5 Tips for Controlling Dust Mites (HGTV)

Found in nearly all homes, dust mites like warm, moist areas-such as your
bed. Experts estimate that up to 2,000 of these microscopic cousins to spiders
can live in just one ounce of mattress dust. And that could mean a lot of
sneezing and wheezing if you're sensitive to them. A protein found in their
feces and decaying bodies makes dust mites one of the leading causes of
allergies and asthma. You can't eliminate these unwanted guests altogether, but
you can take these steps to reduce their numbers:
1.Use allergen-proof bedding. Encase your mattress and
pillows in allergen-blocking covers. These covers prevent dust mites from taking
over your bed. Put a vinyl cover on your box springs.
2.Wash bedding weekly in hot water-above 130 degrees.
Launder mattress pads, blankets and comforter covers at least once a month and
more often if you suffer from allergies. If you can't wash in hot water, put the
bedding in a hot dryer (at least 130 degrees) for 20 minutes, and then wash and
dry as usual.
3.Deprive mites of moisture. Cover the vinyl mattress cover
with a waterproof mattress pad. Cover the vinyl covers on pillows with zippered
pillow covers. If necessary, use a dehumidifier to maintain a relative humidity
of 30 percent to 50 percent.
4.Use a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air)
filter. Or simply buy vacuum bags made specifically for allergens. If
possible, use low-pile carpet in your bedroom or switch to bare floors with
washable throw rugs.5.Buy washable stuffed toys. You can kill dust mites in
stuffed animals by putting them in a plastic zipper bag and storing in the
freezer overnight, but this cold treatment won't get rid of the allergens.
Instead, buy only stuffed toys that you can wash regularly with the bedding.http://www.hgtv.com/home-improvement/tips-for-controlling-dust-mites/index.html