How to get rid of dust mites in the apartment

Dust mites are microscopic arthropods (from the class Arachnida), sometimes living in the millions in house dust. With the naked eye, they are quite difficult to notice due to their small size (up to 0.5 mm) and a translucent body. For the same reason, in practice it can be difficult to understand that they settled in an apartment at all and whether the measures taken against them were effective.

At the same time, it is imperative to deal with these pests in the house, since they can cause serious allergic reactions, rhinitis (nasal congestion), dermatitis and conjunctivitis in a person. A particularly strong allergen is the excrement of ticks containing digestive enzymes - it is to these enzymes that people suffering from allergies are primarily sensitive.

On a note

Sometimes people live in a tick-infested room for years, suffering from constant nasal congestion or even asthma, without realizing the source of the problem.

If dust mites have been found at home, the fight against them should begin immediately. Despite the fact that in some cases it is quite difficult to get rid of ticks at home, that is, without the involvement of specialists, today methods and means have been developed that ensure, with due diligence, the complete destruction of these unwanted neighbors.

You need to start the destruction of pests by finding the places where they are most concentrated in the room.

 

Determination of places where dust mites accumulate in the apartment

Before destroying ticks, it is useful to make sure that they really inhabit the premises, and that allergies and respiratory diseases of unknown etiology are caused by them, and not by other factors.

On a note

Largely due to advertising, some people are so frightened by the idea that thousands of dust mites live on carpets and pillows that they are ready for a total chemical treatment of the entire apartment a couple of times a month - to get rid of pests for sure (although they may be completely absent). Meanwhile, allergies in residents may not be caused by ticks at all, but by a cat or dog living in the house, or even by the same insecticides and acaricides sprayed too often indoors.

Initially, the suspicion of the presence of dust mites should arise precisely in case of health disorders for no apparent reason. These disorders include prolonged nasal congestion, frequent lacrimation that worsens at home, drowsiness, headaches, frequent respiratory illnesses, and allergic skin reactions of unknown etiology. Moreover, these symptoms can develop only in one family member, often only in a child.

If at the same time the room is rarely ventilated and infrequently wet cleaning is carried out in it, and there are many places where house dust accumulates - carpets, sofas and beds, massive curtains - then the probability of colonization by ticks is very high.

According to statistics, more than half of the apartments around the world are to some extent infected with these arachnids.The species Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (European dust mite) and Dermatophagoides farinae (American dust mite) usually settle with humans.

If the presence of ticks is reliably established, then it is further necessary to find out where they accumulate in the largest quantities.

Their most common habitat is a person’s bed and sleeping places in general (beds, sofas, sometimes armchairs), where the humid and warm microclimate necessary for them is maintained (under a blanket, bedspread, blanket), and new portions of food constantly appear. These are the areas that need to be checked first.

Let's see how you can carry out such a check right on the spot, at home.

The easiest and most obvious way (although not always the most effective) is to examine the places of possible accumulation of ticks with a magnifying glass. Even an ordinary school magnifying glass should be quite enough for this, since the accumulation of ticks in it is clearly visible (adults reach up to 0.5 mm in length). In this case, you need to look first:

• The wooden frame of the bed on which the mattress rests;
• The line of contact of the skirting board with the floor and walls under the bed (just before cleaning, when there is still dust), not far from it, and also under the table, at which people often sit;
• Sheet under the pillow;
• Floor under rugs, bedding, dog or cat bed;
• Carpets.

For the same purpose, you can use a microscope, and any, even for children.

Both in a magnifying glass and in a simple microscope, the mites will look like small whitish grains among the dust or the structure of the material itself - textiles or carpet pile.For example, the photo below shows what dust mites look like on a carpet when magnified with a conventional educational microscope:

In addition, to determine the presence of ticks in the room, there are specially designed test systems. They help to accurately detect the main foci of infection and determine the approximate number of parasites in these places.

Each test system kit contains a chemical reagent, a test strip, a dust container and an indicator color scale. The set is easy to use, although it requires certain safety precautions. When working with it, it is recommended to use a mask and rubber gloves.

Such a test system is used as follows:

1. Using a small container, the dust sample is mixed with the reagent;
2. Dip a test strip into the mixture;
3. The color of the strip is compared with the colors on the scale from the set. It can be used to determine the concentration of tick antigens in the place where the dust was taken for analysis.

The number of reagent and test strips is calculated so that one system can conduct tests 10 times. This is very convenient, as it helps to determine the most infested place in the house, as well as to track the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat ticks. It is enough, for example, to take several samples in different places (including the dustiest ones) - under the bed, on the bed, near the sofa, in the corner on the baseboards, check where there are a lot of ticks, and where there are none at all, and then, after extermination measures, check the most infected places again.

