How to Reduce Dust Mites

Dust mites are a common allergen. Here are some ways to reduce them in your home.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hard-surface Flooring
• Allergy Free Matress Covers
• High-efficiency Filtering Vacuum Bags
• Leather-covered Furniture
• Pillow Covers
• Central Vacuums

1. Launder bedding weekly in hot water (130 to 140 degrees F).

2. Encase pillows and mattresses in vinyl covers.

3. Install hard-surface flooring (tile, vinyl, wood) where possible - dust can be more thoroughly removed from these surfaces. In particular, don't carpet high-humidity areas such as kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms - doing so puts out the welcome mat for microscopic dust mites.

4. Install a central vacuum-cleaning system, which exhausts dust outdoors, or use high-efficiency filter bags in your vacuum cleaner.

5. Vacuum frequently and thoroughly in areas where you lounge: upholstered furniture, the area rug in front of the television, etc.

6. Purchase leather-covered furniture, which isn't mite-friendly the way cloth upholstery is.

7. Clean air ducts if allergic individuals still experience problems after the above steps have been taken. Ducts normally contain and disperse dust; clean when you know the dust volume is excessive (you can ask a climate-control system technician for an evaluation).

[ThinkVacuums]

on 9/3/2008 Installing a central vacuum system will definitly help with dust mite and their eggs. Not only that, but it will help with other allergens. Places such as www.purvaccentralvacuums.com and www.thinkvacuums.com sell good quality central vacuums for low prices and can give installtion help.

[pensacoladiva]

on 1/29/2007 I didn'[t realize that you could use vinyl mattress and pillow covers for this reason....Thanks!