Experts say that an average bed hosts over a million dust mites! It can be hard to imagine that the very bed you use for sleeping (and for a few other things — reading a book, sex, etc.) is actually serving as a party place for microscopic creatures that feed on your dead skin cells that you regularly shed. And by the way, dust mites are related to spiders!
Having dust mite allergy simply makes having those creepy crawlers in your bed a complete no-no. The waste products of dust mites mix into the air you breathe, and this is what causes the problem. Your immune system springs into action thinking those substances coming from dust mites can actually wreak havoc to your health.
The way the immune system overzealously reacts to the waste products of dust mites leaves you with unfavorable symptoms such as itching, coughing, wheezing and congestion. Of course you may always take antihistamines available over the counter, but of course you have to be willing to put up with the potential side effects — drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, blurred vision and even moodiness.
Some people with stronger allergic reactions that cannot be allayed by the simple intake of OTC antihistamines may actually require allergy shots. Of course this is something that does not come free of charge. If you are scared of needles, getting an allergy shot is definitely not a good thing.
Fret not if you are allergic to dust mites because you are certainly not alone. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America or AAFA says that as many as 20 million people in the United States have it. Still this information should not make you take dust mite allergy sitting down. Did you know that long-term exposure to the waste products of dust mites will not only leave you with the various symptoms mentioned earlier, but also potentially lead to asthma and sinus infections?
What you need to do in order to ward off an allergic reaction (and save yourself from winding up with asthma and sinus infections) is to get rid of the root cause — those dust mites!
Logging online allows you to come across a wide variety of DIY solutions to dust mites. While all of them are effective, there’s a particular home remedy that can certainly get rid of those millions of microscopic pests residing in your very bed. This solution is very simple, cost-free and most importantly effective — exposing your bed to sunlight.
Heat is something that dust mites cannot tolerate. Expose them to high temperatures and they will breathe their last. This is the reason why something as easy as allowing your bed to be touched by direct sunlight can help put an end to your problem concerning dust mites. When you arise in the morning, try not to make your bed. Open up those curtains and permit as much morning sun in your room as possible. By allowing your bed to be exposed to the sun for several minutes, you can kiss those millions of creepy crawlers goodbye!
If you want, you may also take your mattress, beddings and pillows outside, most especially during high noon. Exposing them to direct sunlight as well as fresh air will not only zap dust mites, but also make them smell fresher. This is one of the surest ways of eliminating dust mites without pulling a single dollar out of your pocket.
Keeping dust mites from coming back and wreaking havoc to your immune system is fairly easy too. You simply have to wash your beddings once a week, preferably with hot water. It’s also a good idea to eliminate as many items in your bedroom as possible that dust mites love to thrive in, such as carpets, drapes and upholstered pieces of furniture.
