We Know: All About Dust Mites What Are Dust Mites? Dust mites (dermatophagoides farinae ) are microscopic-sized (1/100th of an inch) arthropods that typically live in human-inhabited homes. They thrive especially well in a fully-carpeted, well-insulated home with lots of fluffy bedding and upholstery. Dust mites live by eating shed human skin cells; each of us sheds enough skin each day to feed about a million dust mites. And by living in our bedding, mites get plenty of moisture from our perspiration, respiration, and saliva. None of this would be really bad if it were not for the fact that dust mites are also the most significant cause of allergies and asthma inside your home. A protein called DerP1 found in mite feces is a primary cause of allergic reactions. How Do I Get Rid Of Dust Mites? It's next to impossible to avoid having dust mites, unless you live in Antarctica. It is, however, possible to mostly eliminate them from your home. Do not waste time or money on cleaning ducts to get rid of them; they live in the chairs, beds, and carpet of your home, where they can find shed skin easily. HEPA filters on ducts and air conditioners is likely to hurt rather than help, as they prevent mites from being sucked into the ducts where they will die. The absolute most important thing to do is to clean regularly as follows. Vacuum regularly and use a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner Dust surfaces regularly with a damp cloth, so you don't just fan the dust into the air. Replace carpet with vinyl, wood, or tile flooring. Cover mattresses and pillows with plastic or other impervious coverings. You can also try hypoallergenic pillows. Wash all bedding in hot water at least twice a week until you have mites under control, and then switch to once a week. Put stuffed animals and other plush toys in a freezer during the day to kill larvae. Use chemicals to kill the mites. Tannic acid is effective; you can talk to your doctor about how to get it. Use a fungicide to kill Aspergillus, a fungus the mites depend on to predigest food. Use a good FDA-approved air filtration system in your home. Reduce humidity in your home to below 70% to kill Aspergillus. Running an air conditioner can also help. Use plastic shades instead of cloth drapes or curtains. And eliminate all cloth wall hangings.
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