published 25 July 2018
The horrors of dust mites and what you can do about it.
You will be surprised to find that dust mites live in every area of your home. Common household furniture such as couches, mattresses, carpets and curtains are known to house thousands of these invaders. Worst of all, these microscopic horror bugs eat dead flesh and skin and create nasty allergens that can trigger allergic reactions and skin disorders.
While male dust mites can live up to a maximum of three weeks, females can survive up to eighty days in your furniture. In that time, each female can lay up to 100 eggs. This means dust mites can spread and infect your home at an exponential rate.
Studies have found that the allergens that dust mites leave behind are strongly linked to asthma. The allergens have also been found to trigger many other kinds of symptoms. What causes these triggers are actually the feces of dust mites – not actually the dust mites themselves. Yes, that means thousands of people are breathing in dust mite poo.
To discover the kinds of health risks dust mites pose and how you can rid your home of these pests, read on.
Health Risks
Breathing in a load of dust mite feces is harmful and can lead to allergic reactions such as:
​
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Eczema outbreaks
How to Kill Dust Mites
Unfortunately, dust mites are almost impossible to remove completely, which is why we provided a list of ways to control the spread of dust mites. However, it is still possible to kill as many of these pests as you can with natural bug sprays, as many commercial products may contain other chemical allergens.
​
Methods to control dust mites
1. Clean bedding regularly
Dust mites are going to live where food is plenty. And there’s a lot of dead skin in and on your bed. Our beds are where we spend half the time, which means both adults and children are breathing in a lot of allergens through the night. Make sure you clean your bedding and sheets regularly with hot water to properly kill mites and remove feces. It’s important to also remember to rotate your beds frequently to control for dust mite collection. Better yet, you can purchase dust mite mattresses/covers to protect against an alien invasion.
2. Clean carpets and rugs
Carpets and rugs are rife with dust mites and many other allergens. If removing them isn’t an option, clean them frequently. The HYLA EST is an efficient water based filtration vacuum with an innovative separator technology that traps dust mites and dirt in water so they don’t escape back into your home.
3. Control humidity and air
Dust mites thrive and populate under warm and humid environments. Leaving your air conditioner on helps to keep an area below 70 degrees, lowering humidity levels, but this comes at a huge electrical cost. You’ll be better off purchasing a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels low. Better yet, get one with a deodorizer and air purifier function to keep your air free from other airborne harmful allergens. The HYLA EST water vacuum was designed not only to clean carpets and surfaces but to release clean, fresh air back into your home.
Here are 2 dust mite repellents:
Essential oils such as eucalyptus oil have been found to kill dust mites. Place about two drops into your laundry to disinfect linens, clothes and sheets from mites. Others, such as HYLA’s natural balsamic essences, freshen up your home with aromatic scents and helps battle the effects of dust mite allergens in the air.
Tannic acid is a plant-based, weak acid that denatures (breaks down) the proteins of cat allergens and dust mites.