The average adult spends 1/3 of their life sleeping, and must of that is on a mattress. Do you really want to spend all that time with dust mites? Dust mites are tiny insects that consume dead skin cells, which we shed on a regular basis. Dust mites are harmless in themselves, they can trigger and aggravate allergies. And even if you don’t suffer from allergies, the mere thought of tiny insects in bed with you can be unnerving. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to keep dust mites at bay.
Clean the Bedding
Regularly cleaning your bedding is an essential step in living a dust mite free life. Once all the bedding, such as pillowcases, sheets, and blankets, are removed, laundry them in the hottest water temperature allowed for that specific fabric. Once all clean, dry the bedding as you normally would.
Don’t forget the Pillows
Your pillows can also be full of dust mites, but washing them is no easy task. Instead, place your pillows inside a plastic bag that you can secure closed. Set the bag outside on a sunny day. The sun will cause the temperature inside the plastic bag to increase, which will kill the mites on your pillows.
Vacuum the Mattress
The upholstery attachment on your vacuum is a wonderful tool for cleaning your actual mattress. Once attached, run the upholstery cleaning tool over your entire mattress, making sure to get into any nooks and crannies where dust mites can hide. Flip the mattress over and repeat on the bottom. You will also want to repeat the process on your box springs. When finished, carefully transfer the contents of your vacuum’s canisters into a garbage bag and seal closed. Make sure to place the sealed bag outside and away from your home until you can throw it away.
Consider disinfecting the mattress and box spring with a hand-held steamer after vacuuming. You will then need to set the dampened items in an area where direct sunlight can hit them for at least four hours.
Preventing Dust Mites
If you really want to get rid of dust mites once and for all, then you need an organic mattress. Organic mattresses are ideal for anyone who is suffering from allergies since they are dust-mite repellent and resistant to mold. They are also chemical-free, which means they aren’t made with synthetic polyurethane and are never treated with chemicals.
