What are dust mites?

As homes are sealed tighter and tighter against the elements in order to conserve energy, house dust mites (Dermatophagoides spp.) become more of a problem. This page will help you get rid of, or at least more effectively deal with, these mites and the allergens they produce.

House dust is a mixture of ash, cloth fibers, hair, plant pollen, human and animal skin (dander), soil particles, and fungal spores. In many households, human skin flakes, alone, make up much of this debris. House dust mites use this debris as food. These tiny mites feed directly on the organic parts of house dust.

How to Control Dust Mites

Your first step is to encase your pillow and mattress with dust mite covers. Studies have shown that these covers are very effective at reducing dust mite allergens. This step has two main goals: to keep the existing dust mites trapped inside the barrier, so you won't be exposed to them, and to prevent new dust mites from getting into your pillow and mattress.

The most important tool for managing house dust and dust mites is the vacuum cleaner. Regular, thorough vacuuming of carpets, furniture, textiles and other home furnishings such as draperies will help keep dust mite populations low. Vacuums with a water filter are preferable to those with a disposable paper bag because a water vacuum removes a greater range of particle sizes than paper-bag types. There are vacuums with highly efficient filters (HEPA) designed for use by people with allergies to dust. It is better to vacuum thoroughly once a week rather than lightly on a daily basis. Vacuum mattresses and padded furniture thoroughly; 20 minutes for each mattress is not too long.

Pleated filters are much more efficient than standard fibrous furnace filters; smaller ones do not require modification to the furnace or ductwork. But they are less efficient than electrostatic cleaners. Pleated filters should be inspected regularly and may need more frequent replacement than conventional filters.
Chemical solutions may be helpful. Acaricides (a chemical that kills dust mites) must be applied regularly to carpeting or upholstered furniture. This solution will not remove any preexisting mite droppings. A tannic acid solution, applied as directed, can help neutralize the allergen in mite droppings.

Wash your pillow every week or put a plastic cover on it. (The pillowcase goes over the plastic cover.) How hot is hot? The water used to wash your sheets and blankets should be at least 130°F (54°C). Set your washing machine to it's hottest setting. If the water doesn't seem to be coming out hot, you may want to check your hot water heater - you may not realize that most household hot water heaters have a knob that can adjust the temperature of the water it produces.

Eliminate or reduce fabric wall hangings such as tapestries or pennants. Purchase stuffed toys that are machine washable. Avoid using curtains, drapes or blinds on windows. Use plastic shades instead. No pesticides are currently labeled for house dust mites. However, two non-pesticide products, Acarosan and Allergy Control Solution are available for treatment of house dust mites and their allergens. The active ingredient of each is benzyl benzoate and tannic acid. Benzoic acid esters, such as benzyl benzoate, are very effective acaricides in both laboratory and field evaluations. Health risks appear to be slight as benzoates are rapidly metabolized in the body to hippuric acid, which is excreted in the urine. Most acaricidal studies for house dust mite control have been done in Europe.