Dust Mite BeddingHave you ever thought about dust mite bedding? My daughter Amy had never thought about it until she did some research and realized that her daughter Phoebe, who is allergic to peanuts, is also allergic to dust mites. The mites are so small that you can't even see them. But once you realize that you or your child is allergic to them, things can be done to protect against the little rascals. Dust mites are microscopic, and as many as 1,000 of them can fit on one gram of dust. It is easy to understand how a dust mite infestation can occur with such statistics. They love warm, humid conditions with a good food supply and they find their Utopia on our beds; a place where tens of thousands of mites congregate. Tossing and turning, our skin chafes against the sheets numerous times every night as we sleep; our hair rubs over the pillow with every roll. In any given minute of any day, humans shed up to 40,000 dead epidermal cells; one can only guess how much more so must be discarded through nighttime movement. All of these skin cells provide a plethora of meal opportunities for the tiny mite. As they feast, they are also excreting feces that contain a protein which creates an allergen for many people. Your protection from this small creature is dust mite bedding.
On an average bedroom mattress, there are hundreds of millions of these nasty and microscopic creatures that crawl all over your body and even enter your respiratory system. One thing you probably didn't know is that dust mites do not have an internal digestive tract like we humans do - all the food processing happens on the outside. Enzymes (their feces) excreted by these microscopic creatures are deposited on the dust particles and skin flakes we drop. The enzymes then breaks down these particles and make it easy for the dust mites to eat. We then breathe in these particles which are the main causes of allergies such as asthma as well as other breathing problems. Another reason for
dust mite bedding.
Allergies caused by these microscopic creatures can range from mild allergic rhinitis to severe asthma attacks. Extreme exposure cases have reported a red rash around the neck, arms or legs. The allergy will result in a very itchy rash that appears as a red bump. Some liken the rash to having the appearance of eczema and it is quite often that people are misdiagnosed. Some also have additional reactions such as difficulty breathing and eventually asthmatic reactions. Regular cleaning of the places they can be found can make a real difference in the number of dust mites in your home. The only effective method of controlling them is to focus on microscopic dust control. A high efficient particulate air (HEPA) vacuum is the primary weapon for effective cleaning of all areas which they can be found. Here are some other great ways to control dust mites in your house: 1. In the bedroom, encase your pillow and mattress with dust mite bedding.
2. Wash all bed linens in hot water (130 degrees F) weekly.
3. Use fitted sheets to help keep dust off the mattress covers.
4. Replace feather and down pillows with synthetic filled alternatives.
5. Keep stuffed toys off beds and discard stuffed toys for children with asthma conditions.
6. Make sure that your hair is dry before going to bed since the moisture may attract dust mites.
7. Keep blankets enclosed in allergy free bags or covers when not in use.
8. Thoroughly vacuum all upholstered furniture and carpeting weekly with a HEPA cleaning device.
9. Limit the use of a humidifier unless needed for other health reasons.
10. Maintain a dry environment in your bedroom especially if it is directly connected to a bathroom.
11. Wash all curtains and window coverings on a monthly basis.
12. Purchase a quality Relative Humidity (RH) meter and attempt to keep RH levels below 50 percent. Central air conditioning is effective at lowering RH in the warmer months.
13. Use a pleated high efficient filter in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to control dust. Avoid all filters which are sold as "washable".
14. Utilize a HEPA air purifier in bedrooms and heavily used rooms.
15. Choose hardwood and laminate flooring in place of heavy pile carpets
16. Wipe surfaces with a clean, damp cloth, as dry dusting will help to spread the dust mites further
Dust mite bedding is a barrier that prevents dust mites from making their home in mattresses, pillows, or even on the box springs. It also prevents any number of dust mites that have already gone into the bedding from escaping and causing allergy problems. The materials used to make covers are impregnable for dust mites at any cases, thus it can be used as a shield to protect any symptoms.
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