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Writer's pictureAdam Clark

How Dust Mites Can Affect Your Indoor Air Quality.

Dust mites are small, winged insects that can live in humid environments. They float in the air by their atmospheric exhalation and filter the extra moisture that lingers after a shower or other wet weather. Natural wind and other outside forces help dust mites move around, which also helps them find their way back to their hiding places at night. Indoor humidity is higher than outside humidity levels so dust mites thrive there as well. As an indoor air cleaner, you may be helping these insects thrive with your dusty home goods. However, this article will focus on how they can impact your personal indoor air quality.


How Dust Mites Can Affect Your Indoor Air Quality

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny insects that are inedible and feel no pain. They are also called “milk devils” or “haymakers” and can live in humid environments. The insects move about by fluttering their wings, extracting moisture from the air. They also avoid contact with direct sunlight and are most active at night. While they are not typically a health risk, dust mites can be an indoor insect problem. What you can do to eliminate dust mite problems in your home.


How do dust mites get into your home?

The easiest way to get dust mites is to create a breeding environment with dirty clothes, carpets, and upholstery. They will also come in contact with your skin when you sleep on these surfaces. Another way dust mites get into your home is when you have pets with “fancy” fleas or new animals before they have had a chance to become immune to the fleas brought in from outside. Excessive grooming of pets and humans can also feed on hair, skin, and other material in your home.


What can trigger a dust mite infestation?

The first and most important thing to check is your cat’s diet. Not only is it important to make sure your cat is getting all the proper nutrients, but its diet can also be used as a barometer to indicate whether or not your home is infested. Cats, like people, get “fancy” fleas during their first two years of life. While they don’t get these fleas again for another six months or so, their diet during this time can easily determine whether or not they have flea problems in your home. Your cat’s diet should consist of meat, vegetables, and some dairy products. During this time, cats should also be kept clean with a flea and tick sweep each week. In addition to a healthy cat’s diet, other things that can cause a flea infestation in your home include: Veterinary medicine (i.e. medications, medications that are given to dogs and cats, and other animals as well) Insecticides and pesticides Crack and crevice-facing dwelling units Degradation of building materials (i.e. wood, particle board, asbestos, etc.) Poor hygiene (i.e. hairballs, leaving pet skin exposed to the wind, etc.) Poor animal habituation (i.e. dogs being too close to humans, sharing household objects, etc.)


How bad is an indoor mite infestation?

There are many different types of mites that a person can encounter in their home. Some of the more common ones that impact human health are Cluster mites (also called “dust mites”): These are the most noticeable and dangerous indoor mite species. They are large with long, sticky legs and are typically found in wall voids and around light fixtures. Scorpio mites (also called “cockroach” mites or “minidress mites”): These mites are also found in walls and around fixtures. Some people also experience an allergic reaction to scorpion mites. Prey mites (also called “insects” or “parasites”): Prey mites are found in the environment and are commonly transferred from one host to another. Some people also experience an allergic reaction to parasitic infections.


Final words: Is Dust Mite Freezing the Best Option for You?

Dust mites are tiny, winged insects that can live in humid environments. They float in the air by their atmospheric exhalation and filter the extra moisture that lingers after a shower or other wet weather. In addition to their effect on your indoor air quality, a dust mite infestation could also impact your family’s health by transmitting diseases such as Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis Leptospirosis You can also expect to experience: Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Muscle spasms


Is Dust Mite Freezing the Best Option for You?

Given the amount of work that goes into making your home clean and healthful, it makes sense that eliminating dust mite problems would be a great start. Unfortunately, in order to eliminate dust mite problems in your home, you will need to be willing to be persistent. Dust mite problems can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful bugs so if you want to get rid of them, you need to be patient. A good analogy is to keep sweeping and mopping until the problem is fixed. You will likely end up spending more time sweeping and moping than actually getting the task done. In the meantime, the bugs will be back. With time, they may even develop resistance to your current cleaning and ventilation solutions.


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