HOUSE DUST MITE

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The House Dust Mite (greatly magnified)
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Public Domain

household pests

The House Dust Mite is tiny is only just visible to the naked eye as a blob and is seen only if conditions are just right.
They are best viewed under a microscope.
These mites often escape detection until their numbers build up and are causing a problem.

There are a number of different types of mite.

• The House Mite, also known as the Furniture Mite may be present in upholstered furniture when kept in ill-ventilated and damp rooms. This tiny creature is probably present in every mattress feeding on microscopic flakes of our dead skin and is often one of the causes of asthma.
• Animals, including cats and dogs can bring their specific mites into the house and if you have hens, they too have their irritating mites.
• The Flour Mite may infest and feed on flour, dried fruit, cereal and cheese.

Some people are sensitive to the presence House Dust Mite
and
may develop asthma.

Photos Courtesy of Wikipedia Public Domain

The presence of the House Dust Mite is problematic for people who demonstrate an allergic reaction causing asthma, but for the majority of people, this mite does not cause a problem and most people are completely unaware of its activities in the home.

Source YouTube Dust Mite Video

Controlling House Dust Mites.

It is virtually impossible to rid our homes of the pest but it is possible to control this mite by making our houses less inviting to their presence.

This is when it is really important to DECLUTTER AND ORGANIZE your home!!

Make yourself a daily cleaning programme so you can keep on top of the jobs and rest assured that by following a routine, all the house is kept clean and you have done your best to reduce the Mite numbers.

When you are busy cleaning the rooms, do ask the person suffering from asthma to leave the house as there are many allergens in dust too.

• Damp dust the walls and all the surfaces around the house and follow it up by spraying all surfaces and crevices with an specific insecticidal spray.
• Wash curtains and drapes in the hottest water for the fabric or exchange them for blinds that are easier to keep clean.
• Wash all bedding at least weekly in water at the highest temperature the fabric allows. Heat kills mites.
• Get rid of feather pillows, wool blankets, cuddly toys and ban any pets that may share the comfort of your bed.
• Exchange your conventional sprung mattress and pillow for foam rubber versions or, if this not possible, buy dust mite covers for your box springs , mattress and pillows.
• Buy a special vacuum cleaner that uses allergen filter bags and has special exhaust filters to reduce the amount of dust getting into the air when vacuuming.
• Steam your upholstered furniture regularly and in between times vacuum it thoroughly.
• Steam clean your carpets regularly or remove them completely and exchange them for easy clean flooring that can be cleaned with a damp mop or steam cleaner.
• If you need to have soft floor covers, use washable rugs.
• Where necessary, specific sprays can be used on furniture and bedding to kill and discourage the mites.
• Keep your house as cool and dry as possible. An air conditioner may be useful.

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