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Dust Mites

Common Name Scientific Name TESTIMONIAL
"Thank you. We seem to be rid of the Bed Bugs
and the roaches also. HH - California
American House Dust Mite Dermatophagoides farinae
European House Dust Mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

It is an established fact that dust mites can be found in house dust all over the world. Dust mites are not insects but are more closely related to spiders and ticks. There are two common dust mites, the American house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) and the European house dust mite (D. pteronyssinus). Due to their very small size, these dust mites are not visible to the naked eye.

They pass through six developmental stages, and the adult form may also moult once. Adult female mites lay cream-coloured elliptical eggs coated with a sticky fluid that helps them adhere to the substrate. Under optimal conditions, the cycle from egg to adult mite takes about one month.

Both species of house dust mites feed on human skin scales, pollen, fungi, bacteria, lepidopteran (moth and butterfly) scales, animal dander, and skin scales of birds. Human, cat, dog, and horse dander have been used to raise these species in a laboratory. Dust mites do not drink free water, but they absorb water fro the air and the environment. The food consumption of these mites and development increases at higher relative humidities. Mites survive best at relative humidities of 70-80% and temperatures of 75-80 degrees F. House dust mites do not survive well at low relative humidities.

They live in bedding, couches, carpet, stuffed toys and old clothing. Dust mites feed on the dead skin that falls off the bodies of humans and animals and on other organic material found where they live. Though these mites live in many homes, only people who are allergic to them know they are there. Dust mites are second only to pollen in causing allergic reactions. When dust mites grow, they shed their skin. The shed skin and faeces are what cause allergic reactions in people. Allergic reactions range from itchy noses and eyes to severe asthma attacks.

Eliminating dust mites from your home is virtually impossible, there are several actions you can take to reduce their numbers and neutralize their threat.

Wash Bedding Regularly

A bed a perfect habitat for dust mites to prosper. Additionally, the flakes of dead skin which humans shed during the night become ideal food sources for these little pests. Dust mites die in extremely hot temperatures. Putting your bed sheets through a 140°F (60°C) wash is usually enough to kill them and remove their faecal matter and skin particles. If you have a tumble dryer, put the sheets through a hot-cycle until they are fully dry. The heat from the dryer should take care of any mites that survived the wash. Try to do this on a weekly basis to keep dust mite population to a minimum. In between your weekly wash using Kleen Green spray daily as a mist over the bedding and sheets will eliminate dust mites and fungus and mould the dust mite feeds upon.

Use an Anti-Allergy Mattress and Mattress Cover

Estimates as to how many dust mites live in an average mattress vary wildly from 10'000 to over a million. even the cleanest of mattresses are teeming with microscopic dust mites it just is not possible to make a mattress completely dust mite free. But you can take a few measures to ensure that mite populations are kept low, and their faeces and decaying body matter are kept away from your body.

Investing in a hypoallergenic mattress or, anti-allergen mattress protector. A mattress protector acts as a barrier between yourself and the mattress, preventing your body moisture and skin from dropping for dust mites to feed upon. The mattress protector stops dust mite allergens from infiltrating your sleeping area.

Do not make your bed in the morning

Best results would be to not make beds first thing in the morning. Instead, give your duvet and bed cover a good airing. This gives the moisture excreted from our bodies time to dry. Dust mites need moisture and obtain water from the moisture and humidity within the bed.

Get Rid of Mites out of Feather Pillows and Duvets.

You can spend eight hours each day with your face resting on your pillow which needs to be soft, comfortable, and free of allergens. Traditional feather pillows and duvets are not suitable and difficult to wash, providing an ideal home for dust mites. Hypoallergenic synthetic pillows and duvets instead. Wash on the temperature of 60c or above and dry in a hot dryer as hot as is possible for killing mites.

Carpets with Hard Flooring

Like beds and soft furnishings, carpets are a paradise for dust mites. Carpets trap dead skin and pet dander which the mites feed on. Ideally, replace them with hard floorings such as linoleum, laminate or tile. This is one of the most effective ways of instantly getting rid of dust mites. Hard flooring eliminates their most fertile breeding ground. If getting rid of your carpets is impractical or too costly before you vacuum use Borax ( only use if you have pet or Bicarbonate of soda to cleanse odours and eradicate the dust mite repeat regularly –

Habits and Habitats

Dust mites do not live in air ducts in homes. Many people spend much time and money cleaning the air ducts to reduce dust mites. This is not necessary because dust mites need about 70 per cent relative humidity or higher to live, and they need food. Areas where people spend much time, like a bed or a favourite plush chair, are prime sites for dust mites. The top part of mattresses containing fibrous material is a favourite place for dust mites during warm and humid times. The deeper parts of mattresses may provide protected areas for the dust mites during unfavourable conditions. Clothing is used by dust mites as a means of transportation from room to room or even from house to house.

They pass through six developmental stages and the adult form may also moult once. Adult female mites lay cream-coloured elliptical eggs coated with a sticky fluid that helps them adhere to the substrate. Under optimal conditions, the cycle from egg to adult mite takes about one month.

Both species of house dust mites feed on human skin scales, pollen, fungi, bacteria, lepidopteron (moth and butterfly) scales, animal dander, and skin scales of birds. Human, cat, dog, and horse dander have been used to raise these species in a laboratory. Dust mites do not drink free water, but they absorb water from the air and the environment. The food consumption of these mites and development increases at higher relative humidity. Mites survive best at a relative humidity of 70-80% and temperatures of 27-30C. House dust mites do not survive well at a low relative humidity.

They live in bedding, couches, carpet, stuffed toys and old clothing. Dust mites feed on the dead skin that falls off the bodies of humans and animals and on other organic material found where they live. Though these mites live in many homes, only people who are allergic to them know they are there. Dust mites are second only to pollen in causing allergic reactions. When dust mites grow, they shed their skin. The shed skin and faeces are what cause allergic reactions in people. Allergic reactions range from itchy noses and eyes to severe asthma attacks.

Dust mites do not live in air ducts in homes. Many people spend much time and money cleaning the air ducts to reduce dust mites. This is not necessary because dust mites need about 70% relative humidity or higher to live and they need food. Areas where people spend much time, like a bed or a favourite plush chair, are prime sites for dust mites. The top part of mattresses containing fibrous material is a favourite place for dust mites during warm and humid times. The deeper parts of mattresses may provide protected areas for the dust mites during unfavourable conditions. Clothing is used by dust mites as a means of transportation from room to room or even from house to house.

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