 

Classification of methods of struggle

All methods of dealing with dust mites can be divided into several types:

• Chemical, involving the destruction of ticks with substances toxic to them;
• Mechanical, more laborious, but usually safer for humans and pets than the use of chemicals;
• Thermal, when used, ticks die from extreme temperatures for them.

Chemical agents are considered the fastest and most reliable. Partly for this reason, they are the ones professionals use when removing household pests and parasites.

Chemical preparations as active substances may contain organophosphorus insecticides, amidines, avermectins, pyrethroids, benzylates, etc. Organophosphorus and pyrethroids are most often used - many of these preparations are adapted for use at home.

It is interesting

Pyrethroids are synthetic analogues of the well-known natural insecticides pyrethrins, extracted from certain types of chrysanthemums (in particular, from Dalmatian, Caucasian and Persian daisies). The insecticidal properties of pyrethrins were used back in ancient times - there are references in the literature that the powder from dry Dalmatian chamomiles was worn on campaigns by soldiers of the troops of Alexander the Great (apparently, from linen lice). And today, for example, Pyrethrum powder based on crushed dried chamomile flowers is used as a natural remedy for the destruction of bed bugs.

Pyrethroids are more effective against mites and insects than natural pyrethrins, but are also more toxic to humans.

Mechanical methods of dealing with dust mites at first glance are quite simple - everyone can implement them with their own hands, but in practice these methods require a certain amount of time and effort. They include:

• Regular removal of dust from places of its accumulation in the room;
• Thorough cleaning in the apartment (manually, plus with a vacuum cleaner, plus wet);
• Washing bed linen and changing it frequently.

Thermal methods are based on the sensitivity of ticks to temperature changes. If the temperature is too high or too low, they quickly die. Therefore, activities such as:

• Washing bed linen and clothes in hot water at a temperature of at least 60 ° C;
• "Baking" things in the sun (especially effective in the interior of a car left in the sun);
• Treatment of carpets, mattresses, sofas and armchairs with a steam cleaner;
• Freezing things.

To effectively get rid of dust mites in an apartment, it is advisable to combine different methods of destroying these pests. So the result will be achieved faster and, moreover, will be more complete and lasting.

It is convenient to divide the process of killing ticks into stages with several control points. Periodic monitoring helps to understand how effective the measures taken have been, and in some cases will save you from unnecessary efforts. The first such checkpoint can be, for example, after a general cleaning of the room with an emphasis on getting rid of household dust that has been accumulating for months and years.

On a note

To date, various methods have been developed for the treatment of allergic reactions. For example, if you are allergic to the waste products of dust mites, allergen-specific immunotherapy - ASIT can help, which allows you to save a person from a severe reaction to allergens.

However, it will still be necessary to remove ticks indoors, since with a large accumulation of them, even a healthy person with a normal immune system will be subject to gradual sensitization to tick allergens.

The main method of solving the problem is to reduce the concentration of the allergen with which the person is in contact. This can be done directly - by mechanically cleaning the apartment from dust, plus additionally destroying the mites themselves with the help of chemicals or by thermal exposure.

Separately, it should be said about the very strong influence of the relative humidity of the air in the room on the vital activity of dust mites. If the room is not ventilated for a long time, and the air humidity here is constantly maintained at a level well above 40%, then in such conditions the number of ticks can grow rapidly.

Conversely, regular ventilation and low air humidity negatively affect the vital activity of dust mites. In winter, when central heating is operating, air humidity in apartments of multi-storey buildings can stay below 20% for months, and in such conditions the entire pest population is doomed to death.

 

Mechanical methods for the destruction of dust mites

The key to controlling mites is to remove common house dust. It is she who is the place of concentration of these arthropods and their metabolic products (primarily excrement and chitinous covers remaining after molting).

Vacuum cleaners make this process very easy. When cleaning, special attention should be paid to carpets, upholstery of upholstered furniture, baseboards and corners of the room.

It should be remembered that some vacuum cleaners blow the finest dust back into the room. Therefore, it is recommended to use devices with special filters that keep even fine dust inside.

There are also specialized vacuum cleaners on the market designed specifically for the extermination of dust mites.For example, this is Philips FC6230/02 Mite Cleaner. It cleans soft surfaces quite effectively thanks to special vibrating nozzles, and also effectively collects dust from the floor. An ultraviolet lamp is also built into it, although its effectiveness is not entirely unambiguous: UV rays do kill mites and various microorganisms, but sufficient exposure time is necessary for the desired result. Therefore, it is doubtful that with a short-term vacuuming of the surface, UV rays will have time to act on pests. Nevertheless, the option is useful, and it will not be worse from it.

