These unsavory little creatures are dust mites. Though we may not be able to see them, chances are these bugs have made their home in your mattress. We have already discussed our fantastic Hygienitech mattress cleaners earlier this month. They are used frequently to eradicate homes of bedbug infestations, but they also effectively clear beds of dust mites and their allergens.
So what exactly are dust mites, and what kind of threat do they pose?
Dust mites are tiny arachnids (relatives of spiders) with translucent, oval bodies, no eyes and big mouths. When seen under a microscope, these tiny bugs look monstrous. As a matter of fact it is a good thing that they are invisible to the naked eye given the fact that we are exposed to them so often.
While these bugs are everywhere, they are not in themselves harmful. They don’t bite or spread disease. The American National Institute Of Environmental Health Services found that up to 30% of people are allergic to the debris that dust mites create. Symptoms of a dust mite allergy are hay fever, eczema, or conjunctivitis. There is also evidence that dust mites exacerbate the symptoms of asthma.
Further, studies have shown that high levels of dust mites can actually cause previously non-allergic people to develop an allergy.
What Can I Do?
This may seem overwhelming, but dust mite populations can be effectively controlled. Keep your bed uncovered during the day and exposed to sunlight. You should also wash your bed sheets at least once every two weeks in hot water. Keeping the humidity lower than 50% and the temperature below 21 C. will prevent your home from being too comfortable for the mites. Children’s stuffed animals can be put in your freezer for 24 hours and then in to the dryer to sanitize them.
Mattresses are the perfect home for colonies of dust mites and where they are the most populous. They are dark, damp, and warm and because they eat skin cells there is a ready food supply. Our Hygienitech mattress cleaners effectively purge them from your beds, keeping their numbers in check.