Dust mite allergy is one of the most common allergies all around the world. Unfortunately, in squeaky clean countries like Singapore, people are more prone to dust mite allergies and dust mite induced asthma. If you are wondering how to get rid of dust mites, keep reading. Firstly…
Why are we allergic to dust mites?
The excreta of dust mites contain a type of protein to which the human skin is quite sensitive. The body regards this protein as an antigen and therefore reacts to it in a violent way.
A brief exposure to these dust mites may leave you with more than just a passing bout of sneezing.
As a parent of a young child, I have had my tryst with dust allergies. The first time my son started to sneeze, I passed it off as a single isolated event but the sneezing didn’t just stop there. Week after week, his sneezing continued. Even though I tried to keep my house as clean as possible, there’s no telling from where dust would come in and settle down.
Unfortunately it is easier to deal with insects like ants and cockroaches as compared to dust mites.
You can trace larger insects and eliminate them but since dust mites are so darn tiny, it is almost impossible to see them, much less kill them. Even the cleanest of houses may be home to these invisible dust mites. As these dust mites multiply, their droppings and carcasses also increase, eventually becoming air borne.
How to get rid of dust mites?
I recently stumbled across an excellent research paper from KK Children’s Hospital. While the paper did not really list how to eliminate dust mites, it was an excellent resource for those who want to learn more about persistent respiratory problems. After I read the paper, I began to wonder how to get rid of dust mites in my home.
The first step is to cut down the proliferation of these mites and the single most effective way to do that is to control the environment of your house.
Start by cutting off their food and water supplies. Clean, clean, clean, especially your children’s bedrooms. Yeah, cleaning sucks, but so does wheezing! Don’t forget to clean aircon vents too. And make it a point to vacuum stuff toys and keep bookshelves and fan blades clean and dust free.
Open your windows and doors daily for some time to let in sunlight. Remember, sunlight is an extremely potent natural disinfectant and can help kill dust mites in a completely safe and natural manner.
Keep allergy proof covers on your mattresses and pillows. Dust mites feed on dead skin cells from the human body. The allergy proof covers help keep a check on the number of dust mites that reside in your bed linen.
Wash your linen regularly. It is important to wash your linen in hot water because cold water may not be able to kill most of them. Alternatively, you can get your linen and mattresses dry cleaned periodically.
A slightly more expensive way to keep your house free of dust mites is to use an air purifier. Though they can get on your nerves because of their low drone, they are a necessary evil in households where members have respiratory sensitivities.
Have you made changes in your home that eliminated the constant battle against dust? Share your tips on how to get rid of dust mites with us below!
