Having difficulty breathing? Do you suffer from allergies, asthma or some other breathing problem? Did you know that the cause of your problems could be a small bug, so small that 
10,000 could actually fit on the head of a pencil? A bug related to the spider family.
And even though it’s only visible under a microscope, rest assured it’s there! And even the cleanest homes have them just to a lesser extent!
Yes, the dust mite which is so small that as many as 100,000 can be found in a square yard of carpet and the average mattress contains anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million produces as much as 20 waste droppings per day and it’s that waste that contains a powerful protein that causes itchy water eyes, sneezing, sore throats and other respiratory problems.
Allergenic proteins from dust mites were found at high levels in a recent nationwide survey of 800 American homes by the National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS):
About 45 percent of American homes have sufficient dust mite allergens to trigger allergy symptoms.
About 23 percent of American homes have sufficient dust mite allergens to trigger asthma symptoms.
And unless you control the dust mite population in your home, don’t plan on it getting any better. While living in the dust in your home dust mites feed on dead skin cells called dander of which the average human being gives off about one third of an once every week.
Do you have young children? If you do, you had better do something now because if they become sensitive to dust mites because of a high dust mite population they will suffer with respiratory problems their entire lives.
Would you like to breathe better? Would you like your children to breathe better? Would you like to improve the air quality in your home? Well you can, but you have to control the dust mite population first. Here are a couple of helpful suggestions,
1. Clean frequently with a damp mop or cloth - Using a dry mop or cloth only spreads the dust, but the dust will stick if they are wet.
2. Keep the humidity level low – Dust mites need water in the air to exist so they thrive in warm humid conditions. Keep the humidity level below 50 percent.
3. Wash linens often and in very hot water – Make sure your water temperature is at least 130 degrees by setting your washing machine to the hottest temperature.
4. Thoroughly vacuum your mattress and enclose it in a plastic cover – You may also want to consider using synthetic sheets and pillow cases considering dust mites like damp conditions which are better provided by natural fibers.
5. Vacuum carpets frequently using a vacuum with a HEPA filter and have them professionally cleaned on a regular basis.
5. Remove carpeting in your home wherever possible and replace it with a hard surface floor.
6. Use high efficiency filters when it comes to heating and air conditioning.
And most of all remember to clean on a regular basis!
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Wow!! I knew about dust mites but didn’t know to what extent they caused harm. I do have a HEPA vacuum cleaner and also HEPA air purifiers because I did have breathing problems but I attributed the cause to my cat & the newly installed carpeting. I also use a small amount of tea tree oil in the wash when I do my linens. My breathing problems only came at night and whenever I was lying or sitting on the floor. I only have them now on rare occasions. Great info as usual.
Most true. Then invisible dust mite is of course invincible too. Unable to eradicate it totally. Hope with what you suggest, I can drastically reduce its ill-effects. Thanks a lot.
Ewwwwwwwww……those dust mites are ugly looking and I sure don’t like the idea of sleeping with them! Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Debbie
Good grief! I was reading the post and kept thinking “I have all of these symptoms” (regarding the allergies/asthma). A month ago, my boyfriend and I purchased a hepa filter for the bedroom, but I’m still unsure of what to do about the bathroom. The ventilation is horrible and there is constantly mold growing on the ceilings and walls which I spray with a mold/mildew remover on occasion…Great post- both creepy and informative!
I think I’m really going to like your blog. Nicely written and down to earth. I secretly want to become a DIY Diva but I don’t have a clue about what to do. Your blog seems easy to understand so I am looking froward to learning more.
Thank you everyone who contributed to this post! DaisySoapGirl you are right in that dust mites are not the only cause of indoor breathing problems, other things like the ones that you mentioned can be a factor – do not ignore them.
Brass Chandelier I’m sure that you are aware that you need to control the moisture, if your interested you can send me more information about the situation and I will be glad to see if I can help.
LLnL I much appreciate your reading and don’t hesitate to ask when you have a question.
Okay, I’m off to vacuum and wash everything in the house! And maybe buy new pillows, mattresses, flooring–oh, and a new vacuum cleaner, too, since ours doesn’t have one of those HEPA filters. Yikes!