Have you ever thought about how many microorganisms live in your bed? According to research, 10 grams of dust from a mattress can contain up to 15,000 dust mites. But a dust mite can share territory with Demodex mites, which are often mistaken for dust mites. What unites them is that they love dead skin cells, sebum, and cosmetic residues left on your bed. The consequences of these uninvited guests are unpleasant—dust mites cause allergies and asthma, while Demodex leads to eyelash loss, severe facial rashes, and scalp itching. In this article, we will look at how to care for your mattress to significantly reduce the number of unwanted guests and how professional upholstery cleaning helps fight dust mites.
What is the difference between a dust mite and a Demodex mite
Dust mites live in upholstered furniture: mattresses, pillows, sofas, and carpets.
Demodex prefers to live on oily areas of human skin, mainly in the hair follicles of the face, eyelids, and scalp.
The lifespan of a dust mite is 2–3 months.
The lifespan of a Demodex mite is 3–4 weeks.
A dust mite itself is harmless for most people; the harm comes from its waste products, which cause severe allergies and even bronchial asthma. According to WHO, up to 80% of dust allergy cases are associated specifically with dust mites.
Demodex itself causes skin and eye diseases. Demodicosis leads to eyelash loss, acne on the face, severe itching, and inflammatory processes on the scalp.
Their nutritional preferences are quite similar, but at the same time, dust mites feed on dead skin particles, while Demodex prefers sebum and follicle cells.
Prevention methods for dust mites and Demodex mites
The first thing you should understand is that prevention and treatment are different things. If you or your family members have demodicosis, you need a dermatologist’s consultation and medical supervision.
If we are talking about prevention, the main and common measures for reducing the reproduction of dust mites and Demodex are:
- Deprive mites of food – during house cleaning, don’t forget to thoroughly vacuum your mattress and other upholstered furniture at least once every few weeks, this prevents dust and skin particles from accumulating in the filler of your furniture.
- Regular washing and changing of bed linen – basic hygiene rules that protect you from mite reproduction.
- Regular airing of rooms deprives dust mites of the ability to reproduce actively.
- Using dehumidifiers – keeping humidity below 50% creates an unfavorable environment for dust mites.
- Professional cleaning of mattresses and sofas – necessary in cases where food or sweat stains have appeared on your upholstery, since this is the best breeding and feeding environment for dust mites and Demodex.
- For the prevention of demodicosis, an important rule is personal hygiene, which many forget (washing the face, regular showers, washing the hair so it doesn’t stay greasy).
- Using ultraviolet lamps for sterilizing rooms – if you have a dark room or windows that are too small to let in enough sunlight.
- Washing with baby shampoo + tea tree oil (kills larvae).
Conclusion
Dust mites and Demodex mites are different neighbors that live in every home and on every person. These mites become harmful and dangerous to human health when their population exceeds the norm. You need to remember about personal hygiene and the hygiene of your home—the brighter your room and the fresher the air, the lower the mite population. If you don’t forget to take a refreshing shower after a workout or housework to wash off sweat, you reduce the nutrient medium for Demodex. The most important thing to remember is that Demodex lives on us, and fighting this type of mite takes place under the supervision of a dermatologist if you have already been diagnosed with demodicosis. Dealing with the consequences of dust mites takes place together with an allergist and a mattress cleaning specialist. Don’t let it come to the point where you need to see a doctor—keep your home clean, don’t forget to have your mattresses and sofas cleaned once a year, and the number of uninvited guests will be under control, making your sleep safe.
If you notice that your mattress needs professional cleaning, the specialists of the cleaning company Harry El Sucio Clean will help you restore its cleanliness and freshness. Our upholstery cleaning professionals use advanced equipment for professional cleaning and specialized cleaning products for different types of fabrics.