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Q: Does sunlight kill dust mites?
A: Yes, but it won't stop your allergic reaction.
Published 20/02/2008
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Living with allergies is a nightmare for many people, and dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergic symptoms. But how do you get rid of something that lives all around us?
Experts agree that when it comes to allergies the best thing to do is avoid your allergen – the thing that causes your allergic reaction. Dust mite allergens are proteins contained in mites' faeces, secretions and body parts.
If you don't want to sneeze or wheeze then you need to get rid of dust mites and what they leave behind. But that's hard when dust mites live in our mattresses, pillows, bedding, furniture and clothes.
Some people swear sunlight will rid your clothes, carpets and bedding of dust mites. But Dr Euan Tovey, an allergy researcher from Sydney University, says it's not a straightforward solution.
Tovey says leaving your rugs or carpets in the sun to 'bake' for three hours will kill all the dust mites, but it won't get rid of the allergen.
"Killing the mites alone doesn't stop any of the exposure to allergens – all it does is kill the mites, which will over a period of time just re-establish themselves anyway. So you do need to get rid of the allergen," he says.
"What I do is wash my Persian carpets once or twice a year – I hose them down, scrub them with soap and water, put them on the trampoline and leave them in the sun for a day."
The best thing for bedding and clothes is regular washing in the machine. Tovey says dust mite allergen is highly soluble, and washing in warm water with normal laundry detergent removes close to 97 per cent of the allergens.
"Most websites advocate hot washing bedding at 73 degrees – that's very hot water. Most systems don't have water that hot and I don't think it's worth the trouble – you're better to wash it more frequently," he said.
As for mattresses, Tovey says it's best to use a washable mattress protector and wash it regularly with all your other bedding.
So in short, sunlight can kill dust mites but it won't get rid of the allergens. You need to wash those before you'll stop coughing, sneezing and wheezing.
Dr Euan Tovey is Research Leader of the Allergen Team, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney. He was interviewed by Claudine Ryan.
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Comments (8)
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Delta :
29 Feb 2008 8:27:40pm
For dust mites, I find tea tree oil (diluted in water)vaporised in an oil burner on a regular basis helps to reduce the allergen. I believe it kills the fungus required by the dust mites for their survival. It also smells nice!
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Trina :
24 Feb 2008 11:15:11am
I put all bedding out in the sun every week, but have been unable to find out for how long this should be done and is winter sun strong enough to kill the mites? I would be very grateful for a response.
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John :
21 Feb 2008 3:49:58pm
Cinema carpets and especially the seats seem to house other bugs. I catch the 'flu often after visiting our local multiplex. Problem not helped by weeks of rain and damp carpets either. Theatre seats should have washable covers, especially at the tops. It's a genuine health problem I've thought about for a long time.
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reikibev :
21 Feb 2008 6:05:39pm
Hmm, John. Might be something there. In 2 of our cinema theatres, I get very nauseated. Had to leave 2 films unfinished, but was able to get through a third, just. Other theatres there don't do that to me.
As for mites:
I vacuum the doona cover weekly between monthly washes. (Washing the sheets and pillowcases weekly.) And use eucalyptus spray all around the bed after vacuuming.
I also have mite-proof cases on everything - pillows, doona, mattress - which help.
Plus I'm in my 2nd year of desensitising injections...
Anything else?! ;-)-
Amy :
21 Feb 2008 11:24:28pm
You can now have your allergy vaccine as oral drops which can be self administered at home rather than injections with your GP.
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