Dust Mites and Allergies:
Understanding The Connection
Dust mites are not necessarily an indicator of
a dirty home. That’s a common misconception, but the fact is these microscopic
bugs do not show up as a result of excess dust and dirt in a home, rather they
are regular contributors to such dust. They are drawn to places where humans are
because they feed off of the skin we regularly shed and once they move in they
can trigger allergic reactions.
The average adult sheds about 1.5 grams of skin
a day. That’s a biological fact and one that we can’t do anything to control.
Shedding and replacing skin is a natural process that is necessary to provide
protection for the vital organs. So how does this help answer the question what
are dust mites and how do you get them out of your home?
As previously stated, dust mites are
microscopic bugs that feed off the flakes of skin shed by humans. As a result,
they tend to congregate in places where the feeding is the best. More often than
not, that means your bed, as the mattress, box spring and pillows are all rich
sources of dead skin. Gross but true.
As the mites congregate, they leave behind a
large amount of waste. This waste makes up a great percentage of the dust you
commonly find around your home. It is also what triggers common allergic
reactions, including runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing and wheezing.
So what are dust mites? The simple answer is a
tiny nuisance that can become a very big problem but what you really need to
know is how to keep them from becoming an issue.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps you
can take to help prevent allergic reactions caused by dust mites. It will be
nearly impossible to remove all the mites from your home, because they are
impossible to see with the naked eye and because they don’t live on the surface
of furniture, but rather deep inside where it is difficult to get to them.
Good news is you can block them from getting in
your mattress or to you with allergy bedding covers. These zippered covers
provide an extra layer of protection for mattresses, box springs and pillows.
They are made from fabric with pores that are too small for the mites to get
through. (8-10 microns) Some covers include a special urethane membrane to block
allergens. These type of covers are also water proof and bed bug proof.
For fabric surfaces that you can’t cover, such
as carpets, chairs, couches and drapes, you can use sprays such as
Allersearch
ADMS or
X-Mite carpet treatment. These products are specifically designed to guard
fabrics against infestation by dust mites. By using products like these, you can
help to cut down on the dust mite population in your home and reduce allergy
symptoms drastically.
Don’t assume that dust mites are the result of
a dirty home, that’s far from the truth. You can’t easily avoid them no matter
how clean you are, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with their effects.
Use the right allergy control products and keep your environment allergen free!
Wishing you the best of health
The Allergy Store
