You may not be able to rid your home of allergy-causing dust mites altogether, but there are things you can do to minimise their spread and the effect they have on your family.
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Know the symptoms
To determine whether you’ve got an allergy sufferer in your home, you need to be able to identify the signs and symptoms. Look out for a blocked nose or a wheeze (night cough) with itchy eyes and skin. The symptoms are usually worse indoors and in the early morning.
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Identify the hot spots
Mites thrive in a warm, humid environment, and so the bed is an ideal breeding ground. Dust mites love fabrics such as carpets, pillows, mattresses, soft toys (teddy bears), heavy curtains and upholstered furniture. Make sure these items are washed at a high temperature and vacuumed regularly.
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Pet care
The flakes from the animal’s skin (known as dander), and not their fur, are what cause allergy sufferers to have an allergic reaction. It’s important that you keep pets out of the bedroom and wash them once a week. If you suffer from allergies, you need to wash your hands after coming into contact with your pet.
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Keep pollen out
It’s important that you allow fresh, clean air into your home. But opening the windows and doors can also allow the pollen to come in. Make sure you keep windows and doors closed between 5am and 10am, at night and especially during the high-pollen season.
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Use mattress and pillow protectors
Mattress and pillow protectors trap mites and the allergen they produce in the bedding, so there are fewer allergens to trigger an allergy such as asthma, rhinitis or eczema. The mattress and pillow protectors by Protect-A-Bed have been designed to shield mattresses and pillows from accidental spills and stains, and keep bacteria, dust mites, bedbugs, moisture, mould and mildew from coming into contact with people.
To find out more about Protect-A-Bed’s range of mattress and pillow protectors, visit www.protectabed.co.za.
This post was sponsored by Protect-A-Bed.
