Indoor allergies can be just as bad as or worse than outdoor/pollen allergies. One of the most highly allergy producing materials indoors is dust and dust is usually made up quite densely of dust mites and their skins and feces. While most homes are unfortunately laden with dust mites, not everyone is affected. But many people do have allergies to dust mites, and the byproducts not only affect the body to cause allergic reactions, but can also severely exacerbate asthma reactions. It is important to keep the dust and dust mite count as low as possible, thought this can be a daunting task.

Dust mites live in places where people and animals are. They feed off the dead skin that is sloughed off from each of us as part of the body’s natural system. Therefore, the mites thrive in places like beds and sofas. The numbers of mites that a normal household may contain are staggering, but beyond that is the difficulty to rid the house of them completely.

It’s not only a matter of keeping the house clean, but also in the way in which it’s done. It’s not enough to change bedding frequently, but it must be washed in the hot cycles (140 F +) of the washing machine. Any pillows and stuffed animals need to be treated efficiently as well. Whereas it’s harder to wash these things, they can be put on a high dryer cycle for at least 20 minutes regularly. It also may be a good idea to eliminate extraneous items on the bed if you or someone in the family is allergic (in other words, keep the decorative pillows and stuffed animals to a bare minimum). If your child needs something to sleep with, try to use a washable “blankie” instead of a stuffed or plush toy.

A good barrier to keep the mites out of the mattress (where they love to be) is to use a good hypoallergenic mattress pad. The kinds that can be wiped down are best and the more frequently these are cleaned, the better. Pillows can also be covered in this type of case to keep the mites out of the pillows.

Sofas and chairs are harder to clean, so leather or non fabric upholstery is a good choice if possible. Also hard wood floors are easier to clean than carpet, therefore, the dust and dust mite problem will be easier to handle. Hardwoods in the bedroom would be most effective, as most of the mites live in the bedroom.

The mites thrive not only where people are, but also in warm, humid environments. Along with the above cleaning tips, dehumidifiers and keeping the house below 70 F degrees may help in the difficult battle against dust mites.

- Heather Legg

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