Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye, but the problems they cause are not. They occur naturally and are found in nearly all homes, so eradicating them from your house is an uphill battle. That may not sound very promising, but the good news is that it’s possible to fight against, if not altogether eliminate, these pests from your home with a few simple steps. One of the most effective tools in the battle against dust mites is a high-quality air purifier.
Before discussing how an air purifier can benefit you and everyone else in your home, it only makes sense to talk about where dust mites like to hide and what encourages them to live in those areas.
Where to Find Dust Mites
Dust mites flourish in areas with high levels of humidity. This is because they don’t consume water, instead absorbing the moisture floating around in the air. For that reason, these microscopic creatures are not typically found in places with low humidity, instead preferring to live and breed in soft, moist surfaces in your home, including mattresses, bedding, carpet, and clothing.
Health Concerns Caused By Dust Mites
When dust mites decide to take up residence in your home, they present a host of health concerns. Existing allergy or asthma symptoms are made worse and new allergies come to the surface. In fact, research has even indicated that exposure to dust mites can actually cause asthma and other health problems.
Another common health problems caused by dust mites is allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an immune system response that is amplified when you breathe in allergens. Put simply, if dust mites are allowed to live and thrive in your home, your health may very well be at risk.
Reactions to dust mites vary, ranging from sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose to ongoing, chronic conditions and severe asthma attacks. If you already suffer from allergies or asthma, or have a sensitivity to dust mites, the sooner you take action, the better off you’ll be.
Fighting Dust Mites with Air Purifiers
One of the best ways to combat dust mites in your home is by using an air purifier that has a HEPA filter. Air purifiers make the air in your home cleaner by trapping allergens before they get the chance to settle in a room so you aren’t forced to breathe them in. The idea behind these devices is to take in the air within a room and expel a cleaner version of that air.
Using an air purifier alongside other allergy-fighting methods can be especially effective. Some of the best ways of ridding your home of dust mites include:
Maintaining a humidity level of under 50%. If you live in a particularly humid place, using air conditioners and dehumidifiers can be effective. On days with low humidity, open up your windows and let in some fresh air. Dust mites can’t survive without enough humidity, so limiting the humidity level in your home is very helpful.
Choosing furniture with smooth surfaces. Smooth-surfaced furniture makes an unattractive hiding place for dust mites and, thus, an attractive method of reducing the number of them in your home.
Eliminating dust-mite-friendly materials. If you suffer from allergies of any kind, getting rid of carpet, curtains, and drapes may even be necessary. When you vacuum these soft surfaces, use one with a high-efficiency filter. When you dust, use a damp cloth so as not to spread a cloud of dust throughout the room.
Choosing the Best Air Purifier for Your Home
While air purifiers are a great help when it comes to filtering out harmful allergens in your home environment, it’s important to note that not all air purifiers are created equal. In fact, many air purifiers have air outlets that aim toward the floor. The problem with this is that the clean air ends up blowing the allergens back into the room, which is particularly harmful when you have carpet, where dust mites like to congregate.
The Bottom Line
An air purifier can be one of your best allies in your battle against dust mites, but even the best air purifier in the world will have a limited impact if other measures aren’t taken. So, control your home’s humidity, eliminate common dust mite safe havens, and keep your home as clean as possible. All of these steps, paired up with a high-quality air purifier, can reduce your allergy symptoms and make the air in your home something that you want to breathe in.