Dust mites are popular… as far as allergens go. These tiny critters are to blame for allergies in a lot of people (myself included). So how do you keep the dust mites out of your upholstery and bedding? Here are some tips.
- Wash your pillows quarterly. Mark your calendar if you have to, but make sure you send your pillows through the washer four times per year.
- Wash your curtains quarterly, too.
- Wash your sheets and blankets at your washing machine’s highest setting. A study from South Korea found that temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit killed one hundred percent of dust mites present in cotton sheets. Using the “warm” setting — around 104 degrees Fahrenheit — only killed 6.5 percent of the critters. That’s a big difference! Just be careful — the water from the “hot” washer setting can scald you.
- Keep the critters out of your bed by using mattress and pillow liners. A plastic case around your mattress and pillows will keep the dust mites away from your body.
- Carpets can harbor dust mites, too. If you can’t swap out your entire home to hardwood or laminate floors, you have to be extra-vigilant about cleaning. If dust mites are a serious allergy issue for you, you might want to at least remove carpeting from your bedroom to give you a peaceful night’s sleep.
- Do you have pet beds? Dust mites (and plenty of animal dander, another allergen) can be there, too. Wash your pet beds quarterly, at least.
- Upholstery can be another hiding spot for dust mites. Slipcovers and plastic covers can help keep the critters at bay, but you may also want to try deep cleaning (steam cleaning) your furniture. Steam cleaning may not reach temperatures high enough to kill all the dust mites, but some gone is better than none gone!