It should be borne in mind that even with the help of a powerful vacuum cleaner it is sometimes difficult to completely get rid of the dust and mites present on soft surfaces. They can be deep between the villi of carpets and rugs, as well as inside the same pillows, rugs, blankets. Therefore, regular shaking and “knocking out” of carpet paths, as well as washing bedding, is recommended.

Regular wet cleaning and mopping is also very important, because during dry cleaning, part of the dust with allergens simply rises into the air and the person subsequently inhales it.

On a note

It is known that the use of a sufficiently concentrated salt solution during cleaning has a detrimental effect on dust mites. This method is available to everyone and at the same time it is completely safe for people and pets. It is enough just to add about 500 grams of salt per bucket of water (10 liters) to the water with which floors are washed or carpets are cleaned.

However, it should be borne in mind that such a saline solution, although it allows you to get rid of ticks to a certain extent, is capable of leaving stains both on the floor and on carpets.

 

Thermal methods of struggle

Dust mites are very sensitive to changes in air temperature. When it rises to 60°C or falls below 0°C, they die. In this regard, it is recommended to wash bed linen, bedspreads, blankets and curtains in hot water.

Do not forget about soft children's toys. Mites can also accumulate in them, and children are more sensitive to allergens than adults.

In addition to washing, it is convenient and effective to process things with a steam cleaner or steam generator. The same devices can be used for steaming carpets, mattresses, blankets, pillows, upholstery of sofas, armchairs, beds. Steam with a temperature of about 100 ° C easily enters the pores of the fabric, heating it to a considerable depth, and is also able to penetrate furniture cracks - this facilitates the destruction of ticks in hard-to-reach places.

An easy way is also to "bake" things in the sun for several hours. It is useful to simply put things in a car with closed windows, left in the summer in the sun.

For items that do not tolerate washing and steaming, freeze-drying at low temperatures (preferably below -20°C) is possible. This can be done in winter in many regions of Russia.

 

Use of chemicals

Cleaning a room with chemicals is the most reliable way to kill dust mites. - if it is carried out correctly, the toxic substance penetrates into almost all places where pests accumulate and destroys them even where they cannot be mechanically exterminated and where the temperature cannot be changed.

It is impossible to unequivocally compile the TOP of the best drugs for ticks. The choice of means depends on whether there are children and pets in the house, on the degree of infection of the room, on the size and purpose of the room.However, some agents are generally used more frequently than others.

One of the most popular remedies for dust mites today are Allergoff acaricidal preparations based on benzyl benzoate. Their main advantage is relative safety for humans (in comparison, for example, with more powerful chemistry, which is used to kill cockroaches and bedbugs).

Allergoff is produced in two forms: in the form of an aerosol, which can be used to treat various surfaces in the apartment, and in the form of a dry acaricidal additive to eliminate allergens during washing. The spray acts on ticks at all stages of their development, that is, it will help to destroy both adults and larvae and nymphs.

The drug is quite easy to use. Places where ticks live (for example, carpets) need to be cleaned of dust and simply treated by spraying the agent from a can. After processing, things are not recommended to be used for an hour until the surface is completely dry.

Also, as an example of an interesting acaricidal agent based on natural raw materials, Milbiol dust mites spray can be noted. The active substance in it is azadirachtin, which is extracted from the seeds of plants of the Meliev family. It is used to process things that cannot be washed. The drug can be bought in online stores.

On a note

Among the aerosol preparations used in the fight against dust mites, the Easy air spray is also known. It is not an acaricidal agent, but is used precisely in addition to drugs that destroy ticks.Its main active ingredients deactivate tick allergens - this can significantly reduce the severity of allergy symptoms in the period until it is possible to completely get rid of ticks in the house.

Non-specific drugs used to control any indoor arthropods may also be used. For example, Karbofos, Executioner, Delta Zone, Get Total, Agran, Xulat C25, Xulat Micro, FAS (in tablets), Sinuzan, etc. are popular today. All of them are similar in principle of action (have a nerve paralytic effect when in contact with arthropods) and differ only in terms of composition and degree of toxicity to humans.

Preparations based on organophosphorus compounds include, for example, Karbofos, Hangman, Get Total. The active ingredients in them are malathion, fenthion and chlorpyrifos, respectively, highly effective against ticks and moderately toxic to humans and animals. When used correctly, these preparations destroy all mites, for example, in a carpet, literally within a few minutes after treatment.

Preparations Delta Zone, Lambda Zone, Medilis Ziper, Tsifox contain pyrethroids as active ingredients, which also give a quick and well-defined result.

On a note

It should be noted that often the cost of the drug does not correlate with its effectiveness. For example, inexpensive Karbofos is no less effective than the expensive Executioner or Get. Another thing is that Get and Executioner are more adapted for use at home, while the smell from Karbofos can stay indoors for weeks and even months.

