Dust mites are microscopic organisms that dwell in every home. For most people dust mites do not cause any harm, but for some unfortunate ones, they can produce an allergic reaction that leads to constant misery. While you will not be able to eliminate dust mites from your home, can you do anything to reduce their numbers and the impact they have? Yes, there are. Here are a few ideas:
Firstly, you need to regularly dust and vacuum throughout. Use a slightly damp cloth when dusting to prevent dust redistribution, and try to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter that stops dust from going back into the air.
Another thing dust mites love is a humid environment. If you have high humidity indoors you should try to reduce it. You can do this with air conditioning and maintaining a good flow of air through the house.
Beds and bed linens are another favorite place for dust mites, so frequent washing of sheets and bedding is important for keeping numbers down. High temperatures are the only way to eliminate dust mites from bedding, so wash your linens at a temperature of no less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do not want to do this, then place them in the dryer on a high setting for about 10 minutes.
Lastly, air purifiers are a good way to filter allergens in the air, and while they will help to control the number of airborne dust mites, they will not reduce their numbers too much as dust mites are not usually found in the air.