Dust Mites

Anywhere there's dust in your home, you'll have microscopic, skin eating creatures called Dust Mites - sightless, eight legged cousins of the spider and tick.

One gram of house dust can contain up to several thousand dust mites. The tiny flakes and particles of dead skin that we are constantly shedding are manna for dust mites.

They live everywhere - carpet, mattresses, pillows, upholstered furniture, clothing, dressers, window sills, tables, etc.   An average bed can contain 2 million dust mites.

Each mite lives for 2 to 4 months, produces 20 droppings per day, and each female lays 20 to 50 eggs every three weeks. Dust mite excrement causes dust mite allergy, the single biggest cause of year round rhinitis, the sneezing and runny nose associated with allergies.

Dust mite excrement can be stirred up simply by walking across carpet. Once airborne, mite fecal pellets remain aloft for an extended period of time and are easily inhaled.

Dust mites are one of the main reasons that indoor air can be more allergenic than outdoor air.

How to Protect Yourself from Dust Mites

To protect yourself from dust mites, you should have a HEPA filter running 24 hours a day in your bedroom. Wash your sheets and pillow cases at least once a week in hot water, and use mattress covers that protect you from dust mites.

Dust mites live and multiply in carpets, so vacuum weekly with a HEPA vacuum. If your vacuum is not a HEPA it can actually increase the number of allergens in the room.

Also, the Environmental Doctor Company can provide the Viro Vac Service to help with getting the dust mite problem under control.  Then you will need to continue cleaning as mentioned above, and running HEPAs in your house or commercial property.