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).
-
1
Related Searches
Comments
-
pensacoladiva
Jan 29, 2007
I didn'[t realize that you could use vinyl mattress and pillow covers for this reason....Thanks! -
pensacoladiva
Jan 29, 2007
I didn'[t realize that you could use vinyl mattress and pillow covers for this reason....Thanks!