House dust mites: Measures and home remedies against little pests

House dust mites: Measures and home remedies against little pests

Allergy sufferers are not afraid of the monster under the bed. What they fear is much smaller and hides in mattresses, pillows and bed linen. What are we talking about? Of the unpopular house dust mites. They cannot be heard, seen or smelled and yet you can be almost certain that the little animals are there. Mites are real pests for allergy sufferers: they cause itchy eyes, a sniffy nose and other unpleasant reactions. But for other people, too, the thought of the crawling guests in the bed is unpleasant. That's why we set out to find effective measures and home remedies that you can use to combat mites. We also get to the bottom of why mites trigger an allergy in some people and what signs you can recognise a dust mite allergy by.

Mite in the bed?

Generally, you can assume that mites are also spreading in your bed. Don't be alarmed: up to 10,000 dust mites cavort in your sleeping place. You cannot see the pests with the naked eye, they are much too small for that. At 0.1-0.5 millimetres, they can only be detected under a microscope.

Mites, however, do not indicate a lack of hygiene, but are due to the perfect conditions in the bed. Mites particularly like to settle where there are people. This is because fallen skin scales are popular mite snacks. In addition, mites like to look for a place with a humidity of 65 to 85 percent. This means that they prefer to crawl into bed with us because it is so nice and warm and cosy there. Pillows in particular are a nice place for mite rendezvous. But carpets, curtains and cuddly toys are also popular mite hotspots.

Why can house dust mites trigger allergies?

House dust mites are not actually dangerous. Nevertheless, they can make life quite difficult for allergy sufferers. Allergy sufferers do not react to the mites themselves, but to their excretions. The mites' excrement contains special proteins that can put the human immune system on alert. The body reacts with an allergic reaction such as a sniffly nose, cough or sore throat. In Germany, around 10 % of the population is affected by house dust allergy.

Signs of mite allergy

Normally, we live side by side with dust mites without noticing them. While people without allergies fall asleep peacefully in the evening, allergy sufferers often suffer from the little animals. They wake up with a blocked nose and red eyes, for example. Since most mites live in our beds, the symptoms appear mainly at night and in the morning when we get up.

The most common symptoms of a mite allergy include:

A stuffy nose
itchy or reddened eyes
sneezing fits
cough
Sore throat
Headache
Neurodermatitis
Asthma

Consult your doctor if you suspect you have a dust mite allergy. He or she can use various tests to clarify whether an allergy is actually present. You should not ignore the signs of a dust mite allergy in order to prevent chronic complaints such as asthma.

What helps against dust mites?

One thing is certain: The uninvited guests can never be completely banished from your own four walls and bed. Nevertheless, there are a few ways you can put dust mites in their place. First of all, you can make sure that the dust mites do not multiply unhindered. Want to chase the mites out of your bed? Here are some tips on what to do

Our tips against mites at a glance:

Use tea tree oil against mites
Use the power of the sun
Wash bed linen regularly at at least 60 degrees
Let bed linen air out after sleeping
Replace the mattress every 5-7 years
Keep the temperature at 18 to 20 degrees
Attain low humidity
Air the bedroom several times a day
Vacuum and dust regularly
Banish unnecessary dust traps from the bedroom

Tea tree oil: home remedy against dust mites

While we relax to the scent of essential oils, tea tree oil means pure stress for mites. Simply grab an empty spray bottle, fill it with half a litre of water and add 30 millilitres of tea tree oil. Then shake the whole thing so that the water and tea tree oil mix well. Then spray beds, pillows, cuddly toys and carpets with the home-mixed miracle weapon. You can repeat this process at regular intervals.

Reduce dust in the rooms

As the name "dust mites" tells us, the little fellows feel particularly at home in a dusty environment. In the company of dust bunnies and the like, they multiply quickly and put a spoke in the allergy sufferer's wheel. One goal of allergy sufferers is therefore to declare their own four walls a dust-free zone. You surely know that this is a fight against windmills, because a little dust comes back faster than a boomerang. Nevertheless, the fight is not in vain, because regular vacuuming and mopping can limit the mite load. It is also best to remove unnecessary dust traps from the home.

Use sunlight against dust mites

What do mites and vampires have in common? That's right, they fear the sun. House dust mites are very sensitive to sunlight. So UV rays become an ally in the fight against the pesky beasts. When the weather is nice, simply hang your duvet and co. out in the fresh air for a while. This way, the bed mites will take flight.

Lower the temperature in the bedroom

When temperatures are cool, dust mites get cold feet. Reduce the mite population by keeping the temperature in your bedroom below 20 degrees. A temperature of 18 to 20 degrees is optimal. A night in the freezer can also be good for textiles and cuddly toys, as you make life miserable for mites.

Reduce humidity to prevent mites

Mites are true stalkers, because they prefer to stay close to us. We have already learned that mites find a humidity of 65 to 85 percent particularly pleasant. Therefore, it is an obvious tip to reduce the humidity in the rooms. To this end, air your rooms several times a day.

Wash bedding regularly

After a high-temperature round in the washing machine, the fun for bed mites stops. It is therefore worth washing bed covers, pillows and co. at least every fortnight. A wash cycle at 60 degrees is recommended. If you want to be on the safe side, use a boil wash cycle. There are also special encasings or allergy covers that you can use for mattresses and bed linen. The mattress should be replaced after five to seven years.

Adjust your own morning routine

A neatly made bed is simply part of your morning routine? Better take it down a notch to prevent mites. After getting up, fold back the covers so that the bed can air out properly. Shaking out the duvet and pillow in the room is not a very good idea. This will spread the arachnids all over the room. It is much better to shake out the duvet and pillow outdoors.

Now get to work on the tips and get rid of the dust mites!