Tips for getting rid of dust mites in homes

House dust mites are microscopic arachnids found in homes all over the world. Their average life cycle is between 65 and 100 days, and during this period, they will produce approximately 2,000 fecal pellets and secrete even more proteins through their saliva – both of which can cause allergies and affect your health.

Dust mite allergens are the most relevant triggers of allergic diseases worldwide, and extensive exposure in early childhood to indoor allergens, including house dust mites, has been associated with asthma.

Northern Hemisphere
During the period from May to October, the dust mite breeding season occurs when the female species lays between 60-100 eggs. This means that the number of dust mites in your home increases and the concentration of allergens in your home could be high. But although dust mites die in the winter, they leave behind the allergens they produce, including droppings, body parts and saliva.

“With the colder weather in the UAE, we tend to spend more of our time moving around inside and outside our homes, which increases the diversity of the microbial landscape in our homes, which means there is a greater range of allergens and bacteria,” says Jim McLucky, chief research scientist in microbiology at Dyson. “And viruses in our dust.”

Moreover, the dust is light enough to be airborne. When we turn on our HVAC systems, drafts can move dust mite droppings and allergens around the air in our home, which is why many people with dust mite allergies worsen indoor symptoms.

Jim McLuckie added: “The beginning of fall is the perfect time to reset the dust levels in your home, removing dust and allergens to support your health. In fact, cleaning in the fall is just as important as cleaning in the spring, as removing excess skin flakes in your home reduces “The food source provided to dust mites, which means their reproduction rate is stabilized during the dust mite season.”

Nourish the skin
Dust mites feed mainly on dander or dead skin cells left behind by humans and animals. On average, humans shed 2 grams of skin per day, and even more at night as friction from bedding causes dead cells to shed. They can also get the nutrients they need from other household waste, such as fish food, fungi, and food scraps.

“Wherever you spend the most time and shed skin, you’re likely to find dust mites, and we spend a third of our lives in our beds. In fact, most of us probably sleep in a bed full of dust mite droppings,” Jim McLuckie continued.

In fact, there can be millions of dust mites on a single mattress.

Jim added: “It is also common to find more mites in the beds and furnishings of people who suffer from dry skin, as the discarded skin cells reduce the fat content, which is the preferred meal for dust mites.”

House dust mites thrive in warm, humid and dark conditions, especially when humidity levels are around 70% and temperatures rise above 25°C. This means that areas where we sweat, breathe, and share our body heat are ideal homes for mites. Sofas, mattresses, pet beds and other soft furnishings are breeding grounds for dust mites, especially in their breeding season. But there are other daily tasks that can have an impact, too.

“Few mites can survive at humidity levels below 45%, but even raising humidity levels for an hour and a half a day can help house dust mites survive,” Jim said. Cooking a meal or taking a hot shower can Easily maintain high humidity levels in your home.

Impact on safety
Jim stressed: “Dust mites are not dangerous, as their harmful allergens come from proteins found in their droppings and body debris. This can have a significant impact on the safety of individuals who live in homes with dust mite colonies.”

Many of us may be familiar with runny noses, watery eyes and scratchy throats after moving old, dusty clothes, which may be a mild reaction to dust mite allergens. But the effect can be more serious in some individuals.

Tests positive for dust mite allergy are extremely common among people with asthma, types of dermatitis, and recurrent sinus infections. Studies also show that exposure to high levels of dust mites, especially early in life, increases the risk of mite allergy and asthma as well.

Tips
“At Dyson, we grow our own dust mites so we can collect their droppings,” explains Jim. “This means we can learn more about dust mite allergens and understand how our vacuums can best remove them from your home, and we can also learn a thing or two about conditions.” in which they thrive.”

1. Starve the dust mites – Reducing the amount of skin cell debris in your home can limit the primary food source for dust mites, and prevent them from multiplying exponentially during dust mite season. Vacuum your mattress on both sides with an advanced filtration system, as well as your sofa and other furnishings.

2. Control humidity levels – Dust mites humidify themselves by absorbing water from the air, so keeping relative humidity levels below 45% at room temperature11 will kill most of them. Air your bedding and blankets frequently, as well as ventilate your home or use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Use an exhaust fan after showering or while cooking as well. Even raising humidity levels for an hour and a half a day can help house dust mites survive.

3. Control temperature – Dust mites thrive at temperatures of up to 25°C, so be sure to vacuum the warmer areas of your home frequently to control dust mite levels, such as pet baskets, sofas or mattresses. Washing bedding or other soft furnishings at 60-90°C will also break down allergens.

4. Top tips – Don’t forget that dust mites and their droppings are microscopic particles. If you can see dust in your home, dust mites may already be thriving.