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House dust mites die at 18 degrees Celsius. So just put a teddy bear in the freezer to get rid of these allergenic creatures.
In order not to spend her life cleaning, the mother of a small allergy sufferer must arrange the apartment so that house dust mites do not want to stay there. He must also be familiar with the methods of eliminating these harmful arachnids.
Guest in bed
Each of us has wild tenants in our home. They are microscopic arachnids that feed on human and animal exfoliated epidermis, mold fungi and organic debris present in homes. They like to lie in our bedding the most, because we serve them breakfast in bed every day in the form of exfoliated dead skin. They live in our homes in flocks. There can be up to 80 of them in one gram of dust. The female lays up to 4 eggs each day, from which a month later becomes a mature specimen. Males live for about 100 days, and females for up to 150 days.
Allergen for the mission
Not only do they occupy our apartment without asking for permission, but they also do not clean up after themselves. Mite fecal particles stick to rough materials such as upholstered furniture fibers, carpets, curtains and plush toys. The biggest problem is that the droppings of these arachnids are very allergenic to some people.
At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, we did not know about allergies at all. Today, every fifth little Pole is born with an allergy sufferer. When your child has a constant runny nose, red and watery eyes, and these symptoms increase especially at night and in the morning immediately after waking up, he may be suffering from an allergy.
A way to be a wild tenant
Dust mites are sensitive to cold. They die at 18 degrees Celsius. They don’t like sunbathing and being out in the sun is bad for them. The temperature of 60 degrees Celsius is also lethal for them. In pharmacies you can also buy a whole arsenal of lethal weapons against mites. If you want to get rid of dust mites permanently, you should rearrange the room so that they do not like it. All dust collecting items need to be removed – upholstered furniture, curtains, rugs and carpets.
Bed difficulties
Then we have to get the intruders out of bed. – The mattress of a child suffering from allergies should be new – says doctor allergist Aleksandra Kindracka. He adds that it is best not to use a mattress made of natural fibers – hair or grasses. – A foam mattress will be optimal. It is also very important to use special mattress covers made of a material through which dust mites will not squeeze through. The pillow must be washable at a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius many times, says the doctor.
A small allergy cot should have a special bedding container that should be hidden during the day. We need to store all toys in closed containers.
Eviction of intruders
– The best way to get rid of intrusive arachnids is frequent cleaning and airing the apartment. We should vacuum an allergic child’s room at least four times a week. – Vacuum cleaners with a dust mite filter are the best – says Dr. Kindracka. – Also, water vacuum cleaners do not spread mites in the air – he adds. The remaining ones are catapulted by arachnids, which, together with the dust, drift in the air for half an hour after vacuuming.
Freezing allergens
– An unconventional way to fight mites is to freeze them – says Dr. Kindracka. – Best at 18 degrees Celsius adds. That’s what’s in the freezer. Our child’s plush toys can be put there overnight. In the morning you have to wash them in order to rinse the mites away. The water temperature does not have to be high, because the intruders are already dead. You can also buy acaricides in the form of foams or sprays in the pharmacy. Wash the furniture and the floor with them. The corpses of intruders must be removed by washing the sprayed surfaces with detergent. Pillows of a child suffering from allergies are washed depending on the degree of allergy, usually every two or three weeks at a temperature of 60 degrees C.
Text: Maria Janiszewska