Wednesday 16 November 2011

Great Facts and Tips on Bed Bugs and Dust Mites

It is four in the morning and you are awaken by the uncomfortable itchiness that you have throughout your body. You turn on the light and are surprised to find unexplainable welts and wheels. What could have caused these allergies? Unfortunately, you could have been attacked by bed bugs. All throughout your childhood you have heard the same phrase over and over again, "Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite".
Who would have thought that bed bugs truly existed. I always saw it as something fun to say or an easy way to scare a younger brother or sister. Many confuse bed bugs for dust mites thinking that they are both the same thing. Although they are both bugs that are drawn to the bed, they are different in many ways. The bed bug is a teeny, flat creature that is almost the exact size of an apple seed. They live just about anywhere you can think of but are especially drawn to the mattress, springs and headboards of the bed. Believe it or not, they can also be found in carpets, under wall paper, behind baseboards, small cracks and crevices. Surprisingly enough, they can live months without feeding. They are brown in color until they suck the blood of its victim and turns reddish brown. This creature attacks their victims while they are asleep. Humans are awaken by what seems likes a rash because of all the scratching. If you feel that you or your someone you love has been bitten by this creature, immediately wash the bite with warm water and white soap. The soap should be clear of fragrances. Safeguard soap and Ivory are good choices. Apply over the counter hydrosone cream to the affected and surrounding area. Try the best you can to not scratch the bite. An open sore can form and can require medical attention.
Dust mites on the other hand are prone to dusty areas in the home. Although dust mites are naked to the human eye and don't bite, they can cause serious allergic reactions especially to those who suffer from allergies. Beds are their prime habitat. Bedroom carpeting also support a high mite population. They live off the dead skin and hair we shed off and pet dander. Pet dander is dead skin from our pets. Some of the common allergic reactions to dust mites are itchy watery eyes, sneezing, hay fever, nasal congestion and so on. These symptoms can easily be confused with the flu. Dust mites allergy symptoms can prevented or lessened by removing dust mites from the environment:
    Bed sheets should be laundered weekly. Two to three times a week would be best. Many feel that washing bed sheets weekly is ridiculous and expensive. I would rather spend a couple of dollars more in electricity then spend hundreds more on medical expenses and trips to the doctor.
    I have said it over and over again and I will say it again, everyone should own at lease one duvet cover in every room in the home. Duvet covers can be easily washed as often as needed and are great in preventing and getting rid of dust mites. When laundering duvet covers or any other bed sheet, hot water is a must. This will kill off existing dust mites that may be crawling around in your bed sheets.
    Vacuum daily. Vacuuming your entire home is a great way to kill dust mites and its eggs. You can also get rid of carpets and stick to the wooden floors that may be underneath your carpets.
    And last but not least is dusting. Dust, dust and dust some more! Dusting furniture as often as you can is a very good idea.
http://www.allergy-zero.com/effective-ways-to-cure-allergies/

No comments:

Post a Comment