Dusty, or bed mites - domestic parasites belonging to the arthropod family. Their habitat is dust, and their food source is dead human skin cells. Bed mites are unpretentious and can survive in almost any conditions. The most favorable environment for their living is warm and humid, the temperature is about 21 degrees Celsius, that is, the one that is installed in living quarters, and there is an abundance of food (epithelium). This explains their wide distribution.
Such parasites can cause allergies, and prolonged exposure to them can lead to the development of sinusitis and even asthma. In addition, the scabies mite provokes a disease such as scabies, which occurs with regular contact with its waste products.
That is why it is important to know what a tick that lives at home looks like and how to get rid of it.
You may be confusing dust mites with bed bugs or marks on your skin with bed bug bites.
Main types of house ticks
House ticks are a separate biological group of parasites that live in the residential environment. They not only spoil food, clothing and furniture, but also affect the health of humans and animals.
The following types of ticks can appear and reproduce in the living environment:
- Hairy house tick . This pest lives in flour, grain, plant and animal residues, and even in cheese and tobacco. Such mites actively develop at a temperature of 23-25 degrees and a relative air humidity of 80-90%. They can cause dermatitis in humans;
- Scabies mite (itching) . It develops and parasitizes only on humans in high humidity and warmth. It is the causative agent of scabies;
- Rat mite . The parasite primarily attacks rats, but, in the absence of a natural host, can attack other mammals, as well as humans. Rat mites cause a difficult to treat disease - rat mite dermatitis. This parasite is common in rural areas and poses a danger to its inhabitants;
- Chicken mite . This type of parasite is widespread throughout the world. Mainly lives in nests and droppings of birds, cracks of wooden surfaces. Can parasitize on the surface of human skin, causing skin rashes and irritations;
- Bird mite . This tick parasitizes wild and domestic birds, that is, it lives in close proximity to humans and is capable of attacking them.
Household ticks are dangerous not only because of their bites, but also because of the impact of their own feces on humans and pets.
How to get rid of bed mites at home
Today there are many methods that will help get rid of microscopic parasites. The main condition for their extermination is regular ventilation of rooms and bedding. It is worth observing preventive measures, cleaning and using insecticides and traditional methods.
The parasite cannot tolerate temperatures that are too high or low. It will not survive fourteen days if the air temperature drops below 10 degrees. Washing at 60 degrees of water will be destructive for the insect. Air humidity below 40% is also unacceptable for parasite life.
Quartz coating will help to cope with the task perfectly. UV radiation will destroy parasites in 25 minutes. Don't expect 100% insect control. Pests can hide under furniture and escape death.
Important! Quartzization harms the human body and plants. Before turning on the lamp, flowers must be removed from the room and people must leave the room.
Indoor cleaning
A powerful vacuum cleaner is quite effective in the fight against linen mites. Therefore, it is better to buy equipment that belongs to class 14.
It is possible to exterminate dirt and insect larvae using a steam vacuum cleaner. Steam will easily dissolve the chitinous shell of the parasite's body. A steam vacuum cleaner should be used to clean cracks and soft toys. Upholstered furniture and mattresses need to be vacuumed. No matter how good the mattress pad looks, it needs to be changed every 7 years.
Wet cleaning of rooms using emulsions for cleaning carpets is also useful in the fight against parasites.
Insecticide treatment
Acaricidal agents are effective in the fight against microscopic parasites.
The most popular of them include:
- Digital. The concentrate is diluted in cold water, stirring the product for 5 minutes. It is necessary to use Cifox with the windows open and with a mask on the face. Wet cleaning of the room is not carried out within 9 hours after treatment.
- Allergoff. Its advantage is low toxicity to humans and animals. It can have a negative effect on insects for six months.
- Acarytox. The substance is in powder form. When using it, you must adhere to safety precautions. Acaritox retains its effects for 14 days.
- Sipaz-Super. Add 4 g of this substance to 1 liter of water. The drug contains a fragrance that muffles the unpleasant odor. The drug has a negative effect on the nervous system of the parasite, so it dies almost instantly.
- Milbiol. It has an unpleasant onion odor that dissipates quickly. An aerosol was created based on tropical tree oil.
Preventive measures
Complete extermination of insects cannot be achieved even with a thorough general cleaning. But it is possible to maintain their population.
You just need to follow certain rules:
- Natural carpets should be replaced with artificial ones, and feather pillows and wool blankets should be filled with synthetic material.
- It is better not to keep soft toys in the apartment or they need to be vacuumed constantly.
