When my daughter took her allergen sensitivity test, it was pretty easy
to tell that she was sensitive to dust mites. A big red bump raised up
quickly where they had scratched her skin with the dust mite allergen,
and it didn't take special training for me to realize she was very
allergic! The first place to start with ridding a house of dust mite
allergens is the allergic person's bedroom. Usually at least 8 hours of
the day is spent there, often much more. If you can make the bedroom a
place of respite, then allergy symptoms should decrease.
A child's bedroom has some unique challenges in eradicating dust mites.
Perhaps one of the hardest to deal with is the stuffed animals and
toys. Dust mites love dark, warm places to hide and multiply. And if
your child sleeps with their stuffed friends, then there are also dead
skin cells present (a veritable smorgasbord for dust mites).
Getting
rid of stuffed animals can be a heartbreaking sorrow for a young child.
The good news is, that unless the allergies are extreme, you can
implement a plan that will keep allergens to a minimum.
Use the enemies of dust mites to fight them dry air, light, and cold.
First, I got rid of all the stuffed toys that she didn't care about
very much. Second, I restricted her bedtime snuggle to one stuffed
animal per night. Third, I started a stuffed animal cleaning rotation.
I use a rotation because there are too many stuffed animals to wash and
dry effectively in one load.
Stuffed animals being cleaned should first go into the freezer for 24
hours. This will kill all the dust mites in them. You are not home free
yet, though! Remember that it is the dust mite waste that causes the
allergic reaction. You have to get rid of that before the stuffed
animals are safe to snuggle with.
Use a hot water wash and an allergen
removing detergent (such as De-Mite) to get rid of all the nasties.
Dry thoroughly! The frequency of washing will depend on the severity of
the allergy, and the conditions in the room (temperature, light,
humidity) . Weekly might be necessary for some, quarterly will be
plenty for others.
After cleaning, the stuffed friends can go home to their room! They
should be displayed where sunlight can reach them easily, to discourage
dust mites entering. If your child's allergies are quite pronounced, I strongly
recommend a dehumidifier. Dust mites cannot live with a humidity level
under 50%, so this is very effective in discouraging their presence.
A diagnosis of dust mite allergy in a child can be quite daunting at
first, but with careful planning and cleaning, those beloved stuffed
animals can still be enjoyed!
I didn't know you could freeze them dead. That's good news- in the winter you can stick the mattresses in the garage while you go on vacation, freeze them dead and treat the mattress when you get home. Thanks for such great tips. I learned more than I ever wanted to know from the Kirby man (http://mrshannigan.blogspot.com/2008/04/kirby-salesman-did-i-give-him-your.html) about dust mites. Even without an allergy; they're nasty things.
I read somewhere that dust mites are bad for your skin and speed up aging. I haven't researched that, but it makes sense to me. Yep, they're pretty creepy.
Mom Topics 
When my daughter took her allergen sensitivity test, it was pretty easy
to tell that she was sensitive to dust mites. A big red bump raised up
quickly where they had scratched her skin with the dust mite allergen,
and it didn't take special training for me to realize she was very
allergic! The first place to start with ridding a house of dust mite
allergens is the allergic person's bedroom. Usually at least 8 hours of
the day is spent there, often much more. If you can make the bedroom a
place of respite, then allergy symptoms should decrease.
