How to Get Rid of Dust Mites: An Expert's Guide

Dust mites are microscopic, insect-like pests that usually live in house dust. They feed on dead skin scales, or dander, shed by people and pets, which are the two substances most consumed by dust mites.

One of the most allergenic materials found indoors is household dust, which is often heavily contaminated with the fecal granules and molten skin of house dust mites.

Dust mites need water to survive, so they often hide in humid areas such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets, and fabrics like curtains. Mold is another favorite food of dust mites, so if you have mold in your home, you may have a more serious problem than just dust mites.

Now that you know what dust mites eat, let's talk about what you can do to get rid of them and prevent them from causing terrible allergies. Unfortunately, research suggests that no method is likely to make a useful difference in the number of dust mites in a home. However, reducing allergens at home and in the office will help patients with dust mite allergy and asthma. If a person with a dust mite allergy doesn't get complete relief with medications, they may consider immunotherapy or allergy shots.

Regularly cleaning your home to reduce allergens can also help reduce the number of dust mites present. Dust mites are usually 0.01 inches long and release fecal granules about 0.0004 to 0.002 inches long. Household dust mites have a cosmopolitan distribution and much of the research has been done before in Europe. Soils are another important source of food for dust mites since everything accumulates in the floors and falls into corners and crevices.

Dust mites shed their skin (called waste) at a certain point in their life cycle, and when they do, other dust mites seize the opportunity to eat a delicious, nourishing meal of dead dust mite skin. These creatures are mainly found in dust and are the main culprits behind the causes of allergies. So if you suffer from allergies or asthma, it's important to take steps to reduce the number of dust mites in your home. Infrequent cleaning can make your home more welcoming to dust mites, so regularly dusting can reduce the number of these creatures that live in the home by eliminating their food source.

If you're looking for ways to get rid of dust mites and prevent them from causing allergies or asthma symptoms, there are several steps you can take. Allergy medications can help relieve symptoms caused by dust mite allergies, while immunotherapy or allergy shots may be necessary for more severe cases. Additionally, reducing allergens at home and in the office will help reduce the number of dust mites present. Regularly cleaning your home is also important as it eliminates their food source and prevents them from thriving in humid areas like mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets, and fabrics like curtains.

Brittany Kleck
Brittany Kleck

Typical food practitioner. General tv scholar. Hipster-friendly tea geek. General reader. Infuriatingly humble tv fanatic. Passionate zombie junkie.