Got dust mites in your bed?

Quick: think of what you would most like to have in your bed. 

Was it … dust mites?

Gee, we really hope not. There are lots of good answers to that question — breakfast, a day off, a special friend (wink) — but dust mites obviously don’t make the list! Blech. 

And yet, chances are good there are tons of dust mites having a grand old time in your bed right now. Right now! If you’re super quiet you might even be able to hear them disgustingly feasting on your dead skin cells in there. (Jk about the noise, but they’re actually doing that!)

So that’s the issue. But don’t worry, we’re not going to leave you hanging. Here’s what you need to know about dealing with those suckers:

Unfortunately, beating up your bed repeatedly isn't enough to defeat dust mites. We like where your head's at, though.  

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny, microscopic organisms found in homes across the world. You can’t see them with your eyes alone. They’re related to other eight-legged creepy crawlies that you can see, though, like ticks and spiders. 

Dust mites are happy to live in any dust in your house, but they especially like warm, humid areas like your mattress and bedding. There, the dust mites have an all-you-can-eat buffet of their favorite snack — skin flakes. 

That’s right, dust mites feed on the dead skin that people shed. And since you lose between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells every hour, they usually have plenty of food to chomp down on. Hopefully you weren’t eating while reading this. Warning: it keeps getting more gross before it gets better. 

Why should you care?

If the thought of tiny pests crawling around in your bed and eating your skin isn’t enough to get you caring about dust mites (seriously??), there’s another major concern — your health.

Dust mites aren’t just disgusting. Yes, they are really, really disgusting, but they’re also somewhat dangerous. Both the body parts of dust mites and their waste can cause allergies for many people. Even once a dust mite dies, the body and waste it leaves behind can continue to provoke allergic reactions. 

Dust mites don't even have the decency to be adorable like these potential allergen producers. Rude :/

A dust mite allergy can also trigger your asthma, potentially leading to difficulty breathing, coughing, and chest pain. You want to avoid dust mites as much as possible to protect your health and comfort. 

How can you stop dust mites?

So you’re ready to join the noble fight against the dust mite army. Your uniform will arrive in the mail shortly. Now what?

If you want to stop dust mites, you need to be frequently changing and washing your bedding — at least once every two weeks. If you can’t wash an item on your bed, consider running it in the dryer on high heat for about 15 minutes or putting it in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours. Any of these options will kill the dust mites. 

You should also carefully select your sheets and mattress in the first place. Some bedding traps dust and makes it easier for dust mites to thrive. Look for sheets made of fabrics like lyocell or silk that repel dust. The materials in your mattress are also key. 

Sheets & Giggles’ mattress has a eucalyptus lyocell cover that’s as functional as it is beautiful. The eucalyptus lyocell reduces the propagation of dust mites to help you sleep better at night, literally and figuratively. Throw on a waterproof eucalyptus mattress protector for even more protection from nasty dust mites.

We’ve got you covered (and free from dust mites)!