Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.
Humidity is the most important factor in determining whether a house has high levels of dust mites. This is because dust mites do not drink water like we do; they absorb moisture from the air. In areas with low humidity, like deserts, dust mites cannot survive.
House dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees and approximately 50% humidity. 2 Even though house dust mites can be found year-round in your home, they are at their peak in September and October after the warmer weather months.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
Unlike two-spotted mites, spruce spider mites are most active and damaging during the spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler and rainfalls are more frequent. These are also the best times to control spruce spider mites.
Reduce Humidity: Dust mites hate dry air. Utilize dehumidifiers to maintain an environment where they cannot thrive.
In most areas of the world, these creatures live in every home, no matter how clean. But, you can reduce their effects. There are many changes you can make to your home to reduce the numbers of these unwanted “guests.” Studies show that more dust mites live in your bedroom than anywhere else in your home.
Combine Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint or Rosemary oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your bed, linens, and other furniture lightly with a fine mist. Once this mixture air dries, the scent should repel dust mites.
Dust mites naturally occur in our homes, and it's almost impossible to eliminate them. However, you can reduce their numbers in your home and the need for treatment.
You can't feel dust mites crawling on you. They're too small. The bugs may catch a lift on your clothes but they don't live on humans. Consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about crawling sensations or think you may have dust mite allergy.
Dust mites don't bite – it's their tiny particles of waste that can trigger an allergic reaction. Each bug produces as much as 200 times its body weight in its lifetime.
The purpose of dehumidifiers is to take moisture out of the air and thus make it impossible for mold, mildew, or dust mites to survive and thrive.
Dust mites breed in dusty areas. Ceiling fans easily become dusty, and mites accumulate on the blades of the fan. When the fan is on, it blows dust and mites all over a room.
Predators. The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
One of the best ways to get rid of dust mites is to wash all your bedding—including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and duvet covers—on a hot cycle of at least 130 degrees. 2 If you can't wash your bedding in hot water, place it in the dryer for 15 minutes at 130 degrees.
Sleep disruption: Dust mite allergies can disrupt sleep patterns, especially if symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and coughing are more pronounced at night. This can spill over into a long-term health risk, as poor sleep quality can have a negative impact on your overall well-being.
Essential Oil Sprays: Certain oils like eucalyptus or tea tree oil are natural dust mite repellents. Commercial Anti-Mite Sprays: Choose sprays that are safe for use on mattresses and effective against dust mites.
Though too small to see with the naked eye (only about . 33 millimeters long), dust mites are easily visible through even a cheap microscope. You can pick up an inexpensive microscope from any store that sells toys, a hobby store, or a thrift store and use it to discover whether your home has dust mites.
The chemical that makes house dust mites gather together in defense has been identified as neryl formate, a common scent used in foods and perfumes.
Tea tree, eucalyptus, and peppermint oils are known natural repellants. Mix two teaspoons of essential oil, two teaspoons of white vinegar with water in a spray bottle and spray your furnishings every 2-3 weeks will help keep these pests away. Keep pets off human bedding as much as possible.
Dry vacuuming doesn't pick up dust mites. Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites. You can buy chemicals (ascaricides) that kill dust mites and that you can use on carpeting and furniture.
The house dust mite excrements are pellets with a diameter of about 10–40 µm. These pellets dry up, decompose into fine dust, float into the air and are inhaled. The size of excrement particles are comparable with an another main source of allergy; Pollen.
Because dust mite particles often become airborne, using an air purifier with a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter can also help remove these and other allergens from the air. If you suffer from allergies and asthma, dust mites can be a major indoor trigger that make your symptoms worse.