Dust Mites

What are Dust Mites?

Dust mites are tiny insects that are invisible to the naked eye. Every home has dust mites. They feed on human skin flakes and are found in mattresses, pillows, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedcovers, clothes, stuffed toys and fabric and fabric-covered items. Body parts and feces from dust mites can trigger asthma in individuals with allergic reactions to dust mites, and exposure to dust mites can cause asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.

Actions You Can Take

• Cover mattresses and pillows with dust proof ("allergen-impermeable") zippered covers.
• Wash bedding (sheets, blankets and bedcovers) once per week in hot water.
• Choose washable stuffed toys, wash them often in hot water and dry them thoroughly.
• Keep stuffed toys off beds.
• Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally between 30-50% relative humidity. Humidity levels can be measured by hygrometers which are available at local hardware stores.

Common house dust may contain asthma triggers. When you are treating your house for dust mites, try these simple steps as well.

• Remove dust often with a damp cloth.
• Vacuum carpet and fabric-covered furniture to reduce dust build-up.
• Using vacuums with high efficiency filters or central vacuums may be helpful.
• People with asthma or allergies should leave the area being vacuumed.

Asthma

Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans. Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers. EPA is committed to educating all Americans about asthma so that everyone knows what asthma is, how the environment can affect asthma patients and how to manage environmental asthma triggers. Learn more about factors found in the indoor and outdoor environment that can cause, trigger, or exacerbate asthma symptoms and what you can do to reduce their impact. You might be surprised by the list of common environmental asthma triggers and how simple it can be to eliminate them from your environment.

Join the Online Community Network

Communities in Action for Asthma-Friendly Environments Online Network is a year-round resource for mentoring and collaboration designed to support your asthma management program. Access cutting-edge tools that facilitate collaboration, problem solving, and learning between leaders of asthma programs. Learn more about and join the Online Community Network at www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org

Take Action During Asthma Awareness Month

May is Asthma Awareness Month Join in the national effort to raise awareness about asthma. Learn more about how to host activities to educate people in your community about comprehensive asthma management. Find tools and read about new ideas for outreach and awareness activities. Get tips for working with the media, success stories, and much more.

Learn more about Asthma Awareness Month | Find out about events happening near you