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| Protective Measures | Everybody knows that one of the most common causes of indoor allergy symptoms is the house dust mite. Approximately 85% of asthma cases, eczema and hay fever too, are caused by the fecal matter and cast-off skins of these little critters. These allergy triggers are plentiful in almost all homes, with infestations prevalent in bedrooms and in bedding. There is good news – you can take some protective measures to at least limit your exposure to dust mite populations and to decrease their effect in the home.
 Put your mattress and pillows in a zippered hypoallergenic allergen barrier. They block any particles larger than 1 micron in size and that fully encases the mattress and pillow. Performing this will remove new mites from populating these areas. Besides, dust mites that are already living there will be locked in.
At least once a week, wash your sheets in very hot water. The water should be at least 130°F. In case if your bedding is made of fabrics that cannot be washed in hot water, you can put it in the freezer for one or two days. This will efficiently destroy dust mites. As for blankets and mattress pads – you should wash them every 2 to 4 weeks.
Control the temperature in your home – in your bedroom it should be below 70°F if possible and the humidity below 50%. You should perform that because dust mites flourish in warm, moist climates. You will allow your sheets to dry out after nighttime perspiration by leaving them unmade each morning. Moreover, this will keep the bed cooler because less heat will be trapped beneath the sheets. Additionally, dust mites are photophobic, it means that they afraid of the light so are less likely to settle in an unmade bed exposed to sunlight.
You should also entirely cover your box springs and their comforters or duvets with allergen barrier revetments as dust mites can fill up these two areas as well.
While revetments hold dust mites back from entering your mattress and pillows, allergens and dust may still collect on the surface. It is significant to wipe down revetments each time that you change your sheets or remove them to be washed. Wash your revetments in hot water every 8 weeks or so.
While vacuum always look beneath your bed and mattress. Damp mop any hard flooring and use a damp rag to dust. Sweeping a dry floor may only shake up dust and allergens.
Remove carpeting, particularly in the bedroom, and spread with hardwood flooring. Change drapes and cloth blinds into wood or vinyl blinds. If you like better to have carpeting, take care to vacuum weekly.
Dust mites also consume the dead skin cells that Fido and FiFi exfoliate, and pet dander itself is yet another common allergen trigger that impacts many people. If you or your children suffer from allergies or asthma, don’t allow cats or dogs or any other pets in the bedroom.
Wash children’s soft-cloth toys in 130°F water if possible, if they are non-washable put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill off dust mites.
Not only can cigarette and fireplace smoke be carcinogenic, they also can make worse any respiratory condition. Don’t smoke in the house and if you have a fireplace in your bedroom, don’t use it.
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