Dust mite allergy help needed

Are you asking because someone is dealing with an allergy, or what?

The reality is, you can’t actually eradicate dust mites entirely—nothing can—you can only manage them.
At the end of the day, we are essentially hosting these mites (for instance, in your eyelash follicles), and you’ll find over a thousand of them just sitting in your bed

If someone is hypersensitive to mites, then by all means, you should do everything within your power to mitigate the situation. That basically means stripping away anything that acts as a dust magnet—think carpets, upholstered furniture, tablecloths, curtains, throw pillows, or even the clothes in your closet (like heavy winter coats or extra layers hanging on the rack that aren't currently in use). And, of course, there's the perennial, most difficult issue: the bed itself.

Nowadays, there is a massive variety of covers and mattresses available, and I suspect that investing in anti-allergy versions would be a wise move regardless.

There are plenty of various topical treatments on the market too, though I’d suggest consulting with a specialist before jumping into those.

Samuel Morgan40 said:Are you asking because someone is dealing with an allergy, or what?

The reality is, you can’t actually eradicate dust mites entirely—nothing can—you can only manage them.
At the end of the day, we are essentially hosting these mites (for instance, in your eyelash follicles), and you’ll find over a thousand of them just sitting in your bed

If someone is hypersensitive to mites, then by all means, you should do everything within your power to mitigate the situation. That basically means stripping away anything that acts as a dust magnet—think carpets, upholstered furniture, tablecloths, curtains, throw pillows, or even the clothes in your closet (like heavy winter coats or extra layers hanging on the rack that aren't currently in use). And, of course, there's the perennial, most difficult issue: the bed itself.

Nowadays, there is a massive variety of covers and mattresses available, and I suspect that investing in anti-allergy versions would be a wise move regardless.

There are plenty of various topical treatments on the market too, though I’d suggest consulting with a specialist before jumping into those.

Hey,

I've already done everything you mentioned. We still see them around the house, especially when it's humid. Back home in California, whenever the wind dies down and the sun is out, they seem to disappear. I'm not positive if I'm actually allergic, but lately, I've been dealing with symptoms—waking up with a scratchy throat and a stuffed-up nose and all that.

Have you tried that Acarosan spray or something similar based on Benzyl benzoate?
I haven't tried that yet, but I've been reading nothing but good reviews online. Apparently, you just spray it on the bed and around the house and it lasts for six months. They say it absolutely kills the mites.

Best!

Frank Chavez3 said:Hey,

I've already done everything you mentioned. We still see them around the house, especially when it's humid. Back home in California, whenever the wind dies down and the sun is out, they seem to disappear. I'm not positive if I'm actually allergic, but lately, I've been dealing with symptoms—waking up with a scratchy throat and a stuffed-up nose and all that.

Have you tried that Acarosan spray or something similar based on Benzyl benzoate?
I haven't tried that yet, but I've been reading nothing but good reviews online. Apparently, you just spray it on the bed and around the house and it lasts for six months. They say it absolutely kills the mites.

Best!

How do you see them? I live in California too, and I've never spotted any mites. Can they actually be seen with the naked eye?

In this case, you really just need professional pest control—basically, call in a company that specializes in this sort of thing (which happens to be my line of work). If you're looking for a cheaper way to handle it yourself, here's the drill: grab a 3-liter sprayer, fill it with water, and pick up a product like K-Obiol, Neopitroid Alfa, or something similar. Mix in about 0.25, then give everything a thorough spray—focusing heavily on the hotspots, the corners, and any little cracks or crevices you can find. That should pretty much solve your problem.

Rachel Garcia said:How do you see them? I live in California too, and I've never spotted any mites. Can they actually be seen with the naked eye?

Duh, obviously you can't see them.🤣🤣
Who knows what kind of pests he's actually dealing with.🤷

Frank Chavez3 said:Hey,

I've already done everything you mentioned. We still see them around the house, especially when it's humid. Back home in California, whenever the wind dies down and the sun is out, they seem to disappear. I'm not positive if I'm actually allergic, but lately, I've been dealing with symptoms—waking up with a scratchy throat and a stuffed-up nose and all that.

