Dust Mites

Dust mites live and breed in mattresses, and produce allergens that can trigger symptoms of asthma, eczema, and respiratory allergies (allergic rhinitis).   Reducing your exposure to these allergens is an important part of an effective asthma treatment.  Unfortunately, the mattress is a prime area for house dust mite colonies. 

House dust mites thrive in warm, moist environments and live on shed human skin.  When we sleep, our body naturally sheds skin, moisture and heat, which creates an ideal environment for house dust mites.  The dust mite faeces are a primary allergen for asthma, eczema and atopic allergies.

The key to long term relief is to significantly reduce your exposure to the dust mite allergens.  This can be done through a combination of:

  • Regular washing of your sheets in hot water
  • Covering up the mites and their allergens with a mattress encasement, which completely encases your mattress with an impermeable material.  (Remember to regularly wash your encasement every few weeks to prevent reinfestation.)
  • Protecting your mattress with a fixed liner that kills dustmites for up to two years.  (Remember to remove the liner after six weeks and vacuum the dead mites and their allergens.)
  • Regularly dust and vacuum the floor and surrounding surfaces, using a hepa filter where appropriate.  Asthma sufferers may want to use a suitable mask for dusting to reduce exposure to allergens.  
For more information about House Dust Mites please use one of the following links:

• www.mayoclinic.com/health/dust-mites

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_dust_mite

• http://lancaster.unl.edu/pest/resources/DustMites311.shtml