5 tips to send dust mites packing

With my kids constantly going in and out of the house, keeping my house clean has been quite a challenge. I live out in the country, so when they come inside they brings lots of dirt and dust with them.

Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri has 5 tips that I found that can help keep those dust mites away. I know from experience that dust  mites increase my allergies, including a horrible stuffy nose, so these tips were very hepful. I hope they help you too!

1. Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them.  Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours.  Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles
2. Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere.  In fact, the American Lung Association estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed.  Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week.  Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through
3. Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto.  These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup.  Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.
4. Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution.  Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan.  Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.
5. Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe.  Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Ultimate Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter.  Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.

The last one really stuck out to me.  I use air filters but I am not sure if they are catching all that they could, and with the dirt road I live on I know I need an air filter that works hard for me.

We also have well water and Filtrete makes water filters too.  There is simply nothing as refreshing as cool, clean water on a hot day, am I right?

Filtrete’s website has lots of ways you can connect, including a Clean Air Club and youy can register to receive e-newsletters and better home living tips.