Dust Mites – The Secret Invaders
No doubt you think you know all the inhabitants of your house well – family, friends, housemates, maybe a pet. But almost every home in the UK has unseen unwelcome house guests. They are ugly creepy crawlies, they look like bizarre alien creatures from a science fiction film, oh and they could well be living in your bed. I’m talking of course about dust mites, the hidden menace in the home, which can’t be seen by the naked eye but manage to cause trouble wherever they go.
Aside from the slightly disturbing knowledge that they could be living in your carpets and bedding, dust mites are also among the most common triggers of asthma, eczema and a whole host of other recurrent allergies. Technically it’s dust mites’ droppings rather than the actual mites that cause problems, as they contain a highly allergenic enzyme which causes a reaction in over 20% of the population. Their food is the 50 million dead skin cells that the average human sheds every day, and it can be a nightmare getting rid of them completely. It’s tough, but far from impossible. If you suspect mites could be living in your home, the most important things to remember are:
Keep it Clean – the most obvious way to stop dust mites is to get rid of the dust. They nest in ‘dust bunnies’ and in the carpet so regular hoovering, every day if necessary, will not only suck many of them out of the carpet but cut off the food supply to those that are left behind. Leave windows open whenever the weather is good enough as they don’t like sunlight, not to mention a healthy breeze will literally blow them away as they are so small!
Keep it Fresh –You might not think air quality would have much effect on dust mites considering they live in the carpet and furnishings, but in fact the right air conditioner could make all the difference. Even when you’re hoovering daily there is still time for skin cells and dust particles to settle and create new homes for mites. Installing an air purifier with a HEPA filter literally removes all particles larger than 0.0003mm from the air before the dust can settle, reducing the amount of easy meals for mites.
Keep it Dry – Dust mites like to live in homes where the relative humidity (RH) of the air is 50% or higher. Different people have different ideas of the recommended RH in a home and it varies depending on where you live, but the most common recommendation is somewhere around 45%. If the normal humidity level in your home is anywhere above 50% it’s worth taking steps to reduce it as not only will this kill dust mites but can also improve the general health of the occupants. Basic things like keeping windows open when cooking or showering can make a difference but if the problem persists then using a dehumidifier is a quick and easy way to remove moisture from the air, maintaining the optimum RH and killing dust mites dead!
