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Common Asthma Trigger #1: House Dust Mites

Dust mites live in house dust and thrive in warm and humid conditions (above 40%). They infest fabrics, especially bedding and pillows, carpet and upholstered furniture and feed on shed human skin cells.

It is not the dust mites themselves that trigger asthma, but their faecal pellets.

How can you avoid or reduce exposure to dust mites?


You should have three goals:

  1. Reduce live mite populations

  2. Reduce mite allergen levels

  3. Reduce human exposure to both


What do I have to do?


  • Encase mattress and pillows in allergen-impermeable fine-pore (less than 10 micrometres), vapour-permeable or plastic covers.

  • Encase box spring mattress in vinyl or plastic.

  • Wash bedding weekly in hot water - 55 degrees C or 130 degrees F (sheets, blankets, bedspreads, mattress pads, comforters). Washing bedding at lower to cold temperature does not kill most mites and only reduces many of the allergens.

  • If you can, tumble dry bedding at the same or higher temperature for at least 10 minutes at that temperature.


Please note


  • Dry cleaning fabrics kills the mites, but does not destroy all allergens.


What else can I do?


  • Dehumidify your home to below 50% by using high-efficiency dehumidifiers or air conditioners.

  • Remove wall-to-wall carpeting.

  • Replace curtains with blinds or shades for ease of dusting.

  • Replace fabric upholstery with vinyl or leather coverings.

  • If you do not want to remove your carpets, vacuum them at least weekly (wear a mask and leave the room for 20 minutes after cleaning). Use a good quality vacuum cleaner bag (double thickness) and/or a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.

  • Wash loose rugs from time to time to remove allergens.

  • On smooth floors, vacuum as above plus use a damp mop.

  • Wipe down your furniture and make sure that it does not retain rust.

  • Wash loose covers of tight-weave cloth regularly.

  • Regularly freeze soft toys and small items to a temperature of -17 to -20 degrees Celsius to kill dust mites. Remove these items from the bedroom if possible.


Using Chemicals


Using chemicals to control dust mites is still controversial as they may introduce a new problem. Clearly, more scientific research is needed. Some scientists have tried benzyl benzoate and denaturants such as tannic acid. However, they had very limited success in controlling dust mites or their faecal allergens.

Most of the above information derives from a published article by asthma specialist Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Dr Wanda Phipatanakul, of Harvard Medical School and attending physician, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.: 'Environmental Factors and Childhood Asthma'. Pediatric Annals, 35:9; September 2006.

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The information contained on this site is for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for expert medical advice, and does not take your medical history or specific circumstances into consideration. Always seek your doctor's advice if you have a medical or health-related condition. While every effort has been made to ensure that the above information was correct at the time of writing; medical knowledge is constantly being reviewed and updated, and the above information may therefore be superseded by additional knowledge.