Dust mites are found in just about every home.
They are invisible to the naked eye and tend to hide out in couches, mattresses, and pillows.
Any place they can find their choice of food, dead skin cells, you can find dust mites.
If you have an allergy to dust mites you will find that you develop a rash that is a result of coming into contact with the waste that the mites produce.
Some people have a very adverse reaction to mites.
The allergy will result in a very itchy rash that appears as a red bump.
Some liken the rash to having the appearance of eczema and it is quite often that people are misdiagnosed.
Some also have additional reactions such as difficulty breathing and eventually asthmatic reactions.
Dust mites love humid conditions, and thrive in areas with high humidity.
Areas of the southwest where relative humidity is often very low have no problem with these bugs.
Because the mites favorite food is dead skin, we are in a precarious position in that we provide them with the food they need since we are constantly shedding our skin.
So how do we handle them and keep their numbers low? One way is to vacuum regularly.
It may be necessary to invest in a HEPA vacuum as it provides additional filtration and can pick up more than the estimated twenty percent that a standard vacuum will remove.
It is also important to wash bedding regularly.
Also, drapes and window treatments should be dusted frequently to combat the problem.
Because of the reproductive capabilities of dust mites, this is extremely important.
They have the ability to lay eggs weekly, thus constantly growing their population.
It is also advisable to consider purchasing a HEPA air purifier to combat the mites.