How to Clean Dust Mites From the Air

Dust mites are very tiny beings that feed on the flecks and pieces of dead skin that people shed every day. Though dust mites won't hurt you, they may cause your asthma to act up, or they may provoke other allergic reactions. Routine housecleaning can eliminate dust mites from areas of your home where they live, including your bed and the air.

Things You'll Need

• Furnace filters Washing machine Vacuum cleaner Air conditioner

Instructions

1. Change the filter on your heat pump or other heating element on a regular basis. Most filters claim to last up to three months, but may need changing more often. Dust mites can continue to live when your filter is dirty, but may get trapped in a new, clean filter.

2. Wash your bedding weekly in hot water. Dust mites live in mattresses and bedding, where we tend to shed hair and skin the most. The air in your bedroom is most likely full of dust mites. Washing your sheets and blankets will cut down on the number of mites that surround you.

3. Vacuum your home, including your mattress, frequently to get rid of dust mites in the air. The fewer dust mites living in your bed, the fewer you will have airborne throughout your home.

4. Keep your home cool and dry with the help of an air conditioner. Dust mites thrive in warm, moist environments. The dryness of a home that has air conditioning running generally has fewer dust mites than a house that is hot and humid.