Air purifiers for dust mites

Get rid of dust mites

They are microscopic, insect-like pests living in pillows, mattresses, blankets, carpets, clothing and other soft materials. Dust mites cause some of the most common indoor allergens, triggering allergic reactions and asthma in people with dust mite sensitivities. But there are ways to limit the exposure from dust mites. 

Dust mites and health problems 

If you suffer from allergies and asthma, dust mites are a major indoor trigger that make your symptoms worse. According to the American Lung Association, dust mite exposure can even cause asthma. Being exposed to dust mites at home on an ongoing basis can have a dramatic impact on your health. Allergens like dust mites can cause an immune system response, known as allergic rhinitis. Dust mite allergies can range anywhere from mild to severe. Dust allergy symptoms include a runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. With severe cases, the condition is ongoing, or chronic, resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure or severe asthma attacks. If you have asthma and are sensitive to mites, you may suffer from an increased risk of flare-ups or an asthma attack. 

Excess dust in your home

Dust mites occur naturally and are present in nearly all homes. Humidity and high concentrations of dust mites go hand in hand. While they don’t drink water, dust mites absorb moisture from the air. In areas with low humidity, like deserts, dust mites simply cannot survive. 

Dust mite hiding spots

According to the American Lung Association, hundreds of thousands of dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains of your home. Feeding on dead human skin cells found in dust, dust mites are not parasites, meaning they don't bite, sting or burrow into our bodies. While that’s a plus, they do create harmful allergens from their fecal pellets and body fragments. Nearly everywhere, roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed.

Clean your home of dust mites

To limit exposure, start with your bedroom where mite numbers are highest and where we all spend a third of our lives. It’s helpful to wash your bedding in hot water once a week and keep the humidity level in your home below 50% to limit growth. If you live in a humid area, air conditioning and dehumidifiers can help. On dry days, open windows for about one hour per day to help remove humidity from the house. Using furniture with smooth surfaces, eliminating drapes and curtains, and encasing mattresses and pillows can dramatically reduce dust mites as well. If you are allergic to dust mites it’s best not to have carpeting at all. If you prefer carpeting, be sure to use a vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency filter or a central vacuum cleaner. Chemical carpet cleaning with benzyl benzoate may reduce dust mites as well. When you dust, be sure to use a damp mop or damp cloth to reduce the amount of dust stirred up while cleaning.

The best air purifier for dust removal

Most of your exposure to dust mite allergens happens while you’re sleeping, when dust is disturbed while making your bed, or simply moving about the room. Using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help trap these allergens before they have a chance to settle. When considering an air purifier, it's important to note, many air purifiers are designed with an air outlet pointing towards the floor. In this case, the flow of clean air disrupts particles settled on the floor and blows allergens back into the room. This is especially an issue if you have carpet. Blueair purifiers utilize HEPASilent™ technology to optimize the amount of clean air distributed into the room. We recommend using a Particle filter and a larger Blueair air purifier for dust mites.