Physical Health Guide

You probably think you are well acquainted with everyone you live with – family, friends, housemates, perhaps a pet. But there are hidden unwanted guests in most UK homes. They are ugly creepy crawlies, they look like bizarre alien creatures from a science fiction film, and they could be making their home in your bed right now. I’m talking of course about dust mites, the hidden menace in the home, invisible to the eye but causing problems wherever they go.

Aside from being thoroughly unpleasant to think they could be living in your carpets and bedding, dust mites are also one of the most common causes of asthma, eczema and an endless list of other inconvenient allergies. Technically it’s dust mites’ droppings rather than the actual mites that cause problems, as they are coated in an enzyme that is highly allergenic to over 20% of the population. Their food is the 50 million dead skin cells every human sheds each day, and it can be very tough to get rid of them completely. It’s tough, but far from impossible. If you think there might be dust mites in your home, the most important things to remember are:

Keep it Clean – If you want to get rid of dust mites, the most obvious solution is to remove the dust. They like to live in ‘dust bunnies’ and deep in the carpet pile so regular hoovering, daily if you have to, will not only suck many of them out of the carpet but cut off the food supply to those that are left behind. Keep windows open where possible as they don’t like sunlight, not to mention a healthy breeze will literally blow them away as they are so small!

Keep it Fresh –You might not think air quality would have much effect on dust mites considering they live in the carpet and furnishings, but in fact the right air conditioner could make all the difference. Even if you hoover every day the dust particles still have time to settle and create new homes for mites. Installing an air purifier with a HEPA filter literally removes all particles larger than 0.0003mm from the air before they get the chance to settle, meaning less food for mites.

Keep it Dry – Dust mites thrive in conditions where the relative humidity (RH) of the air is above 50%. The ideal RH in the home varies depending on where you live and who you ask, but it is usually around 45%. If humidity levels in your home are above 50% it’s worth taking steps to reduce it as this will not only stop the mites but can also improve the general health of the occupants. Basic things like keeping windows open when cooking or showering can make a difference but if the problem persists then using a dehumidifier is a quick and easy way to remove moisture from the air, maintaining the optimum RH and killing dust mites dead!