Invisible to the naked eye, dust mites inhabit more than 80 percent of all U.S. households, no matter how clean and neat. That can be a problem if you’re allergic to them.
Dust mites are actually on the clean-up committee: they eat our discarded skin cells, as well as animal dander, pollen, fungi, bacteria, and other microscopic organic material in the domestic environment. They thrive in mattresses, pillows, carpets, and clothing. Thousands of mites can live in just one gram of dust.
Fortunately, dust mites don’t carry disease and don’t bite, but they can trigger asthma, hay fever, and skin reactions in some people. In fact, dust mites are probably the most common indoor allergen, especially in warm, humid climates and for people with asthma. They are virtually nonexistent in very dry climates.
There’s a surprising amount of debate about how to reduce dust mites and the symptoms they cause. In recent years, much of the conventional wisdom has been called into question, mostly because of insufficient or conflicting evidence and because other types of allergens are also often involved.
If you have asthma, a skin condition, or other reaction you think might be caused by dust mites, consult a board-certified allergist for a diagnosis. If mites are the culprit, try the following strategies:
• Buy a good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. Ordinary vacuuming will only send dust mites and their particles into the air. It’s not clear how much a HEPA filter actually helps with allergies, but it’s worth trying. Vacuum bags should be changed often, since mites and debris can get out.
• If your allergies are severe, remove carpets and upholstered furnishings, especially in your bedroom. Install wooden or plastic blinds instead of drapes and curtains.
• Wash bed linens and blankets in hot water and use a hot dryer. (Dry cleaning may be less effective at killing mites--research is inconsistent.) Very hot water is best.
• Use impermeable covers to encase mattresses and pillows (and blankets that can’t be washed), which can harbor lots of dust mites. Studies have been conflicting about how much this helps, however.
• Replacing pillows periodically makes sense. Dust mites can infest all kinds of pillows, wehther made of feathers, polyester, foam, or other synthetics. There’s no consistent evidence that one type is preferable.
• Since dust mites thrive under humid conditions, try using a dehumidifier in the bedroom in damp climates. In warm months, use an air conditioner, which helps lower humidity. Be sure bathrooms and laundry rooms are well vented--this reduces humidity in the rest of the house. Obviously, don’t use a humidifier.
• Don’t bother with air purifiers or air-duct cleaning services. They will do little or nothing to reduce dust mites.
Bottom line: These steps are hardly a panacea. Even if they do reduce dust mites, those that remain may still cause allergic reactions, especially if you have asthma and have become sensitized to the allergens. But the steps may at least help reduce your symptoms.
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