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Trying t get rid of mites by cleaning carpets or using pesticide is like trying to make a hole in the lake by removing a bucket of water. You may lower the bug count temporarily, but it won't last long.
Removing the carpet and going with bare floors has a better chance of making a difference.
There's also Odactra-- a tablet taken under the tongue to desensitize you to mites-- kinda like taking allergy shots. I have no experience with it-- don't know how well it works or what it costs or how likely the nasty side effects are.
The preferred option is not to have carpet at all. If you have to have carpet, then the best option is to get a good vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum at least weekly. No one has ever recommended to me that I should steam or use a pesticide on carpets. The main recommendations are to keep humidity levels where dust mites are not happy (between 30-50%), try your best to have hard floors but if you cannot then vacuum weekly, cover beds/pillows with allergy covers if available, etc.
Also they make special covering for yourpillows and matress that zip up. Vacuuming your mattress 1-2 times a week can help
I am aleergic to dust mites as well. Some of my home has wood floors but I am hoping to do the other 2 rooms and rip up the carpets. I also recently got diagnosed with Asthma.
There were many helpful looking videos and web links after I did a simple search from my browser using " how to kill dust mites"
I think that you'll find something helpful. I also recommend going to a store like Walmart and looking at the pillow covers and mattress covers they have that help folks with allergies like yours. And perhaps a good air cleaner machine too.
guidoLaMoto, removing the carpet is a good idea -- but I live in an apartment and can't do that. That's why I was wondering if carpet steaming or using anti-dustmite chemicals is the better option if I only have those two options. One person said steam cleaning is better. Another person said steam cleaning is not a good idea because dust mites like wet conditions. Any thoughts?
RamenAddict, based on your helpful comments about humidity (and because I can't remove the carpet), would you recommend steam cleaning or anti-mite chemical sprays? I'd buy the natural kind. Thanks!
lubby, yes, I do have the special casings -- but I'm still getting allergic reactions to dust mites. It seems I can feel them crawling on me. Is that possible?
JanND, that's a very helpful link -- especially because I prefer natural products.
Thanks for all the helpful information. I concluded that expensive sprays and carpet steam treatments won't last. The dust mites will probably just come back.
At least they don't bite. I do get an allergic reaction (tests show I'm allergic to dust and mites).
I bought some 50/50 rubbing alcohol and a sprayer. Seems to keep the dust mites away at night when I spray it on me -- at least until 3 a.m. when I have to re-apply.
I'm also using a mattress encasement. I'm vacuuming and washing clothes/bedding more frequently.
I do not think that the regular use of either rubbing alcohol or insecticide is a good idea.
oh god no.. clean with vinegar bicabonate only.. and get yourself a good quality purifier.
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