- Change bed linen regularly, at least once every 7 days.
- The floor and baseboards should be treated with saline solution.
- Upholstered furniture needs to be cleaned periodically.
- The room must be maintained at a certain temperature, no more than 21 degrees.
- It is also worth monitoring the air humidity. Insects love humid climates, so you should purchase a dehumidifier to prevent them from successfully breeding.
Folk remedies for getting rid of bed mites
Today there are a lot of traditional methods that are as effective as chemicals.
The main ones include:
- Soap and ammonia. You need to dilute 50 g of soap in a liter of water, add 100 g of ammonia to it. The resulting product is used to treat dusty areas of the apartment. You can wash bed linen in it.
- Salt and soda. They are added to water and wiped floors and furniture. A simple 20% saline solution will also be effective.
- Essential oils of lavender or lemon. For 10 liters of water use 5 drops of oil.
- Bleaching. It is added to water and wiped on floors to quickly get rid of unwanted parasites.
What a dust mite looks like - photo under a microscope
Dust mites are invisible to the naked eye because they are only 0.5 mm long. It is possible to study the details of the structure of his body only with the help of a microscope.
One gram of house dust can contain from hundreds to thousands of parasites. It is known that their numbers increase significantly from August to October, especially after the start of the heating season.
A tick of this species, like all arachnids, has a flattened body, consisting of individual segments connected to each other. The linen mite moves with eight legs. Each limb has suction cups, thanks to which the harmful microorganism is firmly attached to surfaces. With the help of two pairs of jaws, the parasite captures and grinds food, and also pierces the skin of the host, as some mistakenly believe.
The body of dust mites is covered with a kind of water-repellent layer. If you examine the parasite using a microscope, you can come to the conclusion that it looks like an ordinary small spider. About 150 species of mites are known to live in house dust.
Where do dust mites start and live?
Most often, dust mites are concentrated in dusty environments that are difficult to clean, as well as in bedding. They can be found:
- In a pillow filled with natural bird feathers;
- In the mattress, especially if it is old and has not been cleaned for a long time. It is claimed that such mattresses consist of 10% mites;
- In a blanket that is stuffed with cotton wool;
- In a carpet made from natural materials, the pile of which can also be eaten by parasites;
- In bed linen;
- In furniture upholstery;
- In curtains and drapes;
- On bookshelves that are rarely dusted;
- In a bag located in the vacuum cleaner;
- In soft toys made from natural materials;
- In stale old clothes;
- In woolen blankets.
According to the Federal Budgetary Institution “Center for Hygienic Education of the Population” of Rospotrebnadzor, one gram of dust contains from 10 to 10,000 dust mites. In addition to them, about 350 thousand colonies of bacteria and about 100 thousand clusters of fungi live on bed linen.
The waste products of sofa mites, which cause allergic reactions, enter the air, slowly settle on the surface and gradually accumulate. Allergens get not only onto furniture and things, but also onto human skin and even into the respiratory tract.
How do bed ticks bite? Do they bite?
Many people are concerned about whether mattress mites bite and, accordingly, what the bite looks like. This type of parasite does not bite and does not spread infection. This is due to the fact that the pests are too small and cannot bite through human skin.
The cushion mite causes harm in a different way, through its metabolic products. These include:
- Cuticle remaining after molting;
- Secretions produced by parasites;
- Feces that contain proteins that cause allergic reactions.
Those who are predisposed to allergies should be especially careful, because the parasite causes extremely unpleasant symptoms that can develop into a serious illness. That is why, if alarming signs are detected, it is worth contacting an allergist or immunologist to check for suspected tick allergies.
The rash that appears on the skin in response to the activity of the mite is confused by some with bed bug bites. In fact, bed bugs, unlike ticks, leave very specific bites: they are numerous and grouped, looking like large swellings with a pronounced red seal in the middle.
What causes mites to appear in bed?
Why is the bed most often attacked by dust mites? How do they get here?
The fact is that in every home, despite diligently maintaining cleanliness, there is a small population of these parasites. With frequent cleaning, washing and cleanliness of linen, replacing the filling in feather pillows with a more modern one, the number of mites is kept within the acceptable range: they are not enough to become a source of allergies.
If wet cleaning of premises and changing of bed linen is carried out rarely, a large number of keratinized skin particles accumulate in the layer of dust and on the fabric of bedding, on which clothes mites feed. Thus, favorable conditions are created for their nutrition, development and reproduction.
