Do Air Purifiers Help With Dust Mite Allergy

How To Get Rid Of Dust Mites In The Air

As noted in our section on cleaning, keeping dust mites out of the air is a crucial part of the battle against dust mite allergies. Even our best cleaning efforts are likely to kick up and recycle dust mite allergens back into the air, leading to allergic and asthmatic reactions.

Here are some tips to get rid of dust mites in the air:

• Do not use attic or window fans. They can bring new allergens and dust mite particles in from outside.
• Use your A/C system or an air purification system to remove dust mites from the air

Is Dust Harmful To Your Health

It is, significantly. The dust particles hidden in the air can cause heart and respiratory problems. They can get into the eyes, throat, and lungs and wreak havoc. Moreover, dust particles can contaminate our food and make us ill. Dust allergy is one of the main causes of bronchial asthma. It affects around 10% to 20% of people, and the best way to reduce the effects is to take better care of the environment.

Reduce The Household Temperature

Earlier, we mentioned how dust mites love warm, damp climates, so one of the best steps to reduce the concentration of these bugs is to disrupt their comfortable habitat. This means reducing the temperature in your home so it is not comfortable for dust mites. Generally, the mites thrive in temperatures about 75 to 80 degrees, and they prefer a relative humidity that is around 70 to 80%. By lowering the temperature in your home, and reducing the humidity through dehumidifiers and other technologies, you can actually have a better chance at lower levels of dust mites.

Set your indoor temperature to 70 degrees, which is a perfectly comfortable level for most people. If you can tolerate a few degrees cooler, you can live with less chances for dust mites.

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Will Air Purifiers Kill Dust Mites

I should say Im NOT an expert in air pollution. Im just a dedicated data nerd who was doing psychology research in Beijing and then got forced into building DIY air purifiers to fight the crippling air pollution I was breathing.

During that process, I started testing air purifiers with HEPA filtersthese guys.

Most air purifiers use HEPA filters, so lets start there.

These fiber filters capture over 99% of particles 0.3 microns and above. Thats good news for my probably-dust-mite-infested home because dust mites are 200 to 300 microns long.

Thats easily in the range that HEPAs capture. Now, Im not sure if getting stuck in a filter would kill a dust mite. They die in environments with low humidity, and getting constantly blown by air might do the job, but thats speculation.

Bottom line: Most air purifiers will capture dust mites, but may not kill them.

Best Air Purifier For Dust Mites Removal

Allergic medications are only as good as the environment that youre living in. If youre suffering from dust mites allergy, youll want to reduce the growth and population of dust mites at home. Getting an air purifier is one of the many methods that help.

In fact, the air purifier is the first appliance that Ive bought when my son was diagnosed with dust mites allergy. Ill be lying if I claim it is the ultimate solution to dust mites problems. But it does help to improve air quality and reduce allergies.

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What Are Air Purifiers Supposed To Filter Out And Do They Actually Do It

Most filters on the market are designed to capture particles like dust and pollen, but donât catch gases like VOCs or radon. That would require an adsorbent, like activated carbon. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that the functionality of air purifiers is limited in terms of filtering out gases, and that you must frequently replace filters for optimal functionality, usually about every three or so months.

Many air purifiers are good at filtering pollutant particles out of the air , but they are not necessarily very good at removing gaseous pollutants like VOCs or radon from the air that may accumulate from adhesives, paints, or cleaning products. Allergens that are embedded into furniture or flooring are also not captured by them.

Additionally, the effectiveness of air purifiers in real-world situations likely wonât mimic those of controlled conditions in a lab . The location, installation, flow rate, and how long it is operating for will all vary, as will the conditions in the space. In addition, there are other things happening in your home that may effect the efficacy like ventilation , and new particles are constantly emerging, so the air may not as filtered as the claims may have you believe.

What Is A Hepa Filter

HEPA is an acronym for High Efficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters capture variously sized particles within a multi-layered netting usually made out of very fine fiberglass threads with varying sized gaps. The filter is airtight, and comprised of a dense sheet of small fibers pleated and sealed in a metal or plastic frame.

The air purifier’s fan draws air into the filter and particulates are captured in the filter. The larger particles are captured via impaction , mid-sized particles are captured by interception , and ultra-fine particles are captured by diffusion .

