No doubt you think you know all the inhabitants of your house well – family, friends, housemates, perhaps a pet. But most UK homes have unseen unwelcome house guests. They are ugly creepy crawlies, they look like something out of a science fiction film, and they could be making their home in your bed right now. I’m talking about millions of dust mites, the hidden menace in the home, invisible to the eye but causing problems wherever they go.
Aside from the slightly disturbing knowledge that they could be living in your carpets and bedding, dust mites are also one of the most common causes of asthma, eczema and an endless list of other inconvenient allergies. Technically it’s dust mites’ droppings rather than the actual mites that cause problems, as they are coated in an enzyme that is highly allergenic to over 20% of the population. Their food is the 50 million dead skin cells that the average human sheds every day, and it can be very tough to get rid of them completely. It’s tough, but far from impossible. If you think there might be dust mites in your home, there are three important things to remember:
Keep it Clean – If you want to get rid of dust mites, the most obvious solution is to remove the dust. They like to live in ‘dust bunnies’ and deep in the carpet pile so regular hoovering, every day if necessary, will help to restrict their food supply and suck them out of the carpet too. Keep windows open where possible as they don’t like sunlight, not to mention a healthy breeze will literally blow them away as they are so tiny!
Keep it Fresh –You might not think air quality would have much effect on dust mites considering they live in the carpet and furnishings, but in fact the right air conditioners could make all the difference. Even when you’re hoovering daily there is still time for skin cells and dust particles to settle and for the mites to make new homes. Installing an air filter or purifier with a HEPA filter literally removes all particles larger than 0.0003mm from the air before they get the chance to settle, meaning less food for mites.
Keep it Dry – Dust mites thrive in conditions where the relative humidity (RH) of the air is above 50%. Different people have different ideas of the recommended RH in a home and it varies depending on where you live, but the most common recommendation is somewhere around 45%. If the normal humidity level in your home is anywhere above 50% trying to reduce it is a good idea as not only will this kill dust mites but can also improve the general health of the occupants. Basic things like keeping windows open when cooking or showering can make a difference but if the problem persists then using a dehumidifier is a quick and easy way to remove moisture from the air, maintaining the optimum RH and killing dust mites dead!
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