Dust mites. They’re the creepy, spider-like micro organisms that live off the dead skin that sloughs off our bodies as we go about our daily lives. Most of the time, they are benign and co-exist with humans without causing the slightest problem. Unfortunately, as dust mites devour our dead skin cells, they excrete a protein that can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Retailers, smelling green, have jumped on this issue of dust mites with a vengeance. I recently read an article that strongly suggested bed pillows be replaced every year, citing the fact that 10% of the weight of two-year-old bed pillow can be made up of the excrement left behind by dust mites. Videos are all over the internet; check out this one by Bissell that very effectively uses fear as a selling tool:
All this got me thinking:
Does this mean we should be buying new sheets every year?
What about mattress pads – don’t we need to replace those every year as well?
Oh – what about my mattress – maybe I should buy a new mattress every year.
Wait – what about that recliner in my living room that I sit in every day. I guess I should be buying new furniture every year, too.
At that point, it became ridiculous. The bedding, linen, vacuum cleaner, allergy, and cleaning industries, to name a few, have seized upon this issue to generate sales.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I WASH my pillows a couple of times a year in hot water and dry them in a hot dryer. Of course, that option doesn’t put any money in the pockets of the manufacturers, so it’s not likely to be a highly touted solution. Sometimes I wonder what happened to a little thing called common sense.
By the way, I know some one who seems to be suffering from fear of dustmites. Would anyone who has had this fear and found a solution please share the cure?
Someone I love dearly suffers extreme dustmite phobia. Trying to infuse common sense into the equation is out of the question. I truly breaks my heart to watch him prepare for bed. Vacuuming the the mattress then the sheets (he wouldn’t dare use a blanket). He fuzz buzzes all his clothes turns the pockets out and removes any lint fuzz ball that can be seen and his eye sight has sharpened. Once the clothes have been cleaned dried in an extra hot dryer theyare then put in vacuum packed bags and placed in a deep freezer. A substantial amt of money is spent on lint rollers. He does not have bed bugs his place especially the bedroom is extremely clean. He does have marks on his body from what..can’t explain it. I read that dust mites feed on dead skin cells from our bodies and excrete a protein that can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals which is what I belive is happening to him and causing such a severe phobia type reaction. How can I follow up on this, he’s been to the doctor who only prescribed xanix to aid in sleep. This has caused near suicidal tendencies. I will welcome any serious advice.
The house dust mite (sometimes referred to by allergists as HDM) is a cosmopolitan guest in human habitation. Dust mites feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings. House dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. ^`-:
I am still up, reading articles on how to overcome this nonsensical paranoia, fear on mites and all the tiniest mighty creatures we’re endowed with. Sometimes, I think there’s essence in ignorance, by which, I would have still been enjoying this world as much as I did back then. Ever since I was diagnosed with scabies, my life has been depressingly different. Can you imagine taking about half (if not more) of your spare time cleaning and ‘re-cleaning’? All these headaches, fears, panic attacks, etc.. could have been all confronted by what you’ve reminded us, “common sense”.
Thanks a lot. I love your blog.
Thanks Joanne: I agree – sometimes we lose sight of common sense 🙂 And I appreciate you letting me know that you like my blog – means a lot to me.
Joanne,
I had a little sister-in-law suffering from scabbies, who was only 5 when I was married. By playing with the child I contracted scabbies. But it was a temporary affliction. The doctor prescribed Ascobiol which I applied after each bathe on the entire body except the head and thoroughly washed all clothing after use, including bedding. After a single course of a few days I was rid of scabbies. Have you tried a similar regime?