OTR friend, Lauren Brown of Maid Brigade, is back with tips on how to deal with dust mites.
I’ll admit, it’s pretty gross. Dust mites feed off of dead skin cells and as long as there are humans and their furry friends in the mix, there will be an abundant and constant food supply for dust mites. They can create allergic reactions and trigger asthma attacks, but, fortunately, there are things you can do to get rid of them.
Key Problem Areas in Your Home
Dust mites will congregate close to the feast, i.e., where already-shed skin cells are concentrated. Textiles trap dead skin cells. Mattresses, pillows, linens, carpet and rugs, drapes, upholstered furniture, towels and plush toys can harbor dust mites. Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites. Your mattress may house between one million and ten million of them. It is estimated that one ounce of dust can house 42,000 dust mites.
What You Can Do
- Bedding
Vacuum mattresses on 5 sides as often as you can but at least monthly for the allergy sufferer.- Use a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum to remove 99.9% of all particles 1 micron or greater.
- Flip mattresses every 3 months and vacuum all 6 sides when you flip.
- Launder linens and covers in water that is 130° F or hotter to kill dust mites.
- Vacuum the pillows as often as weekly, and launder in water that is 130° F or hotter every 3 months (organic) or replace every 6 months (synthetic).
- Direct sunlight kills dust mites. On sunny days (winter and summer), hang blankets and covers outside on the clothes line. Leave the beds unmade and open the window dressings during the day.
- Carpet & Rugs
- Vacuum your carpet and rugs with a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum at least weekly, or every few days in the rooms where an asthma or allergy sufferer spends most of his or her time.
- Drapes
- Vacuum your curtains with a specialized HEPA filter closed-canister vacuum at least monthly, but more often in the bedroom of an asthma/allergy sufferer.
- Beneath the Bed
- Dust mites like dark places. Be sure to vacuum under the bed frequently. Doing so will also reduce an abundant food source for moths.
About the Author
Lauren Brown is the Grass Roots Marketing Specialist with Maid Brigade. Lauren has been with Maid Brigade for three years, educating the community on the importance of going green for the health of the environment and our families. She emphasizes the value of using safer alternatives and how easy and affordable it can be to go green!
Maid Brigade is a residential cleaning service that uses only Green Seal certified cleaning solutions and green methods to clean homes. This ensures a safer work environment for their employees and a safer, healthier home for their clients.
Loading ...