They thrive in pillows, mattresses, box springs, blankets, rugs and carpets, "stuffed animals" and upholstered (cloth) furniture such as couches. They also live in dusty areas like furnace ducts. They are so tiny that they are hard to see without a microscope. Dust mites feed on organic matter such as flakes of skin.
A mild case of dust mite allergy may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition may be ongoing (chronic), resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure, an eczema flare-up or severe asthma attack.
Dust mites love warm, humid areas filled with dust. Bed pillows, mattresses, carpets, and furniture are great places for them to live. Cleaning each one of these places can reduce the number of dust mites in your home.
Mite allergens are found in dust-filled textiles in the highest concentrations; these include upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains and plush toys as well as beds. Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites.
If you haven't cleaned out the vacuum bag in a while, there is a good chance it's full of microscopic dust mites. Many people are not aware, but mold is alive.
Essential oils contain compounds that repel or kill insects, including dust mites. The best essential oils for getting rid of dust mites are clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil. Add 20 drops of oil to four ounces of witch hazel, and spray your mattress, couch, drapes, and other dust mite hangouts.
If you're concerned your mattress has dust mites, you can clean it. One simple step is to remove any detachable covers and use an upholstery attachment to vacuum the mattress and all of its crevices.
Fortunately, an air purifier is great for dust removal, including dust mite allergens, and can help you breathe easier. An air purifier also prevents sickness by killing harmful airborne germs. Being exposed to dust mites at home on an ongoing basis can have a dramatic impact on your health.
Sprays and aerosols containing syngergized pyrethrins should kill mites immediately on contact, though the treatment will only remain effective for up to a few hours. Insecticide sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin are effective against many mites and should retain their killing properties for several weeks.
Predators. The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Kill dust mites immediately with tea tree oil
Spray this solution around your home on your upholstery, bedding, carpets, and rugs at least once per week to keep dust mites at bay and make you home smell fresh.
Dust mites are very small, insect-like pests that feed on dead human skin cells and thrive in warm, humid settings. Dust mites are too small for us to see. They are not parasites that bite, sting or burrow into our bodies.
Although they may “hitchhike” on clothing, dust mites do not live on people. They feed primarily on dander, flakes of dead skin that fall from people and animals. Upholstered furniture, pillows and mattresses typically harbor more dust mites than carpeting.
Dust mites do not bite you or carry diseases, but their presence in your home, or even worse the bed where you sleep each night, can cause severe allergy issues including: Nasal congestion. Coughing or itchy throat.
Microscopic Danger
These are not the same pests as bed bugs, though. Rather, mites cannot be seen with the naked eye, and you can't feel them, nor do they bite you.
In contrast, dust mites can really only be seen under the microscope. House dust mites are about 0.1–0.4 mm long [2], less than one tenth the size of a bed bug, at least. House dust mites are translucent to white in color and have been described as “globular” in shape [3].
Dust mites live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 75 to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 50 percent.
Encasement material to stop house dust mites from entering a pillow, mattress or duvet, can be made from plastic, vapour-permeable materials, finely woven fabrics, or nonwoven synthetics. Pore size is important when considering the material.