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An astonishing four out of five homes have dust mite infestations. It’s no wonder that there are so many people having asthma attacks and catching other sicknesses. More than 50 percent of asthma sufferers can attribute their symptoms to dust mites. There are three types of dust mites: “American”, “European” and Euroglyphus maynei Dust mites and the other 30 thousand varieties of mites are arachnids. Approximately 100 thousand mites can live in a square yard of carpet.
Signs of a dust mite infestation include:
• Coughing
• Facial pressure
• Blue-looking skin under the eyes
• Congestion
• Sneezing
• Itchy, red and watery eyes
• Difficulty in breathing
• Skin irritations
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People aren’t directly allergic to dust mites, but they are allergic to their fecal matter, skin castings and some of the proteins that dust mites carry. The typical allergic response is asthmatic-like. People with asthma will have problems with dust mites. Common reactions to dust mites include restricted airways.
Allergic reactions can harm the body. People tend to dismiss allergies because they believe that they’re common. Allergies are common, but it doesn’t mean that they don’t impact the body. The immune system goes into overtime to rid the body of allergens. The immune system attacks these allergens, which are foreign bodies, in the same way, it would attack a virus or a bacteria. This decreases the efficiency of the immune system, and this can make the body more susceptible to other types of sicknesses. Beyond this, people with allergies are constantly fatigued and need rest as a result.
Dust mites are extremely problematic. What makes them difficult to treat is that they are nearly invisible to the naked eye, they are resilient, and they multiply at a fast rate. If thorough methods of eradication are not followed, they will continue to be a nuisance.
Dust mites commonly live in mattresses, bedding, furniture upholstery, and carpet. They live off of skin cells from humans and animals and can absorb moisture from the air. Keeping the home clean and dry are helpful in treating and preventing dust mite infestations.
Vacuuming is helpful, but a vacuum cleaner must have a HEPA filter in order to contain the dust mites. Vacuum cleaners that don’t have HEPA filters release dust mites back into the air. However, it can be difficult to thoroughly remove dust mites through vacuuming alone. This is especially true for pillows, mattresses, and carpet.
It is recommended to wash the areas where dust mites live with water that is 130 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. Temperatures that are less than this are not effective at killing dust mites. It is difficult to wash mattresses and carpets, so steam is recommended to treat these surfaces. However, they need to be dried quickly as moisture can allow and encourage future dust mites to flourish.
Dust mites cannot thrive in extremely cold conditions either. Placing items in the freezer, such as stuffed toys or pillows, for a day, will kill dust mites, but these items will have to be cleaned in the washer to wash away the dead dust mites and their debris because they can still cause allergic reactions.
There are chemicals that will kill dust mites, but a natural solution can be made that does not impose any harm to humans. A natural spray that kills and repels dust mites can be made from distilled water and eucalyptus oil. Use 15 to 30 drops of eucalyptus oil per two cups of distilled water. Shake the solution and spray directly onto bedding and other areas dust mites can live, such as curtains. This should be done three times in a week to eradicate all the dust mites in the home. Eucalyptus oil is an excellent solution because it kills mites, but it does not harm humans.
Test kits can be used to determine if a home is infested with dust mites. However, if asthma sufferers and others with allergies experience the previously listed dust mite infestation signs, it’s highly likely that a home is infested with them. They can multiply at an alarming rate. Females can lay around 80 eggs, which hatch in a relatively short time. It’s best the thoroughly treat the home with regular dusting, vacuuming, washing and spraying to prevent additional infestations.
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