Dust is the #1 cause of allergies in your home. In fact, 20 million Americans today have an allergy to dust mites. Remember, dust is not only a health concern due to mites, but dust can also contain fibers, mold, bacteria, fungus, food, and chemicals.
Think you’re not affected by dust mites? Think again. It is estimated that the average American inhales the equivalent of two teaspoons of airborne particles – including dust- each day, just by breathing the air in your environment. Even if you keep your home clean and tidy, it’s impossible to completely rid your home of dust mites. While dust mites don’t carry any sort of disease, they can still wreak havoc on your health.
Allergic reactions from dust mites
Dust mites can be an asthmatic trigger in individuals with allergies to dust mites. They can also cause annoying allergic reactions. Allergic symptoms can include coughing, wheezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, itchy skin or rashes, congestion – all of which are especially noticeable when you wake up in the morning.
If you’re unsure if your symptoms indicate a true allergy, you can obtain a simple test from your doctor who may refer you to an allergist/ immunologist for a skin test. It’s definitely worth discovering your allergies so that you can implement the necessary prevention steps immediately.
How to reduce the amount of dust mites in your home
A healthy home isn’t just about keeping your home neat and clean, but also assuring it’s free of allergens and other allergy triggers. Here are a few steps to get started:
- Carpet not only harbors dust and dust mites, but can contain toxins and chemicals. Opt for hard surface floors and area rugs, which are easier to clean.
- It’s estimated that there can be anywhere from one to 10 million dust mites in your home and that your mattress alone can have host up to 1.5 million dust mites according to research. Replace your mattresses and pillows with natural latex rubber and/or wool. Wool is naturally dust mite resistant due to the lanolin.
- Reduce clutter, especially in your bedroom. Studies reveal dust mites thrive in the bedroom; more than any other room in the home. Clutter traps dust. All that stuff under your bed? Clear it out, donate or sell it.
- Dust mites thrive at relative humidity levels between 70 and 80 percent, according to the AAFA. Keep the humidity levels in your house low, under 50 percent, by using a dehumidifier and/or an air conditioner.
In addition, you’ll want to regularly replace your home’s heating and cooling system (HVAC) furnace filters. The EPA recommends replacing these once every 3 months or, once per season.
4 tips to defeat D.U.S.T.
- D: Damp dust and wet mop to remove dust particles in your home. Flame retardant chemicals are semi-volatile and get into the air and dust.
- U: Use HEPA filtration. Get a room air purifier for your bedroom with a HEPA filtration system. Air purifiers are especially important if you or your family members suffer from any type of allergy or asthma. Poor quality air can significantly exacerbate the symptoms. If you have carpet, make sure you’re using a high efficiency filter (HEPA) and an airtight bagless vacuum cleaner. These filters are designed to remove the smallest of particles, reducing the total amount of airborne contaminants that can remain in carpets and upholstery for years.
- S: Sleep with barrier covers. Don’t use a plastic cover as these can off-gas VOC’s – volatile organic compounds. Instead, look for certified organic covers. Another great tip is to wash your bedding in hot water – at least 130 degrees F- to kill the dust mites. You can also put your pillow in the dryer every week or so to eradicate mites and vacuum your mattress when you change your sheets.
- T: Take your shoes off when entering your home. A study by the University of Arizona found about 60% of household dust comes from outside and is primarily brought into the home from the bottom of shoes. The dust contaminants found include arsenic, lead and the pesticide, DDT (which was banned in 1972!). Set up a comfortable place near your front door and implement a storage rack or designated area where shoes can be removed upon entry. Having a place to put outdoor shoes will help develop a healthy family habit.
In case you have the dust mite heebie jeebies, I’ll leave you with a bright piece of advice. Don’t make your bed. Yes, you read that right. According to researchers at Kingston University, an unmade bed during the day retains less moisture making it less attractive to dust mites.
Sweet dreams!
Feature image courtesy of designbuildinhabit