In short
Dust mites are microscopic creatures that feed on shed skin and thrive when indoor humidity stays above about 50 percent, which describes much of a New Jersey summer. They concentrate in mattresses, pillows, carpet and upholstered furniture. Lowering humidity does the most to reduce them, followed by hot washed bedding, regular vacuuming and periodic cleaning of soft furnishings.
Worth remembering
- Mites feed on shed skin and thrive when indoor humidity stays above about 50 percent.
- Mattresses and pillows hold the most, then bedroom carpet and upholstery.
- Hot washed bedding, encasements and a sealed vacuum do more than a spray.
- Cleaning lowers the load but cannot remove every mite. Talk to a doctor about allergy symptoms.
Why New Jersey summers favor dust mites
Dust mites do not bite. They feed on the skin people shed and take in water from the air, which is why they struggle in dry rooms and flourish when indoor humidity stays above about 50 percent. A New Jersey summer, with warm nights and muggy days, can hold a house above that level for weeks. The trouble for people with allergies comes from the proteins in mite droppings and body fragments rather than from the mites themselves.
Where they live
The densest populations are in mattresses and pillows, where skin cells and body warmth meet. Next come bedroom carpet, upholstered sofas and chairs, soft toys and heavy curtains. Hard floors and washable bedding hold far fewer. Carpet and a mattress both hold fine dust deep in their layers, and a household vacuum reaches only part of it.
Start with humidity
Keeping indoor air between 40 and 50 percent relative humidity does more than any product. Run the air conditioning in summer, put a dehumidifier in the basement and keep a small hygrometer in the bedroom to see the real number. Dry air also lets carpet and furniture dry faster after any wet cleaning, which keeps mites from getting the moisture they want.
A reduction routine
- Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water, about 130 degrees Fahrenheit, if the care label allows.
- Cover the mattress and pillows with zippered allergen encasements and wash them on the label schedule.
- Vacuum bedroom carpet and upholstery often with a sealed machine and a HEPA filter.
- Choose soft toys that wash well and wash them with the bedding.
- Clean the mattress, bedroom carpet and sofas at intervals, using a method that leaves them dry soon.
What professional cleaning can do
Professional cleaning does not sterilize anything. It removes dust, skin cells and allergen from the surface and the upper layers of a mattress, carpet or sofa and leaves the material dry soon after. Flying Carpet Cleaning NJ cleans mattresses, wall to wall carpet and upholstered furniture in your home. A mattress should be fully dry before the bed is made, because a damp mattress invites mold. Mention allergies when you ask for a quote, since they can affect which rooms to start with.
Signs the bedroom is the place to start
Waking with a stuffy nose, sneezing or itchy eyes that ease once you leave the bedroom, or symptoms that worsen at night or in damp weather, can point to dust mites, though many other things cause the same symptoms. A doctor can tell you which allergens affect you. The cleaning steps in this guide are a sensible support, not a diagnosis or a treatment, and the bed is the place to begin because you spend hours there every night.
Related service: Mattress cleaning in New Jersey.
Questions, answered
Can dust mites be removed completely?
No. Every home has some, and they return when humidity rises. The aim is to lower their number and the allergen they leave: control humidity, wash bedding hot, use encasements, vacuum with a sealed machine and clean soft furnishings from time to time.
Do mattress covers help with dust mites?
Yes. A tightly woven, zippered encasement keeps skin cells from reaching the mites and keeps mites away from you. Wash it on the schedule on its label, and keep washing the sheets weekly in hot water.