To help decrease the amount of dust mites, encase mattresses, box springs, and pillows with mite-proof covers. Additional methods consist of washing bedding once a week in hot water, and dusting with a wet cloth once a week. Carpets can be a significant source of dust mites and should be vacuumed weekly with a vacuum cleaner containing a HEPA filter. Owning wooden and leather furniture is another way to reduce the dust mite population in the home.

Review Date:
5/7/2007
Reviewed By:
Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

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