What is a Dust Mite Allergy? (Plus How to Get Rid of Dust Mites in Your Home)

Their life cycle takes them through several changes, beginning as an egg and ending as an adult. This process can range from two to five weeks, depending to which of the 13 species a mite belongs. Adults live anywhere from two to four months, during which time females can lay up to 100 eggs.

If you suspect you have dust mites in your home, you’re not alone. Dust mites can live nearly anywhere and on every continent except Antarctica. They’ve adapted to thrive inside houses and prefer temperatures ranging from 68 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 70 and 80 percent. Instead of drinking water, they hydrate by taking moisture from the air. Thus, places with less humidity such as deserts usually have fewer dust mites.

As mentioned, dust mites primarily eat flakes of human skin. Given an adult person typically sheds 1.5 grams each day — or enough to feed one million mites — mites have no shortage of sustenance. These flakes settle deep into bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains.⁶ They can even infest stuffed toys. Research suggests dust mites usually live in bedrooms. In a 2003 study, 82 percent of homes in the United States registered a detectable level of the allergen on at least one bed.⁷

Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms and Causes

Symptoms of a dust mite allergy can include sneezing, a runny and/or stuffy nose, and post nasal mucus drip. Red or watery eyes, coughing, and an itchy nose, mouth, or throat may be additional signs of a reaction. Allergies to dust mites are often worst at night and in the morning due to time spent near mattresses, bedding, and pillows where mites often live. Symptoms tend to be milder than those related to hay fever. But unlike a pollen allergy, which is seasonal distress, dust mite allergies occur all year and often peak in the winter when people spend more time inside. (Visit our Understanding Allergy Symptoms to learn more about common allergy symptoms.)

Whether it’s an allergy to pollen, a particular food, pets, insect venom, or dust mites (specifically their feces), allergic symptoms occur when the body overreacts to a typically harmless foreign substance. The allergen causes the body to create antibodies to fight against it, and the antibodies attach to cells. When the cells reencounter the allergen, they react by releasing chemicals including histamine. These chemicals, in turn, cause an allergic reaction.⁸

Why do some people get dust mite allergies but others do not? Allergies may have a genetic component as they often run in families. Exposure to air pollution, cigarette smoke, and other environmental toxins may also increase their likelihood. Usually, dust mite allergies begin in childhood or during adolescence. While you can treat the symptoms, the allergy never goes away.

How to Get Rid of Dust Mites in Your Home

As a good first step toward reducing the frequency and severity of allergic reactions, you can eliminate dust mites as much as possible by cleaning your home regularly⁹. This strategy may help but remember it’s impossible to rid a house of dust mites. Here are some ways to reduce their presence in the home.

Allergy proof your bedding

Keep mattresses, comforters, and pillows inside zippered, dust-proof covers. Don’t forget the box springs. It should have an allergen-proof cover too.

Clean your bedding each week

Wash everything — sheets, pillowcases, and blankets — in hot water at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This practice accomplishes the twin goals of killing dust mites and removing the allergens. If you can’t wash an item in hot water, put it in a hot dryer (above 140 degrees) for 15 minutes or more to destroy the mites. Then wash the item and dry it as directed. If you can’t wash an item, freeze it for 24 hours to kill the dust mites (however, the allergens will remain).

Beware of other dust mite habitats

Dust mites can dwell in everything from upholstered furniture and curtains to stuffed toys and carpeting (especially carpet on concrete, which traps moisture and can be a welcoming humid environment for dust mites to thrive). Wash curtains and toys regularly in hot water. And consider replacing upholstered furniture with furniture made of wood, vinyl, or leather and switching carpets with wood, tile, linoleum, or vinyl floors. Wash throw rugs regularly.

Dust weekly

Use a damp cloth or cleaning spray so dust doesn’t float into the air and resettle. Reduce clutter such as decorations, magazines, newspapers, and more, which can collect dust.

Vacuum weekly

Use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter or a double-layered microfilter bag to trap allergens. Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture. If your allergies are bad, wear a mask during the chore.

Replace heating and air conditioning filters regularly

Employ filters for the furnace and air conditioning unit with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 11 or 12, and replace them quarterly.

Dehumidify the air

Keep humidity in your house below 50 percent by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner.

Steps to Get Rid of Dust Mites in Your Bedroom

1. Cover your mattress, box springs, comforter, and pillows in zippered, dust-proof covers.

2. Wash sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and throw rugs in hot water above 140 degrees Fahrenheit weekly.

3. Wash curtains and toys regularly in hot water.

4. Use a damp cloth or cleaning spray to dust weekly.

5. Vacuum weekly. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or double-layered microfilter bag.

6. Replace heating and air conditioning filters quarterly with filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 11 or 12.

7. Dehumidify the air to keep it below 50% humidity.

8. Consider replacing upholstered furniture with wood, vinyl, or leather furniture.

9. Consider replacing carpeting with wood, tile, linoleum, or vinyl floors.

Conclusion

While living with a dust mite allergy can be difficult, the good news is you can take steps to reduce your exposure and rely on treatments to ease your allergy symptoms.