Dust Mite

Description
Mites belong to the Arachnid family, oval shaped, cream coloured with eight legs with sticky pads on the ends helping them to dig deep in to fibers and furniture. The dust mite is so small it cant been seen with the naked eye, only when the mite is dead can it be vacuumed away effectively.

They live on human shed skin, finger nails, hair, pollen, fungi, bacteria and animal dander. They absorb moisture from the air and their environment. Their development and food consumption increase if the humidity is between 70-80 percent and with temperatures between 75-80 degrees. If the humidity is below 40 percent dust mites can not survive.

The number of mites you have in your home has nothing to do with how clean or dirty you keep your home or if you keep pets. The amount of mites in your home all comes down to the humidity of your home, and the amount of fabric or upholstery you have in your home. Dust mites cant survive on vinyl or hardwood floors but are every where that dust accumulates.

The dust mite population can increase very rapidly. Each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 to 30 mites every three weeks. Also each mite produces between 10 and 20 waste pellets each day. The life span of a mite is only two to three months, however.

It doesn't matter how much you hoover or dusting you can not reduce or get ride of the number of dust mites you have in your furniture. There are steps you can take to make their little lives more difficult though, one step is to reduce the humidity in your home. The most important tool for managing dust mites droppings and body particles is the powerful high filtration vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming thoroughly the carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, curtains and draperies once a week will reduce the dust mite allergens in your home.

Studies have shown that clothing is also a source of dust mite allergens. Clothing should also be washed in very hot water and dried thoroughly to kill the mites.