About Health & Medicine

Clean fitted carpets thoroughly two or three times a week using a powerful vacuum cleaner. Ordinary vacuum cleaners tend to force some of the mite’s droppings out into the air again, through the minute pores in the collecting bag. A special vacuum cleaner designed to eliminate this problem is now available. See p335 for the supplier. This machine comes with a detection device that shows when all dust has been removed from a given area of carpet.

Remember to clean under the bed. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to get rid of fitted carpets and have a polished or vinyl floor with small rugs. These should not have foam backing.

Pick up non-fitted carpets and rugs, beat them hard and leave to hang in the sun for as long as possible. This should be done once a week if you can manage it.

Get rid of all old duvets, quilts, eiderdowns, blankets and pillows. Buy a new quilt and pillows filled with synthetic materials. Shake these outside and hang in the sun as often as possible. Folded cotton sheets can be used instead of pillows, and cellular cotton blankets instead of woollen ones, for those who are sensitive to synthetic materials. Wash all new cotton goods first, as they are often treated with chemical preservatives.

If the affected person is sleeping on an old mattress, consider replacing it with a new foam mattress. A plastic covering will prevent the mites from building up within the mattress, although it is not entirely satisfactory – the bedclothes tend to slide off. It may be better to go over the mattress with the vacuum cleaner periodically.

Choose thin, smooth materials for curtains and upholstery. Velvet or thick, textured materials are potential dust-traps. Wash curtains every month or two.

Wash sheets, pillowcases and underblanket once a week. Do not keep unnecessary fabric items in the bedroom – cushions, upholstered chairs, dressing gowns, soft toys and items of clothing can all harbour mites. Hang clothing away in a wardrobe or keep it in another room if possible.

It may be difficult to part a child from its favourite teddy, even if this is harbouring millions of house-dust mites. Should you be faced with this problem, wash the soft toy as thoroughly as possible, dry it quickly (eg in a tumble-dryer) and hang it out in the sun for a day or two. Thereafter, the house-dust mites can be kept at bay by placing the teddy in a plastic bag and leaving it in a deep-freeze for one day each week.

Dust with a damp cloth regularly, remembering to do the tops of doors and cupboards. In the sitting room, vacuum all armchairs and sofas thoroughly each week, especially the arm-rests and head-rests.

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