Many things can converge to make the air in your home less clean than you’d like it to be; one of the biggest culprits are dust mites. The house dust mite is an all-too-common problem in homes all around the world; their presence can exacerbate allergies and generally compromise respiratory health. How can you keep those microscopic critters at bay and enjoy better indoor air quality? There are many strategies for doing so, and they will be outlined below. First, though, it helps to get to know the enemy a little better – read on to find out what dust mites are all about.

What Are House Dust Mites?

House dust mites have eight legs and come in two basic North American varieties. Both types of house dust mites are virtually unapparent to the human eye, but neither type burrows into skin, is parasitic or bites. Instead, these critters survive by absorbing water from the air. They require high temperatures and high humidity to thrive. They feed on dead human skin cells, like the ones that are continually being shed by everyone in the home, along with pollen, fungi, animal dander and bacteria. Most homes contain an abundance of all these things.

Allergies and Dust Mites

Dust mites trigger allergic reactions in many people. In fact, house dust mites are one of the most common causes of indoor allergies in humans. When exposed to dust mites, allergic people experience watery, itchy eyes, stuffy noses, sneezing, stuffy ears, asthma, eczema and various respiratory problems. Most of the time, these reactions become pronounced when dust is stirred up, as it is during cleaning and other common indoor activities. Dust mite allergies can make a person downright miserable, and can wreak havoc on the overall quality of their health as well.

Managing Dust Mites

Since dust mites are one of the biggest problems, getting rid of them is important. Look below for some of the best ways to eliminate dust mites from the home.

  1. Pet dander is a major source of nourishment for dust mites. If you do have pets, do not allow them in the room where you sleep.
  2. Dust mites thrive on humidity; keep the humidity level of your home as low as possible to discourage them. During the summer, use an air conditioner to keep the humidity down in your home and to reduce the presence of dust mites.
  3. Furniture made out of wool should be avoided, since wool particles provide an additional food source for dust mites. Similarly, overstuffed furniture should be avoided, since it tends to collect a lot of dust. Try to avoid carpeting, since it can harbor a lot of dust that the critters thrive on.
  4. Keep your home as well-sealed as possible in order to reduce the amount of pollen that gets in. Dust mites love pollen.
  5. Keep up with the housekeeping, and pay special attention to washing bedding frequently. Also, try to steam clean any rugs or carpets regularly to reduce dust in the home.

Managing Dust

Dust mites thrive off of dust and everything that goes into it, so keeping it to a minimum can help keep the critters at bay. There are a few key ways to reduce dust in the home, including:

  • Dusting – Dusting is the first thing you should do when cleaning the home. Use a damp cloth to catch dust particles; dry dusting just sends them out into the air more quickly. Make a habit of dusting your home regularly, and do it before doing any other type of cleaning.
  • Vacuuming – After dusting and straightening up, vacuum your home thoroughly. For best results, use a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA air filter in it, since it will pull the most dust particles and other impurities from the carpeting in your home.
  • Air Purification – Beyond dusting, vacuuming and cleaning, HEPA air purifiers are the absolute best way to reduce the amount of dust – and dust mites – in the home. HEPA air purifiers, which bring allergy, sinus and asthma relief to the table, are the best products available today.

Invest in a HEPA Air Purifier from Clean Air Plus

At Clean Air Plus, we understand why you don’t want dust mites in your home and are prepared by offering HEPA air purifiers by IQAir, Amaircare and Austin Air. By shopping with us, you can bring high quality air purification into your home. As you rid your home of the dust mite population, easier breathing will occur.

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