Do The Bed Bugs Really Bite?

By: Corinne Waldon
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:22:33
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Dust mites, also known as pillow mites or bed mites really do exist, and are microscopic members of the same class of living things as spiders and ticks. This tiny organism is a member of the Order Aracina, and measures only about 0.3 millimeters in length. They have eight legs just like a spider and tend to be rather round in shape. Bed mites can be found on any slightly dusty surface in a home, and the bedroom is a prime place for them to be located. They feed on the very tiny dead skin cells that are shed from human skin, and tend to be attracted to bedding, pillows and furniture since this is an area where there is a lot of contact with skin. While not only found in dirty conditions, they do tend to be found more in areas that are humid and less frequently cleaned.

The ideal temperature for dust or bed mites is between sixty-five and eighty-five degrees, just the temperature of most houses. They also like moderate to high humidity locations. Their food source is constantly brought to them every night when we go to bed, as our skin sheds dead cells as we sleep. If you are a person that snacks in bed, you are also providing additional food on your sheets and pillows in the form of small crumbs.

What is really the potential problem with bed mites are the allergens that they produce. These compounds become attached to the surface area of the bedding, and settle into the fabric on pillows, sheets, comforters and mattress pads. When we go to sleep the allergens are breathed in and can cause reactions. If you have noticed that you tend to cough in the morning, have itchy or water eyes after sleep, or have difficulty breathing or cold-like symptoms that disappear during the day you may be allergic to the bed mites. Hay fever, asthma and eczema can also be more pronounced if there are problems with these allergies.

While not being able to totally eliminate the pillow mites, there are some ways to control mites and minimize the amount of allergens produced. The first step is to purchase allergen impermeable covers for all your bedding including pillows, mattresses and comforters. If you are purchasing new bedding look for items that are hypoallergenic. To keep mites from becoming established on your bedding, make sure you thoroughly wash all sheets, blankets and pillow cases in water that is above one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit at least once a week. Good ventilation in the bedroom is important, as is vacuuming the seams and contours of your box spring and mattress. If the area that you live in is humid, consider a de-humidifier for the bedroom.

The use of hypoallergenic bedding or covers, as well as reasonable care with the cleanliness of your bedding will help with managing and controlling pillow mites. Commercially available chemical treatments are also an option, and they will need to be re-applied every three to four months for good control. In addition keeping the bedroom low humidity and having good air circulation will help prevent the mites from making your bed their home.

Corinne Waldon is one of the writers for Bedding and Blankets.com, where you have access to bedding resources including electric blankets, duvets and covers, bedding forums, directories, reviews and more.

Article source: Expert Articles

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