Spring Cleaning Tip: Get Rid of Dustmites

Exposure to dust mite and pet allergens are widely accepted to be the most important causes of indoor allergies. Here are a few tips to help you combat these culprits...

1. HUMIDITY LEVEL: Dust mites thrive in moist conditions. Make sure your home is too dry for the mites to survive. Maintain a humidity level of between 40 and 50 per cent, and don’t use a humidifier, even in the winter. Consider purchasing a hygrometer to monitor the level of moisture.
2. MATTRESS & PILLOW COVERS: Cover your mattress and pillows in mite-proof covers. Plastic is best for containing mites, but not the most comfortable. A more comfortable option is tightly woven fabric covers, which are usually made from polyester or a cotton/poly blend and are designed to hold up to frequent washings.
3. CLEAN HARD SURFACES: Clean all hard surfaces at least once a week with a damp cloth and get rid of clutter that will attract mites. Use a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum to rid the house of their food source which is skin cells shed by people and pets.
4. STUFFED ANIMALS: Stuffed animals can contain just as many mites as a pillow. Every 2 months, place the toys in the freezer for 24 hours. And then follow up with a spin in the washer and dryer.
5. REPLACE YOUR MATTRESS: Consider a mattress used for more than five years to be old, depending on how it has been treated. The exception would be if your bedroom has proper ventilation, is not too humid,  and the mattress has been covered with dust-mite impermeable covers.
6. PROFESSIONAL CLEANING: Champion recommends that you clean all the fabric surfaces in your bedrooms, including mattresses, carpets, rugs and upholstered furniture, especially if you have pets. Our powerful steam cleaning process uses hot water to remove allergens such as pet hair and dander. Next, we apply our Allergy Relief Treatment to neutralize any allergens that remain.