Mites are organisms that can survive for a long time, so it’s important to wash your sheets and quilts frequently
Mites are microscopic organisms that live in tissues or other similar surfaces. They mostly accumulate in the bedroom (mattresses and pillows are their favorite places) and can cause allergies and illness. For this reason, today we give you some tips to reduce mites in the home.
What are mites?
They are a subspecies of arachnids and measure no more than one millimeter in length. They grow in diverse habitats and have colonized land and sea spaces, including extreme locations such as deserts, high mountains, and hot springs.
Many mites feed on mosses, leaves, ferns, stems and flowers; others live on crops (parasites).
Some cause allergies to people, others are animal parasites. In the first case, allergies are caused by excrement and dead specimens (which we do not see, but which accumulate in the house).
The mites of the powder can be in any environment and we can inhale without realizing causing us constant allergy and asthma.
They nest in blankets, mattresses, sheets, pillows and can live up to three months. In this period they can lay up to 100 eggs.
The most favorable times of the year for reproduction are autumn and spring.
Dust mite allergy symptoms include:
- A runny nose,
- Sneezing (especially in the morning),
- Nasal congestion,
- Tearing and burning in the eyes,
- Redness of the skin,
- Wheezing.
How to reduce mites in the home
Due to their tiny size, and the fact that they can be present in any part of the house, such as the bed or sofa, many times we don’t realize that they have taken over our home until we start to show the first symptoms. related to their presence.
Cleaning is essential for the prevention of allergies or asthma caused by these organisms.
Here are some tips that can be of great help in reducing mites in the home.
1. Change the sheets regularly
Mites feed mainly on dust and dead skin. While we sleep, we provide these organisms with the right sustenance to be able to reproduce and live.
Try to change sheets and blankets every week or two.
2. Wash at high temperatures
All bedding must be washed with very hot water (about 55 ° C). You can program the washing machine at this temperature.
Use a strong, good quality detergent. We also recommend that you choose products that contain eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil or cedar oil to increase their effectiveness.
- If washing with cold or lukewarm water, in addition to detergent, use fabric bleach.
- Do not mix sheets or blankets with clothing or anything else to prevent the mites from moving from one place to another.
- After washing, you can rinse the washing machine with hot water to completely destroy the parasites .
- To dry your bed kit, leave it in the sun one day and then pass it in the dryer.
3. Vacuum every week
This appliance is not only used to reduce mites present in carpets, but also in the sofa, curtains, chairs (according to their upholstery), in the bed, etc.
In other words, for all those furniture or places where we lie down and where we can leave dead skin cells.
- For the vacuum cleaner to be effective, you will need to equip yourself with double-covered bags with microfilters in order to capture dust particles and mites.
- Remember that vacuuming surfaces does not guarantee the elimination of pathogens and their allergens.
- The good thing is that the dust and particles that mites feed on are reduced. Do not forget to carry out periodic maintenance of the vacuum cleaner to make it work better.
4. Clean with steam
This method is to be used especially if you have carpets. Thanks to the steam, in fact, you will eliminate dirt, but also germs and mites from surfaces and fabrics.
After carrying out this cleaning, try to remove the humidity with dry products as it could create the right environment for the proliferation of bacteria and mites.
- We also advise you not to use dry duvets or cloths as they disperse allergens into the air .
- Ideally, use a damp cloth or brush for dry surfaces.
5. Wash the sheets stored in the drawers
It’s common to store blankets and winter linens when summer begins and then take them back when winter begins.
- Before making the bed with blankets or sheets, we advise you to wash them.
- For as long as they were in the drawer or in a compartment under the bed, the mites multiplied and survived closing.
6. Anti-allergenic pillow cases
On the market you can find anti-allergic, dust-proof pillowcases, made with well-worked fabrics to prevent mites from entering them.
The best cheek pads have a synthetic padding. The best mattresses, on the other hand, are those that contain viscoelastic foam.
7. Say goodbye to stuffed animals and rugs
To reduce mites in the house and prevent them from compromising your health, it is advisable to abolish the surfaces in which they can nest, such as, for example, soft toys and carpets.
We also advise you not to sleep on the sofa to prevent them from proliferating there too and to keep as few objects as possible at home that attract dust.
Minimizing the items that decorate the house could be the key to success. Also, don’t forget to ventilate the rooms at least once a week.
