What Attracts Dust Mites

If allergies are a problem for you and your family, you’ll probably be concerned about dust mites. But what attracts them to a home, and how can you manage an infestation?

That is the focus of this article. Additionally we’ll provide you with an explanation of what dust mites are and the issues they cause, as well as when to contact our professionals at Sun Dry for assistance.

So What Are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are essentially spider-like insects. They are known more for taking up residence inside a home rather than outdoors.

While they aren’t necessarily dangerous, they do exacerbate hayfever and allergy symptoms. For this reason they are particularly concerning for those who have respiratory problems such as asthma.

What Attracts Dust Mites

The good thing is that by knowing what attracts dust mites to your home, it will help you prevent them. In this section, we’ll discuss some of the more common things that are appealing to dust mites and  what you can do to reduce their attractiveness to these nasty pests.

Skin Cells 

Let’s start with what is potentially one of the grossest things in this article: skin cells. You may not like to think about it but it’s a fact of life that humans shed skin cells, especially in the summer months when sun tanning and hanging out in the pool is a common practice.

The problem is that the skin cell is a good food source for a dust mite, and is something that may attract them to your home (without you even realising it).

If you ask us, the best thing you can do to reduce the presence of skin cells in your home is to clean regularly and make sure you wash your towels and bedding.

Dust 

While we’re talking about cleaning, let’s discuss dust. Given their name, dust mites are attracted to dust. Therefore, it makes sense that one way you can reduce the amount of dust in your home is to clean or dust regularly.

One tip you may like  to follow is to use a slightly damp washcloth or cleaning apparatus. In this way, you will potentially reduce the amount of dust you’re moving from place to place and actually remove it from your environment. 

Dirty Carpet & Rugs

As specialist carpet cleaners we cannot overstate the importance of investing in regular professional carpet cleaning. But we’re not just promoting our business.
Unclean carpets and rugs are a breeding ground for dust mites, so if you want to avoid attracting dust mites, now might be the time to consider contacting us.

Drapes, Curtains & Bedding

Bedding, curtains and drapes are fantastic homes for dust mites. This is especially the case if you don’t clean them often. For this reason, we would recommend adding the bedding, drapes and curtains to the pile the next time you do the laundry.

Humidity & Moisture 

Dust mites don’t drink water – they absorb it. As such, they are drawn to places with high humidity and low moisture control. In this case, the best thing we can suggest you do if your home is prone to this is to invest in a good humidifier. This will also double in improving the air quality around your home, which is always a bonus.

When to Call Sun Dry

If dust mites have become a problem for you around the home, the best thing you can do is to arrange for a dust mite-specific pest control inspection and treatment.

And the best place to go for that is Sun Dry. Our expert pest control specialists have expertise in helping our customers prevent and control even the peskiest pests (including dust mites). We will do so efficiently and to the highest standard of our ability.

Contact us today to arrange a pest control inspection for dust mites in your home.