For most people dust mites are just harmless microscopic organisms that are found in every home. For those who are allergic to them, however, they can cause misery. While it would be almost impossible to eliminate them completely, it is possible to limit the number of dust mites in a home. Let’s look at a few simple ways this can be done.
Some may look to an air purifier as a way to get rid of dust mites. It is true that anyone who suffers from allergies may well benefit from an air purifier and it will help to control the number of dust mites found in the air, but because dust mites are not generally airborne, it will not drastically reduce their numbers.
One place that dust mites thrive is in bed linens. Washing your bedding in cool water is not enough to get rid of dust mites, instead, you should wash all your bedding at a high temperature (minimum 140 degrees Fahrenheit) which will kill them off. If you do not want to do a high-temperature wash, placing them in the dryer for 10 minutes at a high temperature should also do the trick.
Giving the house regular dusting and vacuuming is another important way to keep a dust mite population under control. Use a lightly dampened cloth to dust which will help to prevent redistribution of dust onto other surfaces. The best vacuum cleaner to use for the home is one that has a HEPA filter, this stops dust from reentering the air. When vacuuming, make sure you include all soft furnishings and textiles, etc. as well as the floors.
Finally, try your best to keep levels of indoor humidity low. Dust mites love humid conditions so reducing this will help to reduce them as well. Air conditioners and electric blankets are known to help with this problem.
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