Tips For Avoiding Dust Mites
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At home
- Air the house in a daily basis.
- Low temperature and dry conditions make mites breeding slower.
- Avoid humidity at home easing air circulation. Humidifiers are not recommended.
- Clean preferably with a vacuum cleaner and best if it has HEPA filter. Check regularly the filter.
- Use the vacuum cleaner at least once per week.
- Clean the dust at home with a wet cloth
- Brooms are less efective than vacuum cleaners.
- Try to avoid hairy or feather animals at home: they can accumulate dust.
- Try to keep away from smoke and fumes, strong odours (chemical products, hairsprays, wax, polish, sprays and atomisers). Also try to avoid every airway irritant.
- The paient should not be present in case of moving, home job or painting.
- Weeklends and holidays: clean and air the house before the allergic patient gets in.
Living Room
- Avoid using carpets, thick curtains and upholstery
- It it is best to use washable rugs.
- Plain and simple furniture is prefered: even surfaces, like metal, accumulate less dust.
Sleeping room
- Matress and bed are places where a high concentration of mites may be found.
- Change frequently the sheets, mattress cover, pillows and pyjamas.
- Tye to avoid wool blankets and feather duvets.
- Use long and high temperature (130ºF / 55ºC) cycles in the washing machine. Try to clean them weekly.
- Dust mite covers and encasings are barrier methods that may lower the contact with the mites.
- Air the sleeping room every morning: keep windows open.
- Make the bed once the room is aired.
- Try to avoid dampness in the room.
- Fluffy and stuffed toys may accumulate dust, as books and class notes.
- Keep clear the books of the shelves.
- Clothes keeped for a long time may accumulate dust.
- Keep the garment in closed wardrobes, best if in plastic bags.
- Do not put wet clothing in the closet.
- At the begining of the season, wash beforehand the warm clothing.
If you are allergic to storage mites:
- Try not to be in grain, flour or animal food warehouses.
- A high concentration of storage mites may be found in nuts, meat, dry fish, cheese or egg storehouses.
