And that’s what can make you sick if you don’t remove them properly.
6 – Use a Hypoallergenic Mattress and Pillow Covers
Making sure you use hypoallergenic pillow covers is so important. Dust mites love living in your mattress and pillows – yuck. Did you know that close to a million dust mites can live in your bedding?
Using a hypoallergenic mattress and pillow cover will greatly reduce dust mites. This material will also prevent moisture and dead skin from entering your mattress and pillows too.
A few years ago, we bought a hypoallergenic mattress as well. It made a huge difference in my allergies as well.
I sleep much better at night knowing I do all I can to prevent dust mites. Make sure you change your bedding at least twice weekly as well.
Are you or someone in your family allergic to dust mites? If so, the techniques presented here will ensure that your home or office environment is completely dust mite free for years to come!
Proper temperature management, good washing techniques, and professional cleanings will not only keep your carpet looking good, but they are an investment in your family’s health.
Helping your family to live in a safe and clean environment is one of the best things you can do for them!
Don’t forget to read How To Make An All-Natural Bathroom Cleaning Product That Works too!
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