Dust Mites Might be causing those “allergies”

Dust mites are microscopic, however, they can cause big problems for people who are sensitive to them and their waste.  According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, for persons allergic to dust mite allergen, exposure can cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever), which is characterized by nasal congestion, itching, and sneezing.  Exposure to dust mites can trigger an attack in an asthmatic who is sensitive to the dust mite allergen. (Other asthmatics may not be affected by dust mites.) In addition, exposure to dust mites may cause children who are predisposed to develop asthma to do so.

I took some steps several years ago to help combat a nightly stuffy nose.  After recognizing that my breathing problems in bed might be caused by dust mites, I:

• Added mattress, boxspring and pillow encasements to my bed

• Bought a humidity sensor and monitored it keep the humidity below 60% (ideally below 55% because they thrive in humid environments, ranging from 55% to 75% relative humidity) (Dust Mites)

• Removed the carpet and replaced it with LVT (luxury vinyl tile, or planks)

These steps (the second and third took more time and money than the first) made significant progress in keeping me breathing through my nose without difficulty at night.  However, there’s another “maintenance” aspect to keep the population down: regular washing of bedding.   A microbiologist explains that there's an optimal schedule for washing/replacing everything on your bed to avoid overgrowth of not just dust mites, but bacteria and fungi too.  Here's the breakdown:

Sheets and pillowcases

• When: Weekly, or every three to four days if you've been ill, sweat heavily, or share your bed with pets.

• Why: To remove sweat, oils, microbes, allergens and dead skin cells.

• How: Wash at 140 degF or higher with detergent to kill bacteria and dust mites. For deeper sanitization, tumble dry or iron. To target dust mites inside pillows, freeze for at least 8 hours.

Mattresses

• When: Vacuum at least weekly and air the mattress every few days.

• Why: Sweat increases moisture levels, creating a breeding ground for mites.

• Tips: Use a plastic or allergen-proof mattress protector and replace the mattress every seven years to maintain hygiene and support.

Pillow interiors

• When: Every four to six months (check the label first).

• Why: Internal filling can harbor bacteria and mold.

• How: Wash thoroughly and dry completely to avoid fungal growth.

Blankets and duvet covers

• When: Every two weeks, or more often if pets sleep on them.

• Why: They trap skin cells, sweat and allergens.

• How: Wash at 140 degF or as high as the care label allows. Some guidance recommends treating these like towels: regular and hot washes keep them hygienic.

Duvets

• When: Every three to four months, depending on usage and whether pets or children share your bed.

• Why: Even with a cover, body oils and mites eventually seep into the filling.

• How: Check the label: many duvets are machine-washable, others may require professional cleaning.  Here’s a product that I found to circumvent washing for a time: Premium Microfiber Comforter Covers.  Just like the mattress encasement, sealing your duvet or comforter inside the cover does not allow mites to get inside and multiply, thus eliminating the need for frequently washing a bulky comforter.
  

Take a close look at your carpets:  One day while playing with my dogs, I decided to lay down on the 6x8’ rug in my living room, which I’d recently vacuumed.  Within a few minutes my nose was almost completely blocked.  I didn’t think it was the dogs or the biscuits they liked to consume over the rug, because I had vacuumed and couldn’t see a lot of debris.  But dust mites were probably THRIVING in that rug in the miniscule crumbs and dander the vacuum had left behind.  Of course, I could have the carpet professionally cleaned (check out our article for the safest method: “dry steam” cleaning), but that can be expensive.   Here’s another non-toxic method for the DIYers out there: Allersearch X-Mite Carpet Powder.  Its active ingredient is a mild, natural 3% tannic acid (TA) solution, which is proven to be medically effective in neutralizing and dramatically reducing dust mite particles and animal dander for up to 90 days.  TA is a naturally occurring substance found in the bark and fruit of many plants.  According to the scientific study that shows it is effective, “Aggressive vacuum cleaning to reduce the total protein content of carpets or upholstered furnishings should be carried out before treating with TA to obtain optimal results, particularly for cat allergen”.

Where else do dust mites hide?  Stuffed toys, sofa and chair cushions (especially if the sofa/chair is slept on or used daily) and dog beds.  For small items, it’s best to throw them in the laundry and wash with extremely hot water (140 degF) or just wash with one of the following additives in any temperature water, then dry thoroughly.  If you’re interested in making your own laundry additive just using eucalyptus oil, this study demonstrated that a 30-minute prewash soak of woolen blankets in a low concentration (0.2%) of eucalyptus oil reduced the number of live mites that could be recovered by 97%.  (The only cautionary note was that the oil should be diluted/mixed in a small amount of water first, then added to a full drum of water because the undiluted emulsified oil can function as a solvent and should not come into direct contact with the plastic drum of a washing machine.)

• De-Mite laundry additive:  This additive uses benzyl benzoate, which is an organic compound also used to treat lice and scabies.  Benzyl benzoate has a rating of “fair” on the EWG toxicity scale, with some allergies and immunotoxicity concerns.  It also contains a small amount of tea tree oil.  Most customers do not mind the light smell of the tea tree oil. 

• Lice & Bed Bug Extra Strength Laundry Additive: This additive uses sodium lauryl sulfate, which has a good rating on the EWG toxicity scale. 

• Mite-y Clean Laundry Additive: This additive contains natural essential oils including Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil, Clove Leaf Oil and Cinnamon.

For upholstered furniture, there are several good options.  These don’t disclose the ingredients but claim to be 100% natural, plant- and mineral-based formulas.  We like that the safety data sheets (SDS) are found on their website. 

• DustmiteX Spray - Allergy & Asthma Relief kills dust mites, and once killed, you can use the next product to maintain a low allergen level.  It’s colorless and odorless.  It “features a patented, specially-formulated natural borate compound that provides long-lasting control.”

• The Ecology Works- Plant-Based Dog & Cat Allergy Spray, Dander Remover & Dust Mite Waste Reducer is colorless, odorless and does not stain or leave residues behind. 

When researching the best product to buy, investigate the ingredients and reviews as much as possible to determine if the product will aggravate your respiratory system even more (we excluded some products that seemed to have a strong smell according to consumers).  Dust mites are pretty much as common as mold spores, but they don’t have to cause allergies.  Keeping dust mites and their allergens away basically comes down to maintenance.  Clean, spray and wash on a regular basis = better breathing!

Photo by Josue Michel on Unsplash