Dust Mites are tiny insects that have eight legs and a small head and they feed off flakes of dead skin shed by humans.
- NB: an adult human will shed about 500 million flakes of their dead skin daily.
Dust mites measure about 1/100 inch in length and so it’s only visible through a microscope.
The symptoms of dust mites for humans include itching and sneezing – but these can be related to chiggers, ticks, and spiders.
But do dust mites bite humans? No, the mouthparts of dust mites are quite rudimentary and so they can’t sting or bite humans.
- On the contrary, dust mites will eat their own cast of skins and poop or fungi, pollen, pet skin, and flakes of dead human skin.
We’ve seen that dust mites will not bite or sting humans (this is unlike other mite species). But do we, like most homeowners, worry so much about these bugs?
Let’s find out!
Related: Bed Bugs Vs Mites
Details: Do Dust Mites Bite?
In summary, we’ve seen that dust mites will not bite humans but we still have reason to be concerned about these bugs.
- The most concerning issue with having dust mites in the house is their allergens since they trigger allergic reactions in humans.
- There are about 20 + dust mite-related allergens that arise from the pests’ bodily secretions including poop and cast skins.
So despite that, the dust mites want to bite humans or inject venomous chemicals into their bodies, they can trigger grave medical issues.
Dust mites will hide in locations where dust tends to settle; these places include curtains, blinds, furniture, bedding, and soft fabrics.
- The Allergy and Asthma Foundation reports that Americans totaling roughly 20 million are insensitive to allergens resulting from dust mites.
It’s almost impossible to completely remove all the dust mites from your spaces but you can control their numbers.
Challenges/ Health Risks Posed by Dust Mites
Health experts have documented dust mites as a key indoor trigger for humans that have asthma and allergies.
- So a continued and chronic dust mites’ explosion can lead to adverse health effects for humans with allergies and those that are sensitive or allergic to mites.
Exposure to dust mite allergies may result in mild asthma with symptoms being sneezing, watery eyes, or runny nose.
Severe cases of asthma can result from extensive and chronic explosion dust mites that could lead to facial pressure, congestion, coughing, and sneezing.
- So humans who are asthmatic and also sensitive to dust mites will have a higher risk of severe asthma attacks and flare-ups.
The Minuscule and tiny fecal pellets from dust mites will irritate the human throat and nose membranes if inhaled and cause sneezing.
- The dust mite allergens may also trigger hives on the skin, allergic reactions, and asthma attacks.
The signs of having dust mites in the house will include running nose, headaches, and sneezing.
Related: Flea Carpet Powder
Effective protection from dust mites: Techniques
Homeowners can effectively protect themselves from dust mites through techniques that will help eliminate or reduce the pests. Let’s check them out
1. Reducing the Humidity
Recent scientific research shows that reducing the relative humidity of space will control dust mites plus the allergens they reproduce.
Experts advise that you should maintain relative humidity (RH) of under 50% in your home to reduce the dust mites and the allergens they produce.
- The research was done by altering indoor RH in the humid temperate climate.
2. Remove Hiding Areas For Dust Mites
I also advise that you clear those areas where the dust mites could live.
Some of the areas include pillows that have allergen encasements, mattress covers, curtains and drapes, and furniture that has smooth surfaces.
- Removing most of these objects from your spaces will help reduce the hiding or breeding grounds for the dust mites.
It is also advisable that you wash the bedding once weekly with hot water that is 130 + degrees Fahrenheit.
Also check places that the dust mites can live in, including stuffed animals and various clutter.
Otherwise, you may opt to wash search objects using hot water that is 130 + degrees per Fahrenheit as these will kill dust mites.
3. Remove And Replace The Carpets
Dust mites will find an excellent hiding and living place in your carpeting.
So to control these bugs, I advise that you remove the carpeting from your house, particularly if the family members have allergens that are related to dust mite allergens.
- But you can still vacuum the carpets thoroughly with a quality vacuum cleaner.
Avoid wet mopping but just focus on removing dust and dirt on the floors through damp cleaning.
4. Dust The Floors Regularly
Combining regular cleaning and dusting off the floors will help minimize dust quantities that accumulate in the house.
- This will help improve the air quality in the house and that’s better health for you and your pets.
Avoid stirring the dust while cleaning by using some wet microfiber cloth for the washcloth.
- In comparison homes in lower-income areas and those that are old and located in humid climates tend to have more dust mites.
Conclusion
Dust mites will not bite humans and they are also not visible to the human eye.
- However, these pests will cause health effects such as allergic reactions, hives, and asthma.
Finally, it’s impossible to completely remove the pests from your house but you can minimize them.