How to Reduce Dust Mites

Dust is gross, but did you know it can be bad for your indoor air quality, too? From where dust mites live and the health risks that come with them to how to reduce these annoying little pests, read on for some key things to know about dust and dust mites.

What are dust mites?

You may be a little freaked to find out you’re sharing your personal space with some unwanted critters. Lingering in and around your home are thousands of dust mites—microscopic, insect-like pests that live in household dust. These tiny bugs mostly feed on the dead skin and dander of people and pets.* Dust mites especially thrive in humid environments and love to cozy up in household furniture, carpets, curtains and bedding.** The average used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites in it.***

Hazards dust and dust mites pose for your home air quality.

Dust and dust mites are not only pretty icky, but they can also mean bad news for the air quality in your home, especially since they can put allergens in the air. And unfortunately, with the U.S. population spending, on average, about 90 percent of its time indoors, you’re probably spending more time around dust mites than you’d like.***

How to reduce dust and dust mites.

Though you won’t be able to completely eradicate dust and dust mites from your home, there are ways beyond just vacuuming that can help significantly minimize their presence.****
 

• Dust mites thrive in humid environments. Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity levels in your home under 50 percent.
• Use a quality air filter for your heating and cooling system, and change it at least every three months. Filtrete™ Dual Action Micro Allergen Plus 2X Dust Defense Filters capture unwanted allergens and hold twice as much dust as other Filtrete™ Air Filters.
• Replace any feathered bedding products with synthetic ones.
• Wash all of your bedding and blankets in hot water (about 130°F) once a week to kill dust mites.
• Eliminate items, such as carpets, drapes and curtains—places dust mites like to hang out—from your home.
• Mop the floors and use a damp rag to clean surfaces. Using a dry rag will stir up the dust, potentially making reactions to the dust and dust mites worse. When vacuuming, make sure you are using a vacuum with a high-efficiency filter

Sources:

*Mayo Clinic

**National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

***Centers for Disease Control and Protection: Chapter 5 – Indoor Air Pollutants and Toxic Materials

****Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America