Many people believe that their allergies are caused by the mites themselves, but it actually is the dust mite’s excrement that is the real irritant. Dust mite waste contains a protein that is an allergen—a substance that provokes an allergic immune reaction—for many people. Throughout its life a single dust mite may produce as much as 200 times its body weight in waste.

Dust mites have become a trigger for indoor allergies and asthma. In a natural environment, the mites die in the winter and thrive in summer, but this isn’t exactly the case anymore. Due to heaters and humidifiers that keep us comfortable in the winter, the dust mite has found an idyllic habitat, offering year-round warmth and moisture.

Running the air conditioning, as well as de-humidifiers, technically should cut down on house dust mite numbers. This is because a dust mite is 80% water which is absorbed into its body from the air; without moisture, it will become dehydrated and die. The ideal humidity levels to reduce dust mites is somewhere between 45-50%. Keeping temperatures below 70 degrees is also key to reducing your dust mite population.

Most dust mites live in your bedroom—and more specifically, your bed. Why is this? It’s because the microscopic insects feed on dead skin cells, and the place where you slough most of those cells is in bed. While you sleep, you supply the warm, humid environment that attract mite like a magnet. It is reported that 10% of the weight of a two year old mattress is made up of dead mites and their droppings. As the years pass, your mattress will become heavier and heavier due to the buildup of mites and their debris.

So what do you do about it? Start with your bedroom:

• Seal your mattress with a plastic cover or other dust mite impervious cover (“allergy bedding” sheets can make your bed even less hospitable to dust mites).
• Wash bedding in hot water every two weeks (the recommended temperature is 130 degrees) Use synthetic fibers in place of feather or down pillows
• Avoid going to bed with wet hair—dampness + warmth = dust mite heaven
• Keep the temperature in your bedroom around or below 70 degrees with humidity between 45-50% (Humidity gauges can be found in the same section as thermometers at Walmart, Target, etc)
• Run a HEPA quality air cleaner to reduce airborne dust mite proteins

If you are interested in an air cleaner that will do a nice job removing the airborne waste from your bedroom, Dynamic Air Cleaners makes a nice, quiet model called the Dynamic Air Cleaner CT100 which is perfectly sized for bedrooms. Plus, it emits NO ozone, so it is perfectly safe for adults and children alike.

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