It is important to remember that when working with both acaricides and insecticides, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the instructions and safety precautions.The room before the procedure must be freed from people and animals. Work should be in protective gloves and clothing with long sleeves, a respirator is put on the face. After processing, the room must be ventilated and wet cleaning should be carried out in it.

On a note

People sometimes try to get rid of ticks with the help of essential oils - cumin, cloves, wormwood, tea tree or lavender. Many arthropods really avoid these odors, however, dust mites, due to their low mobility, are physically unable to leave the house, and therefore the use of such repellent folk remedies will in no way save the room from pests.

 

Quartzization of the room as a way to deal with dust mites

Separately, a few words should be said about quartzization - it is based on the disinfection of a room with ultraviolet and ozone using UV lamps.

Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from a quartz lamp, oxygen in the air is converted into ozone, a substance that is the strongest oxidizing agent. It is ozone that has the main disinfecting effect on the room, penetrating even where UV rays cannot penetrate (on surfaces in the shade, UV radiation has practically no effect).

Although quartzing is an effective way to help get rid of dust mites in an apartment, this method of struggle is rarely used in practice - few people have a quartz lamp. In addition, the method requires great care when using - it should be borne in mind that when exposed to the retina, UV rays can damage it. The color of fabrics and various interior elements may change.

 

Dust Mite Control Step by Step Plan

When destroying dust mites, it is advisable to adhere to the following step-by-step control plan:

1. Places with the highest concentration of ticks are identified indoors. Most likely, these will be carpets and upholstered furniture, as well as beds, floors and skirting boards around them;
2. A thorough wet cleaning is carried out (so as not to raise dust), then upholstered furniture and carpets are vacuumed. The room is ventilated;
3. All textiles (bed linen, pillowcases, blankets, duvet covers, blankets) are washed in hot water, and mattresses, pillows and carpets are treated with hot steam from a steam generator or exposed to frost. If the room was heavily contaminated, and the mattress and pillows are old, it is recommended to replace them with new ones;
4. Carpets and similar "dust collectors" are treated with a chemical agent (for example, Allergoff spray). All places in the room where ticks were found in the highest concentration and where they can presumably be are also processed;
5. A week later, an intermediate control of the concentration of ticks is carried out using a test system. If ticks remain in the room, then it is necessary to repeat the procedures. If there are no pests, then in the future it is only possible to maintain a good sanitary condition of the premises in order to prevent ticks from restoring their population in the apartment.

It is important at the same time not to stop halfway, when most of the ticks have already been destroyed, and it remains only to either exterminate the remaining ones or create conditions unsuitable for life for them. If the fight is stopped at this stage, the surviving individuals will multiply rapidly, and in a few months the situation will be the same as it was before the start of the fight.

On a note

During her life, the female dust mite lays up to 60 eggs, and the larvae that emerge from them after 3-4 weeks become sexually mature individuals and begin to breed themselves. Therefore, a pause in their destruction of only 1-2 months can lead to the restoration of the population to its original level.

If there are a lot of ticks in the room, and there is no certainty that you will be able to get rid of them on your own, then you can contact professional pest control services that have experience in this matter and use proven drugs. Processing a one-room apartment today will cost about 2000 rubles.

 

How to protect the apartment from the reproduction of ticks in the future?

After a long and laborious struggle with dust mites, it is important to prevent their reappearance and reproduction, otherwise all efforts may be in vain.

The house has special zones in which the most favorable conditions for the development of these pests are created. These, in addition to a person’s sleeping place, also include surfaces on which the most dust usually accumulates: furniture, bookshelves, carpets, curtains and much more. Therefore, it is recommended to store books and small decor items in glass cabinets - this will greatly facilitate dust removal.

It is also desirable to get rid of extra carpets in the room - they are the concentrators of dust, particles of exfoliating skin and the mites themselves that feed on them.

Bedding, curtains, curtains and bedspreads should be periodically washed in hot water or treated with a steam generator.

Upholstered furniture is protected by special impervious coatings - covers and mattress toppers. You should also give preference to polyurethane mattresses and pillows with synthetic filling (instead of natural fluff).All bed linen should be washed regularly at the maximum temperature allowed for it.

It is important to ventilate the room well, carry out a thorough wet cleaning at least once a week, vacuum carpets and rugs, and do not forget to clean the air filters of air conditioners.

If any of the tenants of the premises again develop signs of allergies or respiratory diseases for no apparent reason in the future, then it is necessary to re-examine the apartment using the test system. However, subject to the rules of prevention, the likelihood of repeated mass reproduction of dust mites in the room as a whole is insignificant.

 

Interesting video: mattress under the microscope (many dust mites)

 

What you need to know about tick allergies