Dust mites are tiny eight-legged arthropods invisible to the naked eye; a single gram of dust can contain as many as 100,000 dust mites. While other types of mites do bite, the common house dust mite does not. They survive by feeding off dander shed from the skin of people and pets. Dust mites can cause health problems because many people are allergic to the dust mite's excretions. Regardless of whether the mites are dead or alive, once their droppings and sloughed off skin become airborne, they can cause a number of health-related conditions. Luckily, the effects of dust mites can be controlled with dust mite spray.
An allergic reaction to dust mites can bring on an asthma attack or allergic rhinitis. The symptoms of an asthma attack include coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Allergic rhinitis causes a swollen, inflamed nose and sinuses, and the symptoms can include: a runny nose, sneezing, sinus headaches, coughs, and watery itchy eyes. Unfortunately for the allergy sufferer, with every exposure to dust mites, the reaction becomes more severe. Every effort must be made to limit or eliminate exposure by using some common sense methods, and when needed, the application of dust mite spray.
The most reliable method of keeping dust mites at bay is to maintain a clean home. Dust mites love to live in bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture and clothing; regular vacuuming and laundering will decrease the chances of an infestation. They also thrive in areas of high humidity, so running an air filter and dehumidifier may also cut down on the impact of dust mites.
In addition to general cleanliness, dust mite spray that reduces or eliminates the number of dust mites is readily available. Some types of spray are made of a natural ingredient, while others are the chemical insecticide types. Steam cleaning seems to be a successful method because mattresses and furniture can be treated; the heat of the steam kills off established colonies of dust mites. Using a pump sprayer filled with dust mite spray set on a fine mist can be highly effective, although regular applications of the dust mite spray may be necessary. Laundering clothing in special anti-allergen detergents may also prove helpful to those who are extremely sensitive to dust mites.