What are dust mites?

Dust mites are pests that are commonly found on mattresses, upholstered furniture, bedding, curtains and carpets. They are also known as the microscopic relatives of the spider, and they usually feed on the flakes of the skin that pets and people shed daily and they thrive in humid or warm environments.

So, no matter how clean your home is, these pests cannot be entirely eliminated. However, there are several methods you can use to reduce their numbers and we will discuss them all in this article.

What causes dust mites infestations, and where are they likely to live?

The leading cause of dust mite infestations are skin cells and scales, which are commonly called dander and are often found in mattresses, used furniture and carpeted areas. Dust mites eat these dead skin cells which both people and pets leave behind.

In fact, the human sloughs off 1/3 ounce of dead skin a week, and these give dust mites a lot of food to eat. Not to mention the dogs and cats that can shed off a lot more dander, which is another food supply for dust mites.

So, a typical mattress can contain millions of dust mites, and they can even cover one square yard of carpet in your home. These pests can cause a wide range of reactions like itchy eyes, wide variety of allergies, and asthma attacks.

What to do about dust mites

There are several preventive strategies to reduce the number of dust mites in your home, and these will include the following:

• Dust mites dwell in humid environments, so you can use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to at least maintain the humidity to about 50% or below.
• You can also encase your mattress and pillows with dust-proof covers since this is an effective way to prevent dust mite infestation.
• You should also wash all your bedding and blankets in hot water to kill dust mites. It is recommended that you do this once a week.
• For feathered or wool bedding, it is an option replace them with synthetic materials that can repel dust mites.
• You can also use a damp mop to remove dust, but never use a dry cloth since it can stir up mite allergens.
• It’s also recommended that you regularly vacuum your furniture and any carpeted areas in your home. It’s a must to use a double-layered microfilter bag since it can trap all allergens that pass the vacuum’s exhaust.
• You could try a leather couch if you are in need of a new one. Dust mites have a hard time thriving on leather upholstery and other harder surfaces.

So when your furniture, carpet or mattress gets dirty with stubborn stains or dust mites, you have two options: you can either replace it with a new one or call in a professional cleaner that can properly sanitise it. The first option is not the most recommended way to deal with this situation since it’s a bit costly.

However, the second option is viable and cost-effective, since a reliable mattress or carpet cleaner like Super-Clean PRO can completely restore your investments without spending money on a replacement.