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Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Allergies

Pet dander includes more than just fur it’s also animal skin and saliva. These particles are small and lightweight – measuring just 2.5 microns, meaning they can remain in the air for some time. Because it’s so light, pet dander can also easily move around the home should it fall on clothing, furniture or floors.

It’s possible to remove the particles that trigger allergies caused by pets using an air purifier fitted with a HEPA filter. According to the Environmental Protection Agency , HEPA filters can theoretically remove up to 99.97% of dust, pollen and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns, so they should safely take care of pet dander floating in the air.

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Additional reporting to this story by Danielle Zoellner

As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.

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Do Air Purifiers Get Rid Of Dust Mites

People who have diseases like allergies and asthma, dust mites may make it worse, primarily at indoor places. Many people are using air purifiers to get rid of this. But do air purifiers get rid of dust mites?

Fortunately, the innovative creatures of our modern technology, like air purifiers, make it easy to remove dust mites and other airborne contaminants.

Most of the air purifiers include a True HEPA filter, which can grab 99% tiny particles. The size of those tiny particles maybe 0.3 microns, but still, the machine will trap it inside the filter.

And fortunately, HEPA filters can easily capture the dust mites as most of them are 200 to 300 microns long. However, it may not be 100% sure whether dust mites die inside the machine.

It will die when there is low humidity in the environment. It also depends on how powerful a motor you have in your air purifier and the time required to clean the air for creating a breathable atmosphere.

An electric fan is installed inside your air purifier. Whenever you turn on your machine, the fan gives pressure to dust mites, and they get trapped toward a filtration system to remove them. The longer you use your air purifier, the fewer dust mites you will notice in your room.

Myth : Air Purifiers Will Take Care Of All Odors In Your Home So You Dont Have To Bother With Common Housekeeping

A surprising number of people think that if they have an air purifier, it gives them an excuse to not empty the cat litter, leave a dirty clothes hamper or rotting food in the kitchen for months on end while expecting an air purifier to pick up the slack! Air purifiers only work for odors if they have several pounds of high grade carbon in them, but good hygiene and removing the cause of the odor is a better solution.

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Choose Hard Flooring Over Carpets

Carpet, as we mentioned above, is a common hiding place for dust and dust mites. For this reason, you may want to consider using hardwood or tile flooring instead of carpeting. With hard flooring, you will have a far easier time cleaning the surface, which means you can remove dust more effectively and, in turn, reduce the chances of dust mites.

What To Look For

When it comes to using air purifiers for dust removal, people should consider the filters they use.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency , devices with a high-efficiency particulate air filter can remove 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. These include dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria.

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How Can I Prevent/improve Dust Mite Allergies

The most common ways of responding to allergies are by either reducing exposure to the known allergen or by taking anti-allergy medicine to improve the allergy symptoms.

In the case of dust mites, it is effective to do both. Complete removal of dust mites from our homes is almost impossible. Therefore, reducing exposure to them as much as possible and using medication when needed is the best way to improve dust mite allergies.

How can an Air Purifier help in removing dust mites?

Lets talk about how an air purifier can help in improving dust mite allergies and in general remove dust mites from your home.

Most Air Purifiers have at least 1 mechanical filter which removes solid particulate matter floating around in the air. Usually, this filter is what is called a HEPA filter. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air Delivery. These filters are incredibly effective at removing particulate pollutants. In fact, the international HEPA standard states that these filters should be able to

A typical dust mite is between 100 to 300 micrometers in size so any dust mites floating in the air are easily captured by the HEPA filter. But, you now know that dust mite allergies are in fact caused not by dust mites themselves but by their feces and body fragments. The average size of dust mite feces has been estimated to about 20 microns.

Air Purifiers For Allergies

If you have an allergy, for example a pet or a dust mite allergy, you’re usually allergic to the skin flakes and allergens left behind by dogs, cats, and dust mites. An air purifier helps remove these particles from the air. Air purifiers that relieve allergy complaints have a HEPA filter and clean all the air in a room 3.5 times per hour. As such, an air purifier doesn’t relieve all symptoms, but improves the air quality to reduce the symptoms.

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Understanding Dust And Mite Allergy

Between 25% and 30% of the population is allergic and almost half have an allergy to dust mites 1,2,3 . It is therefore a very common type of allergy that affects millions of people.

