Dust Mites and Allergens in Carpet!

Millions of little bugs live in your home. And you may be allergic to them plus the debris they leave behind. As you walk across the carpet, these pollutants are kicked into the air and breathed in. Adults spend one-third of their time and children spend half of their time in their bedrooms, so we at Chet’s Cleaning stress the importance of taking the first steps here, but also the common areas.

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Health Threat

Allergies can be a threat to the immune system: inflammation of the eyes, nose, lungs, and skin. Both asthma and eczema are linked to exposure. It is estimated that allergies affect some 50% of the population, dust mites are a major contributor. 

Humans shed skin scales which in turn feed the dust mites. Carpeting, bedding, and fabric upholstery provide them with a safe place to live. As a result, rooms that are used most in the home such as bedrooms, playrooms and living rooms are ideal breeding grounds for the dust mite.

Hidden places with food, particularly if there is some moisture, are also dust mite habitats. Under refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges can make your kitchen into a breeding ground even though there is no carpet.

A single ounce of dust can support up to 15,000 dust mites, and a single mated female dust mite can produce up to 100 eggs, so a dust mite problem can rapidly become chronic.

Cleaning Tips

Keep the house aired out and dry. Dust mites prefer humidity, try to keep the moisture level below 50%. Remove plants from the bedroom. Even a fish tank can raise the moisture level. 

Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter collects dust-mite particles and pollen. Standard paper bag filters may allow the stirred-up allergens to escape back into the room.

However, dry vacuuming doesn’t pick up actual dust mites. The most thorough carpet cleaning method to help get rid of dust mites is the hot water extraction or steam cleaning method. Here the water temperature, using the most advanced equipment, can reach 230°F or more. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites.

Wash bedding, including pillowcases and mattress covers, in hot water every week. You can also dry bedding at high temperatures. You can limit your contact with dust mites by using allergen-proof covers on your mattress, box spring, and pillows, and washing them regularly. This works well as part of an overall plan to reduce allergens in your home. It is not enough to use mattress and pillow covers without some of the other methods mentioned above. 

Dust mites particularly love pillows due to the increased moisture content from perspiration and breathing. Various studies have shown that feather pillows are dust mite friendly and others have shown that foam pillows are worse, so also wash and dry your pillows.

Some people advocate using disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT – an alkaline salt) powder, but be aware that DOT can be an eye irritant. The best advice is– regular professional steam cleaning of your carpets removes dust mites and their food source.