Tell Me About Dust Mite Allergies

[JumpyTheFrog]

Is there anything other than the obvious (removing carpets, pillow covers, and mattress covers) that helped? My DS just got diagnosed today.

[JumpyTheFrog]

The doctor said that air purifiers might help a little for dust mites, but help much more for dander. I had already ordered one, so we'll put it in his room.

[almondbutterandjelly]

Change all bedding at least every 10 days.  According to my allergist, at day 10, dust mite growth becomes exponential.

We removed curtains and installed vertical (not horizontal) blinds.  Curtains are dust magnets.

[Clemsondana]

We took out the blinds and put in shades and I switched to having a coverlet vs a comforter since they're easier to wash.  

[redheadmom]

In addition to changing out her pillows, my DS allergist had her take a nightly antihistamine.  DS was waking up every morning very congested and recurring sinus infections.  We had to try Claritin, Zyrtec, and finally settled on Allegra as the best one for her. 

[sbgrace]

Try to make the sleeping space as dust mite free as possible. This would be/is my main focus for dust mite allergies. We wash and high heat dry all my son's bedding weekly. I have dust mite proof pillow and mattress covers. He takes a shower before bed and wears fresh clothes to sleep in. 

Other stuff, all less important than the bedding and bedclothes themselves imo--he has an air purifier in his room, no carpet and blinds only on the windows. I have a HEPA filter on the main air conditioner. 

He takes zyrtec every morning and singulair every night. He has allergies outside of just dust, but his room based precautions are all about the dust mites.  

Edited August 19, 2020 by sbgrace

[lewelma]

Wash is super hot water and dry on high heat.

Freezing also works.  If you can find a way to let your house freeze over for a week, you will cut the population off each year.  My MIL's cottage at the lake in MI is not winterized, so freezes each year on the inside.  My dh *loves* going there as his allergies stop.

[Runningmom80]

I agree with everyone else and I’ll add get a dust mite cover for his mattress and pillows. No stuffed animals, try to get as much “fluffy” out of his room as possible.

for example, I tried to add a rug to my bedroom that I vacuumed every other day. I started having worsening symptoms so I started vacuuming every day, no change. I had to take the rug out. 
 

from what I’ve read air purifiers don’t really help. Dust mite covers and washing bedding weekly in hot water are what you need. 
 

ETA: Flonase! It’s not systemic and works really well. I take it along with Allegra because my allergies are really bad. 

Edited August 19, 2020 by Runningmom80

[mom31257]

Don't make the bed. 

https://www.sciencealert.com/making-your-bed-each-morning-makes-it-easier-for-dust-mites-to-breed-science-finds

[City Mouse]

Move... just kidding, but when I took my DS to an allergist in Santa Fe, the doctor told us that it is too dry in New Mexico for dust mites which I did not know. since we are from Houston and still travel back often, he did test DS for dust mites. his recommendation was to bring our own pillows when traveling. On the other hand, there are things to be allergic to here that don’t grown in the gulf coast.

[Loowit]

For DS we put in hardwood floors in his bedroom, covers on his pillow and mattress, and all the typical things like that.  He also takes Clairitin daily.  But the thing that helped most long term was allergy shots.