Furniture

Try to keep your furniture and the other surfaces in your home as dust-free as possible. When cleaning these surfaces, avoid kicking up dust into the air. Use a dusting product specially made to reduce the amount of dust that gets kicked up, such as Pledge® Dust & Allergen aerosol spray.

When purchasing new furniture, keep in mind that wood, plastic, vinyl and leather surfaces are easier to clean than upholstered surfaces.

Pillows and Mattresses

Cover mattresses and pillows in zippered dust-proof covers. These covers are made of a material with pores too small to let dust mites and their waste product through (they're called allergen-impermeable). Plastic or vinyl covers are the least expensive but some people find them uncomfortable. Other fabric allergen-impermeable covers can be purchased from allergy supply companies as well as many regular bedding stores.

Sheets and Blankets

Wash your sheets and blankets weekly in hot water. Temperatures of at least 130 degrees F are needed to kill dust mites.

Other Steps You Can Take

• Use roll-type shades instead of curtains for the windows; if you do have curtains, be sure to wash them often.
• Use a dehumidifier. Lowering humidity reduces the number of dust mites and dust mite allergens in your home.
• Remove carpeting (dust mites tend to collect in carpeting). If this is not possible, vacuum and/or clean your carpets frequently. Use a carpet treatment specially formulated to reduce allergens.