Thursday, April 3, 2008
As a college student, you probably don’t religiously dust, vacuum or wash your sheets. Those layers of dust accumulating on your TV, bookshelves and dressers aren’t that noticeable. The carpet doesn’t look that bad—it doesn’t have to be vacuumed today. You washed your bedding two weeks ago—it’s still clean. The tiny creatures living in the dust and dirt in your house and in your bed are very happy when you neglect cleaning.
Dust mites loom in several dusty areas in every person’s place of residence. Barbara Ogg, professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who has a doctorate in entomology, says dust mites feed on skin scales, dander and feathers. Dust mites lurk in places where these items are found, such as beds, overstuffed furniture, carpet and pet bedding. Dust mites thrive in high-humidity conditions, especially when the humidity is at a level greater than or equal to 50 percent, Ogg says. People who don’t have air conditioning or live in climates with more humidity have more dust mites than others.
Ogg says these dust-loving pests can be harmful to your health. It is common for people to be allergic to the dust mite particles in house dust. These particles can cause symptoms similar to hay fever: itchiness, itchy eyes, runny nose and coughing, Ogg says. People who have serious allergies may have respiratory problems and even asthma related to the dust mites in their houses.
People can get rid of dust mites by reducing humidity in their homes to less than 50 percent, which, Ogg says, usually isn’t a problem in the winter when furnaces are running, but, in the summer, a dehumidifier or air conditioner is necessary to maintain low moisture in your house. To prevent dust mites, wash bedding regularly and dry it in a hot dryer, Ogg says. Dry-clean wool blankets or other bedding that can’t be washed. Use synthetic pillows, as feather pillows harbor more mites. Ogg says another way to keep the mites away is to regularly vacuum areas where pets sleep and overstuffed furniture where people spend a lot of time, and to use a mattress enclosure to keep dust mites out of your mattress. People who have allergies might want to have hardwood floors instead of carpeting, Ogg suggests. So the next time you are tempted to put off vacuuming or dusting, think about those creepy little critters living in your stuff, and fire up that Dirt Devil.
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