Dust Mites: Invisible Invaders
Dust mites might seem innocuous enough as they're virtually invisible and unless you're sensitive to their presence you'd never know they're there. As their names suggests they like to dwell in "dust" and feed on the dead skin, pollen and fungal spores that make up "dust" but dust mites can pose a significant risk to you and your family's health.
Dust mites are light coloured, wingless insects that are smaller than half a millimetre so they are very hard to see. Their bodies, secretions and faeces contain proteins that commonly trigger allergic reactions in humans. These reactions commonly include coughing, runny nose, itchy eyes, breathlessness and skin rashes and irritation. Whilst these symptoms seem more annoying than harmful, dust mites are also known to trigger eczema, middle ear infections and sinusitis in children and sensitive adults.
So what can you do to reduce the populations of dust mites in your home? Like with any unwanted pest the key is to remove the food source. Like all pests, dust mites will reproduce if there is plenty of food to sustain large populations so it's essential to make sure you keep up with a rigorous cleaning routine to prevent a build up of dust and debris.
Simple things you should be doing regularly is vacuuming weekly and cleaning your linens fortnightly. Regular cleaning will collect the dust and prevent a build up occurring.
It's also essential to have your carpets and upholstery steam cleaned every 6-12 months to kill and remove the dust mites lurking in your carpet and upholstery. Your carpet acts like your home's air filter by collecting and harbouring foreign pollutants like pollen, skin flakes and fungal spores (ie. dust). It is for this reason that high numbers of dust mites can be found in carpets and upholstery.
No pest spray or treatment can eliminate dust mites (regardless of what their advertisements say) but a carpet and upholstery clean using the hot water extraction method will not only kill but remove dust mites from your carpets as well as the dirt, dust and soil the dust mites have been feeding on. Regular carpet cleans by a professional carpet cleaning company are a part of maintaining a healthy home and vastly improves the air quality and overall health of the home.
At Results Home Services we have been looking after Brisbane's carpets and upholstery for over 20 years so you can trust we have the knowledge and experience to provide excellent results.
Your home should be a sanctuary so don't suffer with a constant runny nose and sneezing fits. Call Results Home Services now on 3823 2500 and have your carpets rejuvenated and made dust mite free.
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