Dust Mites Fact Sheet

• Much smaller than a grain of sand, dust mites are too tiny to be seen with the human eye.



• At least 10% of the human population and approximately 80% of allergy sufferers are allergic to proteins that are found in the waste and decomposed body parts of dust mites.



• Dust mite allergen is the number one cause of perennial allergic rhinitis.



• If you often wake up with congestion, a runny nose, watery eyes, itching, or sneezing, then you are probably allergic to dust mites.



• Dust mites flourish in warm, humid environments.



• Your bed is the perfect environment for dust mites; they love to burrow into fabric and feast on your dead skin cells. Humans shed two to three pounds of skin a year—plenty of food for tiny dust mites.



• A gram (about a half teaspoon) of dust contains as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 allergenic dust mite fecal pellets.



• Dust mite populations increase rapidly. Each egg-laying female can increase the population by 25 or 30 new mites per week.



• Depending on its age, your mattress may house between one million and ten million dust mites.



• During its 80-day lifespan, the average dust mite produces about 1,000 allergen waste particles.



• The weight of the average mattress doubles after ten years due to dust mite infestation, and the weight of the average pillow increases 10% after one year.



• Dust mite populations peak during the hot, humid months of July and August.



• Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity, and they cannot survive when the humidity is below 50%.



• A Johns Hopkins University study showed that "mite population and allergen levels decreased by 90% or more within a month of placing mattress and pillow covers and treating bedding.



• Dust mite allergy can be controlled using scientifically-proven environmental control devices.

AchooAllergy.com Can Help!

1. Encase your mattress and pillows with allergy bedding to form an impenetrable barrier between you and the dust mite allergens. It is especially important to note pore size on mattress and pillow covers. Our highest quality allergy bedding, Allergy Armor Ultra, has a pore size of less than 2.8 microns—woven so tightly that no allergens can penetrate. Unlike dust mite bedding with larger pores, Allergy Armor Ultra also blocks out animal dander.

2. Frequently wash all bedding used on top of your encasings in hot water. The allergy mattress covers should be washed two to four times per year.

3. Unfortunately, for safety reasons, most washing machines do not use water hot enough (140°F) to kill all dust mites. Fortunately, AchooAllergy.com offers a laundry wash and dust mite laundry additive that kill dust mites in any temperature of water. Use these additives if hot water washing is not possible.

4. Vacuum your mattress with a HEPA vacuum cleaner before putting on your allergy bedding. Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter entraps allergens and prevents them from blowing out through the exhaust.

5. Dust mites also thrive in carpets and upholstery. Use our dust mite powder to clean carpets. Vacuum as if your life depends on it.

6. Avoid upholstered furniture. If possible, remove carpeting in the bedroom. For carpeted rooms, use a dry dust mite carpet cleaner to deactivate dust mite allergens.

7. Keep your clothing in a closet with the door shut. Wash and dry-clean clothes frequently. Consider using a laundry additive such as Allersearch Allergen Wash or a full allergen laundry detergent to get rid of dust mite allergens on your clothes.

8. Use an Acu-Rite Humidity Gauge to monitor and reduce humidity by using an air conditioner or a dehumidifier. Dust mites grow best at 75-80% relative humidity and cannot live with humidity below 50%.

9. Run a HEPA air purifier, which removes dust, airborne dust mite waste particles, and other allergens from the air.

AchooAllergy.com Customer Service

• AchooAllergy.com provides the highest quality products at the most affordable prices. Our allergy relief bedding represents the best dust mite barriers on the market today.

• AchooAllergy.com offers a 60-day money-back guarantee on all allergy bedding products. Compare this to some of our competitors, who charge restocking fees or refuse to accept returns if the package has been opened.

• We offer free shipping on orders over $150.00 in the continental United States.

• You can easily order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, online or by phone. Call 1-800-339-7123 today to speak with our friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Dust Mite Control Buying Guide