You should be especially careful: bed mites are often observed in rented apartments and rooms in inexpensive hotels, where guests often change and bed linen is not properly processed.
How to get rid of dust mites: acceptable methods
Since dust mites cause discomfort and can provoke severe allergic reactions, every person has a reasonable question - how to get rid of dust mites in an apartment? There are many options for dealing with them, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.
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We list the main methods for removing dust mites:
- Ultraviolet radiation or drying things in the sun.
- Exposing to frost or exposure to ultra-low temperatures.
- Wet cleaning using a 20% salt solution. It is recommended to carry out such cleaning at least once a week.
- Frequent change of mattresses, pillows and bed linen. Moreover, it is recommended to wash bed linen at a temperature not lower than 65 degrees.
- It is imperative to store clean bedding in a dry and well-ventilated place.
- Vacuuming and constantly emptying the dust container.
- Airing the apartment at any time of the year.
- If possible, avoid woven tapestries, an abundance of carpets in the apartment, a huge accumulation of upholstered furniture and soft toys.
- Clean using a steam generator, as dust mites do not tolerate high temperatures.
These are the most common methods to get rid of dust mites at home. It is important to understand that expensive chemical tests will not provide more noticeable results. You can't completely get rid of dust mites, but regular cleaning will help keep their numbers to a minimum and get rid of the discomfort that mites cause.
Using sprays to control dust mites
Sometimes traditional methods do not produce results in the fight against dust mites. In this case, special tools designed to eliminate the problem will help. This is another effective way that allows you to answer the question of how to get rid of dust mites.
Modern sprays are developed based on environmentally friendly components. Therefore, they do not harm a person, but at the same time they help to fight the problem perfectly. The products have passed all clinical tests, which confirm the safety of the products and allow their use in apartments where small children live. The variety of acaricidal sprays is great, so each buyer can choose the best option depending on the place of application.
Special sprays instantly neutralize mite allergens. They are applied easily and quickly to any surface. Therefore, the problem of how to get rid of dust mites in the sofa is solved in one fell swoop. The spray is intended for treating upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpets, and any other items used in everyday life. In a short time, the substance completely decomposes biologically and does not harm the environment.
But no matter how safe and environmentally friendly such preparations are, when using any chemicals, sprays or additives for high-quality cleaning, be very careful. Do not use them indoors, do not apply them in a thick layer, follow the instructions strictly. If you experience any unpleasant sensations or discomfort, immediately leave the room, leaving it to ventilate. The composition of sprays may contain different elements that can provoke unpleasant side reactions in people. This is especially true for people with allergies.
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Do not forget that when spraying soft toys, children's clothes and bedding, you must wash them additionally in hot water.
The benefits of wet cleaning to combat dust mites
Another way to deal with dust mites is wet cleaning. The method is simple and effective. You need to remove dust with a damp cloth as often as possible; it is best to carry out this procedure every day. It wouldn’t hurt to clean not only the furniture and floors, but also wipe down the walls and ceiling.
Pre-treatment with anti-dust mite sprays has an additional effect. In combination with wet cleaning, this will give excellent results.
Wet treatment from time to time will not harm carpets and soft toys. It is beyond the power of any person to carry out such work every day, but once every 3-4 months, make it a rule to beat out the carpets and clean them with special cleaning products. In winter, cleaning carpets and rugs with fresh snow is considered a very effective method.
Traditional methods to combat dust mites
Supporters of simple and natural cleaning methods will definitely ask how to get rid of dust mites using folk remedies. After all, these methods are usually characterized by maximum simplicity and safety for residents. Among the folk methods are wet cleaning with table salt, beating out carpets on the street, cleaning carpets with snow and frequently changing bed linen. Do not forget to ventilate and beat mattresses well, because the problem of how to get rid of dust mites in a mattress always raises a lot of questions.
A high-quality air purifier helps clean the air from dust and mites. But it is important to remember that most ticks do not live in the air, but in beds and upholstery. Therefore, an air purification system is a good addition, but not the main method of protection.
Do not forget to change the air purifier filters every 3-4 months, as they quickly become dirty and cannot do their job efficiently.
Maintain indoor humidity no more than 30-50% and air temperature no more than 25 degrees. A damp and warm environment is ideal for ticks to breed, which is what we try to avoid.
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In simple terms, regular and thorough cleaning will rid the room of the presence of dust mites. High-quality cleaning, constant change of linen and cleaning of toys will help create conditions in the apartment that are unfavorable for the life and reproduction of dust mites. This is the best thing you can do to combat parasites.
