Could Dust Mites Be Making you Sick?
Updated: Apr 3, 2020
Symptoms associated with hey fever are similar to dust mite allergies
As we are stepping into hey fever season, we thought it would be a good time to repost this blog.
Dust mites are a microscopic pest in the arachnid family measuring between 0.2mm - 0.6mm. Contrary to widespread belief, dust mites don't bite. Still, instead, the irritation many people experience related to dust mites is an allergic reaction from their feces and excretions and not their bite, okay, so that doesn't sound so nice.
Dust mites feed on dead skin flacks, pet dander, mould and mildew and all the things that makeup "dust". Dust mites produce a powerful digestive enzyme that is carried through their feces and excretions. It is this enzyme that elicits an allergic reaction from a large portion of the population. Signs of an allergic reaction include coughing, wheezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and nose.
Preventing Dust Mites
Like any pest, dust mites thrive where food is plentiful, which is why you should take extra care to change bed linens regularly, vacuum often and maintain a good house cleaning regime. Remove "dust collectors" from bedrooms such as old teddies and stuffed toys from children's rooms and artificial flowers and old furnishings. It's impossible to eliminate dust mites from your home altogether. Still, frequent cleaning and maintenance is the best way to limit your family's exposure to dust mites and improve the overall health of your home.
Keep the house aired out and dry. Dust mites do not like dry conditions, so maintaining a moisture level (humidity) of below 50% will help reduce numbers. This may be difficult in some seasons and some climates. Plants and fish tanks add to moisture, so keep these out of the bedroom.
Steam Carpet Clean Those Dust Mites Away
Thorough and regular vacuuming is a great way to reduce dust and dust mites, but over a 12 months period dust and dust mites build up deep within your home's carpet fibres. Steam carpet cleaning (hot water extraction method) will pick up dust mites and the heat of the steam will also kill the dust mites. Experts recommend annual steam cleaning for carpets to remain healthy and clean and also state that carpet cleaning should be performed more often if there are pets or people with asthma in the home.
When you get your carpets professionally steam cleaned by Results Home Services you will enjoy better, healthier indoor air quality. Due to the removal of dust, dirt, bacteria, mould and dust mites have built up in the carpets over the year, and these particles will no longer be agitated into the air by foot traffic.
If it's been a while since your last carpet clean or if you would like a professional carpet clean, call us on 3823 2500 and experience all the reasons why we have been cleaning Brisbane's carpets for over 27 years.
For further health information visit:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dust-mites/symptoms-causes/syc-20352173