Have you tried that Acarosan spray or something similar based on Benzyl benzoate?
I haven't tried that yet, but I've been reading nothing but good reviews online. Apparently, you just spray it on the bed and around the house and it lasts for six months. They say it absolutely kills the mites.

Best!

Now, I’m certainly no entomology expert, but I honestly don't know if people can actually see those mites with the naked eye. From what I understand, the only ones you might actually spot are those larger varieties—the kind that cause issues for honeybees, I think.

As far as finding a more thorough solution, perhaps you should take the advice of Susan Hall3 regarding professional pest control; essentially, call in the pros and ask them about using ACAROSAN while they're at it. Also, regarding your situation, it might not even be caused by mites—it would probably be wise to rule out all other potential causes first.

I'm from the South as well, so I know how much we rely on those refreshing breezes and clear skies to just... clean everything out. It’s such a relief when the air finally clears up and everything feels fresh again. 🙂

Frank Chavez3 said:I really need some advice regarding dust mites. I just discovered these disgusting little things recently. In my apartment—which is actually pretty new—we found entire colonies of them. I’ve tried everything from airing out the place constantly to cleaning almost every single day, but nothing works; I just can't shake these pests. From what I've read, there doesn't seem to be a real cure. Still, if anyone knows any other way to at least cut down their numbers, please let me know!

To me, this sounds like woodworms—like termites eating through timber. I don't know the technical term, but people back in California call them "bižča." When you see tiny holes peppering your furniture, they say it's been infested by them.
Seriously though, what kind of condition is the woodwork in your place actually in?

Hey everyone,
So, I live out in California and I honestly never noticed this before. My wife is from Washington, D.C., and she was actually the one who pointed it out to me—I was totally shocked. Our place is relatively new, maybe five or six years old. It all started when I spotted some mold buildup from moisture under the bed frame, and then we eventually realized there were dust mites. After that, I found them all over the house. I’ve also noticed they pretty much disappear in the summer, or on windy, sunny days; they seem to hide away (they definitely don't like bright light). Since I'm a photographer, I actually managed to snap a few pictures of them. You really have to catch them just right by angling a light so the shadow falls over them. They are tiny, though you can see them (at least mine) if you look really closely. They look huge in the photo because I zoomed in. I was just using a standard household bulb, by the way. I wish I had put something next to them for scale.

I've cleared out everything unnecessary from the house, even stripped the wallpaper, wrapped my mattresses in plastic, and I clean constantly... but I still see them.

Thinking back, I actually think I might be allergic to them because I keep waking up with a stuffy nose and stuff like that...

I've been doing some reading, and it seems like there isn't really a "cure" for them. They basically live with us; we can only try to minimize the damage. I picked up a VAPE spray for dust mites at the pharmacy, so I'm going to try that out this week. I also learned that the chemical Benzyl Benzoate kills them (you can find it at the drugstore). I'm planning to dilute that with alcohol and treat the whole house. I think it'll make things a lot better; honestly, I just want to get rid of them for good.

One more thing... I live on the upper floor of a house where the walls aren't insulated, so there's quite a bit of moisture. My parents live on the ground floor, and I checked, and they don't have any mites at all. 😕😕

Anyway, those are my experiences... honestly, I almost wish they weren't dust mites, because maybe they'd be easier to deal with, but I'm afraid that's exactly what they are.

Susan Hall3 said:In this case, you really just need professional pest control—basically, call in a company that specializes in this sort of thing (which happens to be my line of work). If you're looking for a cheaper way to handle it yourself, here's the drill: grab a 3-liter sprayer, fill it with water, and pick up a product like K-Obiol, Neopitroid Alfa, or something similar. Mix in about 0.25, then give everything a thorough spray—focusing heavily on the hotspots, the corners, and any little cracks or crevices you can find. That should pretty much solve your problem.

Cheers!
Have you actually tried using that K-Biol or Neopitroid stuff before? I think I'll stick to Benzyl Benzoate for now since I know for a fact it kills mites dead.

Basically, they crave humidity. You won't find them in dry areas.

