Dealing With Bed Mites

Bed mites are microscopic creatures, which live in the warm and moist environment of beds, bedding and pillows. They are found in synthetic fiber bedding, as well as feathered and other natural beddings. Because they are impossible to see, many people are not aware of their existence, and most people do not have any adverse reaction to the presence of bed mites, otherwise known as dust mites.

Dust mites live off the dead skin cells found usually in beds, and they spend their entire lives in this environment. An adult female will lay between 40 and 80 eggs in small clusters. These eggs hatch, and grow to maturity in one month, and then live as adults for another three months. Therefore the reproduction cycle continues, and at all times there are bed mites, eggs, dead mites and faeces present in the bed.

As mentioned previously, the mites hold no danger to most people, but there are many who suffer from mild to severe allergic reactions to the presence of bed mites. These reactions can include hay fever, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, asthma or breathing difficulties, itchy skin and eczema, especially in babies.

To control the population of dust mites, the bed and bedding needs to be cleaned thoroughly.

• Wash your bedding weekly on the hottest cycle possible for that bedding. Hang the bedding to air and dry in the sun. Dust mites do not like dry sunny places.

• Regularly vacuum your pillows and mattress. This helps to control the mites, the dead mites as well as the dead skin which we shed each day, which the mites feed on. Regularly air your duvets and pillows.

• Vacuum the carpet around and under your bed regularly.

• Once every month or so, spray your bed with a solution of 5 parts white vinegar and 1 part water. This kills bed mites. Air the mattress after spraying. The smell of the vinegar disappears once the vinegar evaporates.

• If your allergies are not clearing up, it can be of great use to cover your bed with an allergy cover. This does not remove the mites, but makes it very difficult for them to surface. It also helps o prevent new dead skin from falling into the mattress, and thus the mite population has no more food. Spraying the bed with the vinegar solution and airing it daily, can also help to control the mite population.

By keeping your home well ventilated, clean of dust, and cool, with regulated humidity, you will be able to control the bed mite population to such an extent that they do not cause allergies in your family any more.

Betty is a medical student who is studying a whole range of medical issues. She has studied everyday issues such as how to check for bed bugs, to more serious complications such as sinus cancer treatments.

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