Dust mites. We all have them in our home. Yes, even you!

They lurk undetected in carpets, curtains and soft furnishings, furiously munching on dead skin particles. You can’t see them, but they are there.

Dust mites are actually useful creatures. They are not cute and have a face that only a mother can love. But, these microscopic mites have a job to do – cleaning up after you (and me!) as you shed your skin cells willy nilly with no care to where they land.

Since you are shedding around thirty to forty thousand cells per hour, your resident dust mites have a lot of munching to do…

It’s estimated around twelve million people in the UK suffer from allergies caused by dust mites. It’s not the dust mites themselves that are the problem. The waste they produce contains a protein that can trigger an allergic reaction.

Typically, the response is similar to a common cold – sneezing, runny nose and itchy eyes. For some people, dust mite waste can trigger allergic asthma attacks. Allergy UK estimates that 85% of asthmatic children are affected by the allergen in dust mite waste.

Removing dust mites to control the allergy is not quite as simple as it sounds. Dust mites thrive in modern households because we unwittingly provide five star accommodation. Your house is warm, moist and has an endless food supply

Advice for removing dust mites.

The standard advice is to:

• Wash bedding and soft upholstery covers at 60o or above. Washing at lower temperatures will remove the dust mite droppings but will not kill the mites themselves
• If you have children, wash soft toys at 60o too. If this is not possible, pop them in the freezer for 12 hours to kill the mites before washing at a lower temperature.
• Damp wipe all surfaces at least weekly. Dry dusting just moves the dust around rather than removing it.
• Vacuum carpets, rugs and soft furnishings regularly with a high filtration vacuum cleaner (HEPA filter, S-class filter or similar)
• Cover your mattresses, duvets and pillows with an allergen proof barrier.
• Reduce humidity by increasing ventilation. Open your windows, use extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen. Where necessary use a dehumidifier to keep indoor humidity under 50% (but over 30%)

An estimated 85% of asthmatic children are affected by the allergen in dust mite waste

There have been many studies over the years about how to control dust mites and their waste. All have been pretty much inconclusive. What is clear is simply relying on one control method is not effective.

Which is why we believe that Chem-Dry’s Dust Mite Anti-Allergen spray is the most effective and safest product available today for the surface treatment of dust mite allergens. It is suitable to use on carpets, rugs, mattresses and soft household furnishings.

The ingredients used in the Chem-Dry’s Dust Mite Anti-Allergen solution are derived from naturally occurring extracts found in plants and is safe for you, your children, pets and the environment. Used alongside our hot carbonating upholstery and carpet cleaning that effectively kills and removes dust mites, the clean and spray service helps to alleviate the onset of allergic reactions.

Are dust mites causing your allergy problems? Take advantage of Castle Chemdry’s special offer, which includes a free application of Dust Mite Anti-Allergen – click here