Organic Style - Fourteen Successful Dust Mite Destroyers.htm

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Organic Style - Fourteen Successful Dust Mite Destroyers FYI....

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FOURTEEN SUCCESSFUL DUST MITE DESTROYERS

 

Adapted from Allergy Free Naturally edited by Rick Ansorge and Eric

Metcalf (Rodale Press, 2001).

 

Mid-winter is a time when those with dust allergies can really

suffer! Dust is easier to miss while cleaning in the darker months of winter,

and closed up houses recirculate old, dust-laden air. Dust mites aren't good for

anybody, and fortunately there are simple steps that you can take to reduce the

dust mites in your home.

 

Here are the best strategies—14 in all—for reducing dust mites in

your home:

 

1. Because about a third of our lives takes place in the

bedroom—which often contains the most dust mites—give that room special

attention when you start working to bring down allergens. Slip your mattress,

box spring, pillows, and comforter into allergen-proof casings. Be sure to

choose a style that allows moisture to pass through so they won't grow hot and

sweaty as you sleep. Woven styles tend to be more comfortable than crinkly

plastic styles.

 

2. Wash your sheets and pillowcases every week to 10 days in hot

water. Wipe down the protective encasings or wash them according to the

manufacturer's directions.

 

3. Keep the humidity in your home at 50 percent or lower, using an

air conditioner or dehumidifier if necessary. Pick up a humidity gauge, also

known as a hygrometer, at your local hardware store to help you track the level

in your home.

 

4. Repair any water leaks or other sources of moisture around the

home.

 

5. Remove carpeting, especially in the bedroom, and replace it with

a hard, shiny surface like wood. (This is an expensive proposition, so check

with your doctor to see if your situation warrants this.) If you must have

carpeting, select a type with a low pile or use scatter rugs that you can wash

in hot water each week.

 

6. Replace upholstered furniture with soot, leather, or plastic

pieces that you can wipe clean of dust.

 

7. Use curtains or shades instead of venetian blinds and thick

drapes. Regularly wash them if they're washable.

 

8. Clean your home thoroughly on a regular basis. Vacuum each week,

ideally with a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter or special double-lined bags.

 

9. Dust all the hard surfaces in your home with a damp cloth each

week.

 

10. Don't keep a lot of dust-collecting knickknacks around, like

books, figurines, and stuffed animals, especially in the bedroom. Instead, keep

these items in enclosed bookcases or cabinets.

 

11. Use HEPA filters, available from your hardware store, on your

air-conditioning and furnace system. Change or clean them regularly, according

to the manufacturer's directions.

 

12. Consider a freestanding HEPA filter in the bedroom. Remember,

though, that this is a measure that will be helpful only if you've also taken

care of the other recommendations like putting encasements on the bed, lowering

the humidity, and removing carpet.

 

13. Place a filter made of a piece of cheesecloth under the

faceplate of the bedroom vent to catch dust blowing out. Change it regularly.

 

14. Wash teddy bears and other stuffed animals regularly in hot

water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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