How To Get Rid of Dust Mites in Nairobi?

How To Get Rid of Dust Mites in Nairobi?

A dust mite is a tiny eight-legged creature which is virtually impossible to see with the naked eye. Dust mites feed on flakes of shed human skin and are therefore prevalent wherever humans live. Dust mites will live in even the cleanest of homes, making them difficult to remove. 

In particular, dust mites can be commonly found in bedding, since there are typically a lot of dead flakes of human skin there. Dust mites also thrive in places with high humidity. Mattresses and bedding fulfil these requirements because shed skin and perspiration provide an ideal source of food and humidity.

The house dust mite gets its name from its habitat – household dust. The main component of dust is shed skin flakes, which is the mite’s preferred food source. Dust and dust mites are a common indoor allergen. Allergens are things that can trigger an allergic reaction. Allergens can cause a rash, a stuffy nose, or other symptoms such as wheezing or coughing.

Dust mites, opens dialog are visible only through a microscope. People are allergic to dust mite droppings, not the dust mites themselves. Allergy to dust mites is a year-round problem.

Reduce dust and dust mites in the air.
Don’t use window or attic fans, which bring air containing pollen, mold spores, and other allergens into your home.
Use air conditioning so you don’t have to open windows. This will help reduce the amount of pollen and mold spores that enter your home.
Use an air cleaner with a special high-efficiency particulate air filter. This can help remove some allergens (such as pollen or pet dander) and tobacco smoke from the air in your home. How To Get Rid of Dust Mites in Nairobi Kenya?

Reduce dust and dust mites in furniture, carpets, drapes, and bedding.
Avoid carpet, upholstered furniture, and heavy drapes that collect dust. Avoid furniture covered with fabrics.
Use dust-proof pillow and mattress covers made from a tight-weave fabric that keeps out dust and mites.
Use furniture made of wood, plastic, leather, or vinyl (including vinyl mattress covers) that you can wipe clean.
Remove rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting. Talk with your family about this and about how this will affect family life. If you can’t or don’t want to remove carpeting throughout the home, think about removing it only in the bedroom.
Use smaller rugs (throw rugs, area rugs) that you can wash.
Replace drapes and blinds with roll-down shades or washable curtains.
Remove “dust collectors” from bedrooms, such as stuffed toys, wall hangings, books, knickknacks, and artificial flowers.
Avoid wool blankets and down quilts.
Mop, dust, and vacuum to reduce dust and dust mites.
Damp-mop hard floors (tile or hardwood, for example) once a day.
Dust and vacuum once or twice a week to remove the buildup of allergens. Use a dry cloth to wipe hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, and other furniture.
Vacuum the carpets and cloth-covered furniture to get rid of as much dust as you can.
Use a vacuum cleaner with filter or a special double-thickness bag, which collects dust-mite particles and pollen. Standard paper bag filters may allow the stirred-up allergens to escape back into the room.
Dusting and vacuuming stir up dust, making the air worse until the dust settles. Wear a mask if you do the cleaning yourself. If possible, try to have someone without allergies do the cleaning.
Consider wet-vacuum cleaning when possible. This can help remove allergens from carpeting because it actually washes the carpet. Also, consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites.
Take other steps to reduce dust mites.
Keep the house aired out and dry. Dust mites do well where humidity is greater than 50% but don’t do well in dry conditions. This may be difficult in some seasons and some climates. Plants and fish tanks add to humidity, so keep these out of the bedroom.
Dry vacuuming doesn’t pick up dust mites. Consider steam cleaning carpets when possible. In addition to cleaning the carpet, the heat of the steam kills dust mites.
You can buy chemicals (acaricides) that kill dust mites and that you can use on carpeting and furniture. But many experts don’t consider them effective enough to be worth the trouble and expense of using them.
Wash bedding, including pillowcases and mattress covers, in hot water every week. You can also dry bedding at high temperatures.

Areas around the home that are heavily used, such as beds and upholstered furniture, will have much higher mite populations than the rest of the house.

How To Get Rid of Dust Mites in Nairobi Kenya?

The most common type of dust mite found in homes is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, which tends to prefer coastal rather than inland areas. This mite has been associated with dermatological and respiratory allergies in humans, such as eczema and asthma. However, there is no single, definitive sign that house dust mites trigger a person’s allergy symptoms. Asthma, for example, can be triggered by a range of other indoor allergens such as fungi (molds) or animal dander (hair, fur or feathers).

Symptoms of Allergic Reaction to Dust Mites

House dust mites can trigger respiratory or dermatological conditions including asthma and eczema. Symptoms can include:

• Wheezing

• Coughing

• Breathlessness

• Tight feeling in the chest

• Runny nose

• Itchy nose

• Itchy, watery eyes

• Itchy skin

• Skin rashes.

