How to Get Rid of Dust Mites
Mites like to live in our beds because it is warm and they can eat our dander. They are so small we can't see them but their feces can cause allergic reactions in some people. You can rid your home of dust mites by following some basic procedures.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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1
Wash your bedding every week. Although you can't wash all your bedding in hot water, at least wash your sheets in hot water at 130 degrees. Include mattress pads in the weekly regimen. Cut down on the need to wash your pillows by keeping them in a plastic bag covered with a zippered pillow case.
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2
Leave the plastic covering on your bed when you buy a new mattress and put your mattress pad on top of that. Alternatively, buy covers made to keep dust mites out. Vacuum the back of your headboard and any other place around your bed where dust mites could thrive.
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3
Get rid of your feather and down pillows if you have dust-mite allergies. They are hard to wash and a haven for dust mites and other allergens. Use pillows that have synthetic filling or are made of foam. Nylon and cotton blankets are easier to wash than wool blankets.
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4
If you are doing your child's bedding, make sure you wash their stuffed animals, too. If there are some you can't wash then put them in a plastic bag and freeze them over night. That will be enough to kill the mites.
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Leaving your bed unmade to help dry it out. Dust mites like it moist and warm. Flip your pillows when you get up so the warm side is exposed to the air.
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6
Maintain a humidity of 30 to 50 percent in your home. Get a dehumidifier if necessary.
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Vacuum around the bed at least once a week. If you have wood floors use a damp mop to dust, to keep dust from flying into the air and landing on your bed. Wash your curtains or better yet replace them with a vinyl shade.
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TSpray around your home with an allergen spray. Keep a bottle in your bedroom so that you can spray your mattress in between washings of the bedding.
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Tips & Warnings
Wipe down the plastic bed covering once a week.
Although freezing mites kills them it doesn't get rid of their feces.
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References
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