According to the World Allergy Organization (WOA), the estimated prevalence of allergies among the population ranges from 10 to 40% per country. In particular, many people experience allergic asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Allergens, which cause allergies, include mites, moulds, pollens and animals. Of these, mite allergens are known to cause bronchial asthma, perennial allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, etc[1].
When a certain amount of mite allergen enters the body, the body becomes more responsive to it. As mite allergens further invade the body, histamines and other chemical mediators are released, and their actions cause allergic symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and congestion.
The period from May to August is known as the “mite season”, when they actively breed.
Along with this year’s heat and humidity comes the active breeding season for mites. It’s said that mites prefer hot and humid environments and can easily breed in an environment between 20 and 30°C and humidity above 60%.
Along with carpets and sofas, which have large numbers of mites, bedding ranks high in the priority list, as we spend about 1/3 of the day in bed. If we neglect care, we might think that we’re wrapped in comfy blankets and bedding, but we might actually be surrounded by mites, faeces and carcasses. Take extra care not to inhale them, as our mouth comes very close to bedding while we sleep.
What you can do now to combat mites!
- Remove mite foods using a vacuum cleaner
In addition to temperature and humidity, mites require the following to breed: food sources including dandruff, dead skin cells, food scraps, dust, mould, etc. These can be removed using a vacuum cleaner. - Washable items should be washed at least once a week
It is recommended to wash sheets and covers at least once a week. Common household mites take about a week to hatch from an egg and start excreting waste, so remove them before they hatch. - Remove humidity via sun-drying
Sun-drying is also effective for items that cannot be washed. It doesn’t destroy mites but will make their living environment less favourable through dehumidification. - Destroy mites using heat
Mites die at a temperature of about 50°C. Non-washable items can be effectively cleaned using a dryer, high-temperature steam of an iron, etc.
Learn more about how to combat mites at home with our solutions for a healthy indoor environment.
