Dust mites: these mistakes promote their proliferation at home (and your risk of allergies)

Repeated sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes… in the middle of autumn? It’s not necessarily a virus. It can also be a dust mite allergymore frequent than you would believe. These tiny little creatures love to nest in warm, humid places of the House. One of their favorite places is bedroom to sleep. Dust mite allergy is linked to their droppings when they are alive and to particles who disintegrate when they die. To reduce the presence of mites, you must avoid:

► Keeping your mattress too long

The mattress is one of the first reservoirs of mites, whatever its composition because of the temperature and humidity of the room but also of the body when we sleep. do not forget that mites feed on dead human skin and we lose it every night while sleeping. To avoid the presence of dust mites in the mattress as much as possible, you should not do not keep it for more than 7 years (you can change it even earlier). It is also advisable toair the open bed every day, put on an anti-mite cover around the mattress and wash your sheets at 60 degrees every week.

► Never wash the duvet

It’s not simple, we grant you, but the duvet is a cozy nest for dust mites which enjoy multiplying there (the same goes for pillows). It is therefore advisable to wash the duvet at least twice a year or every quarter ideally, in the machine if you have the space or otherwise in the laundromat or dry cleaner, at 40 degrees.

► Let the dust settle

Mites live in dust so the less you clean, the more they proliferate. It is therefore necessary, as often as possible, to use an electrostatic cloth which catches dust on your furniture (furniture tops too), frames, tables, etc. And vacuum using a vacuum cleaner. vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter (high efficiency air particle filter) which will eliminate dust mites. Ideally, vacuuming should be done with windows open to prevent the dust laden with mites do not fly around the room then rest on furniture, cushions, etc.

► Heating your house too much

There ideal proliferation temperature mites are located between 23 and 25 degrees. So the more you heat your interior, the more they develop. Ideally, it is advisable tolower the room temperature to 19 degrees, or even 18°C ​​in the rooms if it is bearable. Finally, you must ensure that the humidity level is as low as possible in the rooms.

If, despite all your efforts, symptoms suggestive of an allergy persist, do not hesitate to consult your doctor who will then be able to refer you to an allergist.