If I were to tell you that every night you sleep with thousands of insects right there in the bed with you, you would probably like to believe I was crazy. I'm not. Sorry. These insects are called dust mites. I know, I know, you've never seen one in your bed. You can't, as they are microscopic entities. A hundred of the little pests wouldn't fill up a speck of dust. Now before everyone takes a long sigh of relief that could cause a tornado in Texas, let's get something clear; Dust mites can be a health hazard, especially if you suffer from asthma. The problem that they cause is because of a protein they create that can trigger an asthma attack. Just one of these mites can make two hundred times its body weight in waste, waste containing this protein, so you don't need to be Einstein to do the math. Suffice to say that there's a lot of dust mite protein in every house in the entire world.



Dust mites inhabit all the rooms in your house, but they seem to have a particular liking to the bedroom. They live off dust (hence the name) and yes, our dead skin as it falls off us at night. Not a very nice thought if you had a romantic evening planned. If you have asthma, then it might very well be worth your while to follow these simple steps to controlling this particular asthma trigger.

First of all, let me say that it is nigh impossible to eliminate dust mites completely, but that's not to say you have to give in and live with them. You can buy an anti mite cover for your mattress, and avoid keeping anything under the bed. Cleaning is a priority, but not with a feather duster. All they do is move the dust from one place to another, causing a dust storm in the process. Use a damp cloth to make sure all the dirt is eliminated. Next, when was the last time you looked on top of the wardrobe? Or rather, when was the first time you looked on top of the wardrobe! This is one area no one ever seems to bother cleaning. Out of sight, out of mind, they say, and the dust mites love you for it. Wash the bedclothes at least once a week at a high temperature and try to use plastic coverings for all your clothes hanging in the wardrobe, too. If you have carpets and you don't want to get rid of them (wooden floors are perfect for the asthma sufferer), invest in a good vacuum cleaner.

These are simple things we can do to cut down on dust mites. If you have asthma, they might well be the major cause of your attacks.