How Do I Keep Out Dust Mites?
Dust mites are almost everywhere, and lots of people are allergic to them – or more specifically, their poop. Gross, right? Here's some simple steps to defeat these tiny little enemies.
- Clean your room! The first step is simple and common sense. A clean room means no piles of clutter gathering dust in the corners. Vacuum, sweep, dust, and mop regularly. Don’t forget vapor-steaming your curtains!
- Wash Sheets and Blankets in Hot Water. This one is related to the first, but you should wash these items on your bed in water that’s at least 130°F to kill any dust mites that have been living in your bedding.
- Dehumidify. Dust mites can’t live in air that is less than 40% humidity or so. This often helps allergy sufferers in cutting down on mold and mildew, too.
- Let the Sun Shine in! Sunshine kills dust mites. So every so often, take your rugs outside. Consider drying your bedding on an old fashioned clothes line for extra protection against dust mites.
- Most importantly: use hypoallergenic mattress protectors and zippered pillow covers!
Why is that last one the most important tip? Because dust mites live off of shed skin cells. You spend most of your time in the bedroom in bed. Sheets and blankets aren’t made to keep dust mites out, so those nasty little bugs can set up camp right where you rest your face every night – in your mattress and pillow.
Don't let dust mites keep you from sleeping soundly every night. These simple steps will go a long way to keeping your allergies at bay and helping you to sleep soundly every single night.
