As shocking as it may sound, making your bed first thing in the morning might not be as beneficial as you think it is. In fact, scientists claim that making your bed in the morning can lock in the humidity in your mattress and sheets, making them the perfect ground for dust mites and bed bugs to breed. This is especially dangerous in warm and humid places as the mites there can develop much faster and much more.
Read below to find out about the dangers of dust mites and how to get rid of them:
What are these dust mites?
Dust mites are microscopic arachnids that feed off of dead skin cells and sweat. It is believed that nearly every home in the world is contaminated with dust mites.
A study conducted in 2000 found that more than 45% of American homes had detectable dust mite levels associated with the development of allergies, and 23% had beddings with high concentrations of allergens that are enough to trigger asthma attacks.
These bugs usually get trapped in the fibers of bed linens, furniture cushions and carpeting. A recent study conducted by scientists estimates that there could be as many as 1.5 million dust mites living in an average bed.
What are the effects on our health?
Dust mites are actually one of the many causes of dust allergies. These are the common symptoms of dust allergies:
– Sneezing
– Runny nose
– Itchy, red or watery eyes
– Nasal congestion
– Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat
– Postnasal drip
– Cough
– Facial pressure and pain
– Red, itchy, bumps on the skin
– Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes
– In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose.
Developed mites produce waste which contains proteins that react with our immune system. Our body then creates antibodies to fight off these allergens, which causes an inflammatory response in our nasal passages or lungs.
Chronic inflammation and obstruction of these nasal passages leads to the development of asthma and sinus infection. In fact, dust mites are a really common cause of asthma in children and can cause wheezing in 50% of asthmatics.
How to manage a dust allergy?
The process of cleaning your bed can stir up dust particles, making them easier to inhale, which means that dust mite allergy symptoms can worsen while/after vacuuming, sweeping and dusting.
“Killing the mites alone doesn’t stop any of the exposure to allergens – all it does is kill the mites, which will over a period of time just re-establish themselves anyway. So you do need to get rid of the allergen,” explains says. Dr Euan Tovey, an allergy researcher at Sydney University.
To manage allergens, vacuum your home regularly using an HEPA filter vacuum. A good way to protect your bed is by using mite-proof mattress and pillow covers and by washing your sheets regularly.
Dr. Euan Tovey suggests that washing your sheets in warm water with a normal laundry detergent removes up to 97% of the water-soluble allergens.
How to prevent the dust mites from breeding?
Dust mites can easily live and multiply in warm and humid places. They prefer temperatures at/or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity level of 75% to 80%.
If the humidity level falls below 50%, the dust mites will die. That’s why they are not usually found in dry climates.
A recent research conducted by the Kingston University discovered that these bugs cannot survive in the warm, dry conditions found in an unmade bed, especially when they are exposed to direct sunlight.
Researcher Dr. Stephen Pretlove explains: “We know that mites can only survive by taking in water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of their body” .
“Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die.”
So, as silly as it sounds, leaving your bed unmade, or, at least, uncovering it, will help you kill the dust mites so that your bed will stay mite-free for the next night you go to sleep.
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