This form of allergy is far from trivial because it can often lead to asthma in adults and children alike. It is estimated that 80 to 95% of asthma in children has an allergic cause 4 this may be due to allergic rhinitis . Conversely, almost half of people with allergic rhinitis also have asthma 4 . The two are therefore intimately linked. Another study showed that for 57% of people with asthma, the cause is a dust mite allergy 5 .

Mites are tiny animals that belong to the same family as spiders. Due to their size of only a few microns, they are invisible to the naked eye. There are thousands of species of mites , but only about ten of them that live in our home and can cause allergies. These are commonly called dust mites and feed mainly on our debris and dander and those of our pets.

House dust mites are therefore an integral part of the ecosystem and even recycle some of our organic waste. However, they can also cause allergic reactions in hypersensitive people due to certain proteins found in their shells and droppings.

What Can You Do To Control Dust Mites And Rising Symptoms:

• cover the mattress, pillow, and box spring with a fabric that has small pores enough to keep the dust mites to get inside them.
• wash your bedding regularly with hot water to kill the dust mites.
• keep you home clutter free
• vacuuming is important and so is deep cleaning your rugs and carpets every 1-2 months.
• use an air purifier with HEPA filters to clear the room from polluted air.

Let us help you choose the right air purifier as per your needs. Visit www.pranaair.com for more details about our products and services.

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Keep Your Environment Clean To Protect Your Health

Sarah is a freelance writer with a focus on health and wellness. She has written for publications like Women’s Health, Healthline, and Parents. She taught creative writing for five years, and has a bachelor’s degree in English from Southern Connecticut State University.

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the bestproducts, and articles are reviewed by healthcare professionals for medical accuracy. Youcan learn more about ourreview process here.We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Verywell / Sabrina Jiang

Spring and fall allergies are pretty common thanks to pollen and leaf mold, but if you feel like your personal allergy season extends well into summer and winter, too, you might not be dealing with just seasonal allergies. You could be suffering from environmental or indoor allergies as well, caused by everything from dust mites and insect droppings to mold and pet dander. If thats the case, you may want to spring for an air purifier to improve the air quality inside your home. Before you dismiss it as a luxury purchase, know this: ignoring your ongoing allergies may cause bigger problems later on.

Uncontrolled allergies can lead to developing asthma, says Kathleen Dass, M.D., a Michigan-based allergist and immunologist. While most studies are usually small, the evidence does show improvement in allergic rhinitis with HEPA filters.

Best Air Purifiers For Dust Removal And Dust Mites

The air we breathe is packed with dust mites and dust particles that negatively impact our health. Modern industrial machinery has played a critical role in polluting our atmosphere. But, is there a solution?

There is! It comes in the form of a dust remover. This is a small machine with an air filter equipped inside, which filters dust and debris from the air, thus making it breathable. The result is lovely fresh air to breathe in.

So, if you want to get rid of dust from your home, youre on the right page. Here youll find we have covered the best air purifier for dust removal.

Alen BreatheSmart Flex is an air purifier that can cover an area of 700 sq. ft. and tackles dust mites. This purifier is amazing at catching pollen, dander dust, allergens, and other germs.

This machine can also reduce dust like a pro despite its small size. In fact, it traps 99% of dust particles, including particles as small as 0.3 microns.

The appliance consists of a Pure HEPA Filter that is designed to catch airborne particles and trap them inside. You will receive the Pure HEPA filter with the unit, however, and it is compatible with three more filters as well.

You can pick one of the four options:

• Pure HEPA

Pick the filter that works best for you

You can switch between four fan speeds on this product. The lowest speed is as quiet as a whisper, while the highest sounds are like a gentle rainfall.

PROS:

• Cleans the air in just thirty minutes
• Filter life
• Lifetime warranty

CONS:

PROS:

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How Do Dust Mites Cause Allergies

While dust mites do not bite and spread infections, they are one of the most significant causes of allergies among Americans.

An interesting thing to note about dust mites is that the allergy is caused by dust mite feces and fragments of dead dust mites floating around. Ongoing exposure to dust mite feces and body fragments can affect those with mite allergies or other respiratory conditions like Asthma and COPD.

Dust mites cause a reaction in our bodies known as allergic rhinitis. This is when your body sets up an immune system response against the allergens which are perceived as a threat.

Some of the symptoms of dust mite allergies are

• runny nose

Depending on the severity of the allergy, some or all of these symptoms may be seen.