“Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite!” has been heard by many children as they are tucked in, but most probably didn’t think there really is such a thing as ‘bed bugs’! Unfortunately, bed bugs are real, and most go by the common name ‘house dust mites’. The most common species of dust mite found in Thai homes also goes by the scientific name Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The dust in a house is mostly made up of the tiny skin flakes we shed, which are the house dust mite’s favourite food, the Latin dermatophagoides translates to ‘skin eater’!
It’s not too surprising that the parts of the home that we send the most time in, our beds and upholstered furniture like sofas and easy chairs, will have the highest populations of house dust mites! There are several ways to deter their presence, like using an Anti-dust mite mattress that will deter them. Not only is just the very thought of a tiny insect living on your bed disgusting, they can present a very real health danger!
While there are other types of bugs that one might find in a bed, such as fleas that really do bite, dust mites don’t, the harm they cause are allergic reactions in humans. The house dust mite’s tiny bodies, secretions, and faeces contain a witch’s brew of nasty proteins that trigger allergic reactions in people that are susceptible to them, which happens to be most of us!
The following tips will reduce dust mites in your home!
- Put dust mite resistant covers over your mattresses, pillows, and quilts. Wash the covers every 2 months.
- Wash your sheets and pillowcases once a week in 60 °C hot water. If you wash in cold water add a natural detergent that contains essential oils like tea tree or eucalyptus.
- Use a hot tumble dry, or dry clean household items if possible because it will kill house dust mites. However, it will not remove the allergens they leave behind.
- Wash your blankets every 2 months.
- Use synthetic pillows instead of feathers because they can withstand regular washing.
- Vacuum every week, including upholstered furniture and the seams of mattresses. Vacuuming makes house dust mite allergens go airborne for around 20 minutes, so you should wear a mask. Air the house out with open doors and windows for an hour after vacuuming to clear the air.
- Keep your home dry and well-ventilated to reduce humidity.
- Don’t use upholstered furniture. Vinyl, leather, wood, and plastic don’t provide the mites with a home.
- Don’t put up heavy fabric curtains, use Venetian blinds or flat blinds instead. Any curtains should be washable.
- Try not to use carpets, rugs and mats whenever possible. Tiled and bare wood floors are better because they can be damp mopped.
- Wash any rugs and mats every two months and hang them out to dry in full sun if you can.
- Wash your clothing before wearing it if it has been put away in a drawer or closet for a long period of time.
House dust mites are a problem, but we can breathe easier if we control their numbers. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!
