Dust Mites in Carpet – 10 Facts
We’ve discussed how keeping a clean carpet in your home can greatly increase your quality of life and the health of your family. Dust and dust mites in carpet, upholstery, rugs, and mattresses are responsible for large amounts of harmful allergens in the home. The facts below will show you how prevalent the problem is, and how to combat dust mites where they live!
Top 10 Facts About Dust and Dust Mites in Carpet:
1. The average six-room house carries 40 pounds of dust a year. 2. Up to 2000 dust mites can live on one ounce of carpet!
3. Dust mites like to eat dead skin from pets and humans.
4. The average person can shed enough skin a day to feed a million dust mites.
5. In the spring dust mite problems can turn into infestations and not cleaning correctly can make it worse.
6. The Fall and Winter months are particularly problematic, as we close up our houses and the concentrations of dust mites and their feces increases inside.
7. Dust mites are at their multiplying peak during warm humid weather.
8. Dust mites are not parasites; they don’t bite, sting, or burrow into our bodies. But the harmful allergen they create comes from their fecal pellets and body fragments.
9. Approximately 1o% of Australians exhibit allergic sensitivity to dust mites.
10. Dust mites are a major cause of asthma and allergies; especially for children and the elderly.
Are dust mites causing you problems in your home or business? Let Best carpet clean do some dust mite clean-up for you and give you a fresh start!
Call us today 0424 994 922
Dust mites like to eat dead skin from pets and humans and the average person can shed enough skin a day to feed a million dust mites. In the spring, dust mite problems can turn into infestations, and not cleaning correctly can make it worse. The fall and winter months are particularly problematic because we close up our houses and the concentrations of dust mites and their feces increases inside.
Dust mites are not parasites; they don’t bite, sting, or burrow into our bodies BUT the harmful allergen created by their fecal matter and body fragments leads to poor air quality in our homes. Our carpets act as filters in our homes and just
like any other filter, it’s necessary to have a regular cleaning schedule.
Avoiding exposure to dust mites is the best strategy for controlling dust mite allergy. While you can’t eliminate dust mites from your home, you can significantly reduce their number. Here’s how:
Use allergen-proof bed covers
Keep your mattress and pillows in dust-proof or allergen-blocking covers. These covers, made of tightly-woven fabric, prevent dust mites from colonizing or escaping from the mattress or pillows. Encase box springs in allergen-proof covers.
Wash bedding weekly
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and bed covers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can’t be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites. Then wash and dry the bedding to remove allergens. Freezing non-washable items for 24 hours also can kill dust mites, but this won’t remove the allergens.
Keep humidity low
Maintain a relative humidity below 50 percent in your home. A dehumidifier or air conditioner can help keep humidity low, and a hygrometer (available at hardware stores) can measure humidity levels.
Choose your bedding wisely
Avoid bed covers that trap dust easily and are difficult to clean frequently.
Buy washable stuffed toys
Wash them often in hot water and dry thoroughly. Also, keep stuffed toys off beds.
Remove dust don’t just push it around
Use a damp or oiled mop or rag rather than dry materials, such as feather dusters, to clean up the dust. This prevents dust from becoming airborne and resettling.
Vacuum regularly
Vacuuming carpeting and upholstered furniture will remove surface dust, but vacuuming isn’t effective at removing most dust mites and dust mite allergens. Use a vacuum cleaner with a double-layered microfilter bag or a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to help decrease house-dust emissions from the cleaner. If your allergies are severe, stay out of the area being vacuumed while someone else does the work. Wait about two hours before going back into the vacuumed room.
Reduce clutter
If it collects dust, it also collects dust mites. Remove knickknacks, tabletop ornaments, books, magazines and
newspapers from around the house, especially in your bedroom.
Install a high-efficiency media filter in your furnace and air conditioning unit
Look for a filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 11 or 12 and leave the fan on to create a whole-house air filter. Be sure to change the filter every three months.
Have your carpets professionally cleaned at least once per year
Hot Water Extraction carpet cleaning (a.k.a. Steam Cleaning) is recommended a minimum of once a year and even quarterly for those that suffer from allergies, asthma, or eczema. At Best carpet clean we ensure only the best approach and safest methods to eliminate the issue at the source! We look forward to hearing from you.
Call us today 0424 994 922
