Dust mites are microscopic pests that cannot be seen by the naked eye. They are incredibly small, so small in fact that you need a microscope just to see them. Even though these pests may not be visible they can still do a lot of damage to your home and your personal health. According to the American Lung Association, out of every five homes, four of them have dust mite activity. They are commonplace within homes since the majority of people do not know a whole lot about them. So, where do dust mites live in your home? 

Where Do Dust Mites Live In The Home?  

Dust mites can live in a variety of places within the home. The primarily locations include bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains and even the crawlspace. Due to the inactivity within your crawlspace this is a perfect habitat for them. It is an area of the home that is rarely cleaned and is always damp. The only habitat that would be inhospitable for dust mites would be in extremely hot climates such as a desert.  

What Kind Of Damage Can They Do?  

If left untreated they can cause severe allergies for those who may have allergy sensitivities or asthma. Chronic, ongoing exposure to dust mites at home can dramatically impact the health of people with asthma and those who are allergic or particularly sensitive to mites. A dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition is ongoing, or chronic, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, and in bad cases even severe asthma attacks. Individuals with asthma are in in risk if there is a substantial amount of dust mite activity within the home. This will lead to more asthma flare ups and difficulty breathing.  

How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites  

The good news is there are several ways to eliminate dust mite activity within your home. They include reduce humidity, reduce the places dust mites grow, and dust your home regularly.  

• Reduce humidity. 

•  Dust mites thrive in very humid conditions, by keeping your home below 50 percent humidity you can lower your dust mite activity. There are a variety of ways to do this, a couple including running air conditioning or have a dehumidifier. These two solutions help to limit the overall humidity within the home.  

• Reduce the places where dust mites can grow.  

• Dust mites feed on our dead skin, so many times they will be found in our furniture. Make sure to take the time and thoroughly clean your bedding with hot water. This way it kills all the dust mites that are living in the bedding.  

• Dust regularly.  

• It is important to take the time and thoroughly dust the home. The better the dusting, the less chance there will be for any breathing issues. This will also improve the sensitivities occupants may have within the home. Especially for occupants who have asthma, they can now breathe much better than before.  

Interested in improving the air quality in your home? U.S. Crawlspace’s technicians and inspectors have the tools, training, and experience to make your home, the best it can be. Call today for a free inspection or visit us at uscrawlspace.com.

To learn more about your crawlspace and how to improve upon it follow us on Facebook at uscrawlspace!