More and more people suffer from dust mite allergies – runny nose, constant sneezing, shortness of breath, itchy skin – and are looking for ways to get rid of them. One of the best ways to do that is using you vacuum cleaner with the proper attachments.
“The first treatment for controlling dust mite allergy is avoiding dust mites as much as possible. When you minimize your exposure to dust mites, you can expect fewer or less severe allergic reactions.” Source: (mayoclinic.org)
Dust mites and dust mite feces are often found in soft surfaces, such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpeting and curtains. Dust mites main food source is dead skin cells, and that’s why the bedrooms are usually where they concentrate. Washing curtains, sheets, blankets, duvets, pillowcases and bed covers in hot water (at least 130ºF) kills dust mites and remove allergens. However, you cannot wash your carpet or your mattress, and that’s why vacuuming is one of the best options. If it you have rugs, make sure you wash them all regularly in hot water, too.
To reduce the levels of dust mites in your house, it is important to vacuum corners, floor trim, cabinets and behind/under furniture. Your mattress, for instance, needs to be vacuumed regularly all around and on the seams to help lowering the levels. It is also important to control the temperature in your home and reduce humidity using dehumidifiers, because dust mites thrive at 77ºF and in humid environments.
Vacuum on a regular basis and dust with a damp cloth / microfiber cloth. Always start at the top of the room and work down, this way you avoid launching dust mites and dust particles into the air. Do not dust or vacuum before going to bed, wait at least 2 hours before sleeping in a room that has been vacuumed. Vacuum with HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners and avoid bagless models, because you want to make sure that you are using a completely sealed vacuum system so that the dust allergens don’t leak out of the unit. Cleaners with washable filters and bagless must be avoided, they only expose you to the allergens you want to eliminate. If your bag is not sealed, then it is better to empty the vacuum cleaner in an external area.
Also, avoid having too many rugs, carpet and curtains in the house. This way, it will be easier to clean up and prevent high dust levels. When using vacuum cleaners to get rid of dust mite, use proper attachments such as the crevice tool for tight corners, the brush tool for carpets and upholstered furniture.
External Links
mayoclinic.org
- Dust mite allergy – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic
- Dust mite allergy – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Acaricidal activities of some essential oils and their monoterpenoidal constituents against house dust mite, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) – PMC
- Typical household vacuum cleaners: the collection efficiency and emissions characteristics for fine particles – PubMed
aafa.org
- Dust Mite Allergy
acaai.org
- Dust Allergy | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment | ACAAI Public Website