Remedies and methods for getting rid of bed mites
None of the existing methods guarantees the complete elimination of the feather mite population, but by taking the necessary measures, it is quite possible to reduce its population to a safe level. Under such conditions, you can be sure that parasites will not cause allergies.
How to get rid of bed dust mites? There are several types of means with which you can control their vital activity.
Chemicals, preparations and suspensions, the composition of which makes it possible to exterminate ticks. At the same time, they are completely safe for humans, for example:
- Allergoff spray , which not only has a detrimental effect on pests, but also neutralizes their waste products containing allergens;
- Easy Air is an organic product in the form of a spray. Suitable for processing various surfaces. Helps eliminate allergy symptoms caused by parasites;
- Milbiol aerosol is a bed mite treatment intended for treating mattresses and textile surfaces. The active substances of the drug act directly on ticks, disrupting their ability to feed and stopping their development and growth;
- Dani Earth is a spray from a Japanese manufacturer. Suitable for cleaning upholstered furniture, toys, pillows. It has a non-sticky texture, so it dries quickly;
- Digital . The preparation for treating premises is highly concentrated and toxic, so it should be used only in diluted form and only in personal protective equipment;
- All-Rug . This is a shampoo for cleaning carpets and washing floors, preventing the development of domestic parasites.
It is possible to independently prepare a product for treating places where a lot of dust and things accumulate. To do this, you need to prepare a saline solution, observing the following proportions: liter of water per 200g. salt. This composition will help fight household ticks.
If ticks appear in the house, then, in addition to treating the premises with chemicals, it is important to regularly ventilate and carry out wet cleaning. If there are allergy sufferers in the family, it is advisable to purchase a vacuum cleaner with an aqua filter: a regular vacuum cleaner not only does not neutralize allergens, but also contributes to the spraying of mite particles and their excrement. A household steamer can destroy dust mites by exposing them to hot steam. Make it a habit to steam the mattress, blanket and pillow on both sides when changing a set of bed linen, this will prevent the appearance of parasites. After this procedure, the laundry needs to be thoroughly dried.
Folk remedies for getting rid of insects
Traditional methods can also help in the fight against parasites, but only if there are not many bedbugs.
It is better to remove a large number of insects in another way; traditional methods are ineffective here. How to get rid of bed mites at home:
- Remove nests with a vacuum cleaner, or press with a slipper. Mechanical impact is one of the most effective folk methods of impact.
- Apply temperatures to them. In severe frost or hot weather, furniture and mattresses are taken outside and knocked out. You can scald the infected area with boiling water.
- Products with a strong odor (kerosene, vinegar, naphthalene, denatured alcohol, etc.) can also help. They need to be applied to the surface: baseboards, corners of furniture, etc.
- The smell of wormwood and tansy is also unpleasant for insects. They need to be placed on the floor; the smell will repel parasites.
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First aid kit items
You can make your own anti-parasite chemicals. For this, everything you need can be found in the first aid kit:
- Camphor and turpentine. In one container mix 100 ml of ethyl alcohol and turpentine and 5 g of camphor. The resulting mixture is used to treat bedbug nests.
- Ammonia . The pungent odor of this product is intolerable to bedbugs. To do this, you need to mix 150 g of denatured alcohol, 10 g of ammonia and 4 g of benzene. The product is poured onto a saucer and placed near the infected areas.
- Denatured alcohol. Insects and nests should be watered with pure denatured alcohol.
- Another effective mixture consists of 100 ml cresol, 200 ml kerosene and 10 naphthalene . Problem areas are treated with the resulting mixture using a brush.
Allergic reaction to bed dust mites
Dust mites are a source of severe allergic reactions. They affect the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and cause:
- Conjunctivitis, rhinitis, allergic dermatitis;
- Respiratory allergosis;
- Rhinoconjunctivitis;
- Quincke's edema;
- Bronchial asthma.
In medicine, such a reaction to household parasites is called tick-borne sensitization .
The occurrence of an allergy caused by bed mites is indicated by such signs as frequent sneezing, wheezing in the chest, suffocating cough, lacrimation, and red eyes.
This disease is diagnosed based on data collection, blood tests and microbiological studies.
Allergy to dust mites is treated by limiting the patient's contact with allergens, using medications, and desensitization. These are measures aimed at reducing the body's perception of allergens. For these purposes, an allergen extract is administered to a person, gradually increasing the dosage and concentration. With the help of desensitization, the allergic person’s body does not react so strongly to the source of irritation.
How to get rid of dust mites: video
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