Frank Chavez3 said:Hey everyone,
So, I live out in California and I honestly never noticed this before. My wife is from Washington, D.C., and she was actually the one who pointed it out to me—I was totally shocked. Our place is relatively new, maybe five or six years old. It all started when I spotted some mold buildup from moisture under the bed frame, and then we eventually realized there were dust mites. After that, I found them all over the house. I’ve also noticed they pretty much disappear in the summer, or on windy, sunny days; they seem to hide away (they definitely don't like bright light). Since I'm a photographer, I actually managed to snap a few pictures of them. You really have to catch them just right by angling a light so the shadow falls over them. They are tiny, though you can see them (at least mine) if you look really closely. They look huge in the photo because I zoomed in. I was just using a standard household bulb, by the way. I wish I had put something next to them for scale.

I've cleared out everything unnecessary from the house, even stripped the wallpaper, wrapped my mattresses in plastic, and I clean constantly... but I still see them.

Thinking back, I actually think I might be allergic to them because I keep waking up with a stuffy nose and stuff like that...

I've been doing some reading, and it seems like there isn't really a "cure" for them. They basically live with us; we can only try to minimize the damage. I picked up a VAPE spray for dust mites at the pharmacy, so I'm going to try that out this week. I also learned that the chemical Benzyl Benzoate kills them (you can find it at the drugstore). I'm planning to dilute that with alcohol and treat the whole house. I think it'll make things a lot better; honestly, I just want to get rid of them for good.

One more thing... I live on the upper floor of a house where the walls aren't insulated, so there's quite a bit of moisture. My parents live on the ground floor, and I checked, and they don't have any mites at all. 😕😕

Anyway, those are my experiences... honestly, I almost wish they weren't dust mites, because maybe they'd be easier to deal with, but I'm afraid that's exactly what they are.

Man, that sounds like woodworm. Especially when the humidity is high, they hang out in the little pits in the wood. Now they're migrating and looking for fresh, fine wood to snack on.
Woodworms are tough little beasts, but aside from ruining your woodwork and leaving behind that fine sawdust that can make you sneeze, they don't do much else.
Post a question on "World Around Us" so a more knowledgeable group can tell you for sure what you're dealing with.
Another thing that just popped into my head is bedbugs—

Thanks for the help, but I'm pretty sure they aren't bed bugs or even scorpions. These things are way smaller than those bugs. You can barely see them with the naked eye unless you catch them at just the right angle and really squint. Looks like I've got the situation under control for now!
I picked up some VAPE Sanit ACAROSAN at the local pharmacy and sprayed the edges of my bed where I spotted them (honestly, I'll probably spray the whole room over the next few days), and thank God, they're gone. I saw one or two here and there, but they were already dead, haha...
It seems like a great product, and it should keep working for a few months. I think it’s basically the same stuff as that ACAROSAN I mentioned earlier. That ACAROSAN is supposed to last six months, so if this stuff lasts at least three, I'll be more than happy.

The only thing left is a much tougher problem: my apartment has crazy high humidity, and I really need to figure out how to fix that eventually.

My advice to everyone:
You would be shocked by what's actually living in the spaces we call home. This was a huge wake-up call for me. Grab a flashlight and check the edges of your bed and any spots in your house where the walls feel cold or damp to see if you have mites. Really focus on the tiniest specks of dust. If you have mites, the only way to spot them is to watch them crawling. You won't see them on sheets or wallpaper—only on flat, smooth wooden surfaces or maybe the covers of books.

I feel like you need at least a month of vacation down in the Caribbean just to let your apartment air out from all those "bio" tons of poison. 🙂

Patrick Young2 said:I feel like you need at least a month of vacation down in the Caribbean just to let your apartment air out from all those "bio" tons of poison. 🙂

👍

Patrick Young2 said:I feel like you need at least a month of vacation down in the Caribbean just to let your apartment air out from all those "bio" tons of poison. 🙂

The mites in the tropics are absolutely massive—we're talking the size of rats from the Port of New York! 👍

Frank Chavez3 said:Cheers!
Have you actually tried using that K-Biol or Neopitroid stuff before? I think I'll stick to Benzyl Benzoate for now since I know for a fact it kills mites dead.

Basically, they crave humidity. You won't find them in dry areas.

Yeah, I've used those products to wipe them out before.

Angela Wright Asks:
The mites in the tropics are basically the size of Liverpool dock rats. 👍

Why do you even care? You're just lying under a palm tree, soaking up the sun. 😁

If it’s okay to ask here, please leave me be; if not, feel free to move this to the right sub.🙂 My bad.