Physical Characteristics of the House Dust Mite

The characteristics of a house dust mite include:

• Not possible with naked eye

• Wingless

• Oval-shaped body

• Light colored body with fine stripes

• Life span of around 2 months or so, depending on the conditions.

Allergic Reaction to Dust Mites

Common hiding spots for dust mites
The diet of the house dust mite includes shed skin flakes, pollen and fungal spores. It prefers warm, humid and dark environments. Common hiding spots around the home include:

• Mattresses and bed linen

• Upholstered furniture

• Shag-pile or long-fibred carpets

• Soft toys.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Dust Mite Allergies

Allergy testing can determine whether house dust mites trigger your respiratory or dermatological symptoms. See your doctor for further information and advice regarding evidence-based allergy tests.

If tests show that you are allergic to house dust mites, there are ways to reduce your immune system response. For example, you could undergo allergen immunotherapy, which involves deliberately exposing you to dust mite extracts to ‘train’ your immune system not to overreact.

Measures designed to reduce your household’s dust mite population may also be helpful.

How to Reduce the Dust Mites in Your Home

It is impossible to destroy your entire dust mite population, but you can reduce their numbers. Allergic reactions are dose-related, so the fewer dust mites you have in your home, the less you may be troubled by respiratory or dermatological symptoms.

It is important to remember that the droppings of dead dust mites continue to provoke allergic reactions. You must not only reduce your dust mite population, but also take steps to remove their dead bodies and faeces from your home.

Tips to Reduce Dust Mites in Your Home

Allergen minimization strategies include:

Cover mattresses, pillows and quilts with dust mite resistant covers. The covers must be washed every 2 months. Some health funds may provide a rebate for these items.

Wash sheets and pillowcases weekly in water hotter than 60 °C. Alternatively, if washing in cold water, use a commercial product containing essential oils, such as eucalyptus or tea tree oil.

Hot tumble dry (for half an hour after dry) or dry clean household items – this will kill house dust mites, but not the allergen they produce.
Wash blankets and non-encased doonas every 2 months.

Use synthetic rather than feather pillows and doonas, as these tolerate regular washing.

Remove sheepskin or woollen underlays and any other sheepskin products.

Remove all soft toys from the bedroom and replace with wooden or plastic toys, which can be washed. Soft toys should be washed weekly using the same method used for sheets. (Freezing soft toys overnight doesn’t work, because it doesn’t remove the allergen.)

Damp dust or use electrostatic cloths to clean hard surfaces weekly, rather than a feather duster.

Reduce humidity – have a dry and well-ventilated house. Have adequate floor and wall insulation and avoid evaporative coolers.

Avoid upholstered furniture – leather, vinyl, plastic and wood are best.
Avoid heavy curtains – Venetian blinds or flat blinds are better. Washable curtains or external shutters are other options.

Wash clothing before use if it has been stored for a long time.
Remove carpets, rugs and mats (where practical and affordable) – bare boards and tiled floors are preferable as they can be damp mopped or cleaned with electrostatic cloths.

Wash rugs and mats regularly and dry them outside in full sunshine (if possible).

Vacuum weekly, including the seams of mattresses and upholstered furniture.

Vacuuming causes house dust mite allergens to become airborne for up to 20 minutes, so if you are allergic to dust mites, you should wear a mask or ask someone else to vacuum. You may air the house for an hour or so after vacuum cleaning to help clear the air.

How Can I Get Rid of Dust Mites Fast ?

There are several simple steps you can take to combat these little critters. First and foremost, eliminate the cause of the problem: get rid of dust mite nests, such as carpets and fabric armchairs. Curtains should also be washed every three months, dog or cat baskets thoroughly cleaned, and humidifiers removed. Using anti-dust mite sprays or powders can also reduce the density of dust mites on carpets and sofas.

It’s recommended to lower room temperatures to 18°C, ideally by airing out your home regularly, especially after vacuuming. Allergy sufferers should avoid vacuuming themselves to avoid breathing in dust displaced during cleaning. Meticulously cleaning your bedroom is a top priority. The bed’s warmth and the sleepers’ perspiration are ideal conditions for their reproduction. Dust mites feed on skin debris, hair and nail clippings. You should cover your mattress with an anti-mite cover and wash all bedding every 2 weeks in hot water (minimum 60°C). Allergy sufferers will prefer pillows with polyester filling. Other tips? Vacuum mattresses, box springs and bed frames regularly. Children’s favorite stuffed toys are also a breeding ground for dust mites. To slow their reproduction, normally between 20 and 30°C, stuffed toys can be placed in the freezer for a few dozen minutes or in the refrigerator for half an hour.