So, my better half and I decided to pick up an old wall-to-wall shelving unit. It’s a solid piece—not worn out at all. Most people used it for books (which is our plan), but it’s an older model from the mid-eighties. Probably been around for 25-30 years. It looks functional enough to me, and it has a nice oak veneer.

I’m an allergy sufferer when it comes to dust mites, though I usually have it pretty well under control. It’s annoying, but it only flares up for maybe two or three weeks a year. Our mattresses are new and hypoallergenic, the sofa was bought just two years ago straight from the manufacturer—(for anyone with allergies, seriously, you have to check the manufacturing date. I still remember helping my late aunt pick out a couch for her place; something sitting in a warehouse since 2005 might have been manufactured back in 1997. It’s technically "new" because it hasn't sold, but it's been collecting dust particles for eight years before you even bring it home.) We don't have carpets, curtains are out of the question, and it's basically just books everywhere. And we'd be putting them behind glass. 🙂

Does anyone know if there could actually be dust mites living inside the shelving unit itself? Honestly, it sounds unlikely to me, almost impossible, but I want to be safe. I know they usually hang out in upholstered items, but I wanted to see if anyone more knowledgeable could weigh in.
Thanks👍

Maria Booth96 said:If it’s okay to ask here, please leave me be; if not, feel free to move this to the right sub.🙂 My bad.

So, my better half and I decided to pick up an old wall-to-wall shelving unit. It’s a solid piece—not worn out at all. Most people used it for books (which is our plan), but it’s an older model from the mid-eighties. Probably been around for 25-30 years. It looks functional enough to me, and it has a nice oak veneer.

I’m an allergy sufferer when it comes to dust mites, though I usually have it pretty well under control. It’s annoying, but it only flares up for maybe two or three weeks a year. Our mattresses are new and hypoallergenic, the sofa was bought just two years ago straight from the manufacturer—(for anyone with allergies, seriously, you have to check the manufacturing date. I still remember helping my late aunt pick out a couch for her place; something sitting in a warehouse since 2005 might have been manufactured back in 1997. It’s technically "new" because it hasn't sold, but it's been collecting dust particles for eight years before you even bring it home.) We don't have carpets, curtains are out of the question, and it's basically just books everywhere. And we'd be putting them behind glass. 🙂

Does anyone know if there could actually be dust mites living inside the shelving unit itself? Honestly, it sounds unlikely to me, almost impossible, but I want to be safe. I know they usually hang out in upholstered items, but I wanted to see if anyone more knowledgeable could weigh in.
Thanks👍

First time I've ever heard of mites living in a wooden cabinet.
Honestly, doesn't sound likely at all.
Just wipe it down with some disinfectant or rubbing alcohol and you're good.

Kevin Bailey2 said:First time I've ever heard of mites living in a wooden cabinet.
Honestly, doesn't sound likely at all.
Just wipe it down with some disinfectant or rubbing alcohol and you're good.

I did some digging online. It looks like they actually don't settle or build up much there.
My wardrobe should be arriving soon.😍

On another note, do you know anything about mites in a car—like under the seats or inside them—if it's an older vehicle?

I dealt with the exact same thing—itchiness all over, tiny bumps (especially after scratching), and the whole works. I stumbled onto this forum and started suspecting mites too. I tried pretty much everything mentioned above to get rid of them, but the itching just wouldn't quit, no matter what I did.🤷
I actually found some folks on an American forum dealing with the same issues, and they might have found the solution (at least for me). It turns out I'm allergic to caffeine. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind because, like most people, I've been a regular coffee drinker for years. I decided to put it to the test, so I cut out all caffeine for a little less than a week—no coffee, no tea, no soda, no chocolate... nothing at all. To my absolute surprise, it worked! The skin redness, the itching, and all those other symptoms completely vanished!🙏🙏🙏After a while, I ended up grabbing a coffee with some coworkers, and everything came right back. So now I'm certain, at least in my case, that caffeine was the culprit.☕

If you're still struggling with similar symptoms, give this a shot: try going without anything containing any form of caffeine for at least a week.

Good luck! 👍