Doctors say that every fifth child with bronchial asthma suffers from an allergy to dust mites. Their presence in the house is unlikely to be discovered by chance. But such “guests” exist in almost every home. As a rule, these parasites live in places where dust accumulates, including mattresses, carpets, and pillows. Many people don’t even realize that every night they lay their head on a pillow that is “infested” with mites.
Description of the parasite, causes of appearance
Ticks belong to the family of small arachnids.
They are divided into two orders: acariformes and parasitiforms. Acariform mites are closer to phalangeal arachnids, while parasitiform mites belong to the class of harvesters. The feather mite (photo presented in the article) belongs to the order Acariformes. The parasite is almost impossible to detect; it has a transparent scaly body, and its dimensions do not exceed 0.5 mm in length. Due to the peculiarities of its structure, it cannot bite a person, however, the protein that it secretes in the process of life can cause an acute allergic reaction.
The main reasons for the appearance of the insect are unsanitary conditions and careless attitude towards personal and bedding. Ticks spread very quickly. It is impossible to completely get rid of them, but you can significantly reduce their numbers.
Habitat
The pests live and breed on birds' feathers, causing them to fall out over time. In residential buildings, feather mites are most often found in pillows (photo below), upholstered furniture, carpeting and places where dust accumulates. However, down and feather pillows are considered the most favorable habitat for the parasite.
Feather base and human sweat combine to create the optimal temperature and humidity necessary for insect reproduction. Most people ventilate the room before going to bed, thereby improving the living conditions of the insect, since fresh air is one of the main components of its life support.
If not properly cared for, any down or feather product will gain weight after a few years due to the accumulation of dust and mites. On average, there are up to 200 individuals for every centimeter of feather pillow. As a rule, parasites get onto human skin from down or feather products, causing clearly noticeable discomfort.
Since it is extremely difficult to completely get rid of feather mites, down and feather filling of bedding is prohibited in most developed countries. This mainly concerns municipal children's institutions, hospitals, sanatoriums, hotels, barracks and student dormitories.
Modern manufacturers give preference to synthetic fillers such as padding polyester and holofiber. It is much easier to care for such products; in addition, the existence of parasites in them is almost impossible. For people who prefer natural materials, bedding with bamboo or coconut fiber, buckwheat, pine needles and even purified meadow hay is recommended. It is advisable to update pillows once a year.
Danger to humans
If treatment is not started in time, feather mites can cause acute allergic reactions or aggravate existing diseases:
- Asthma. The patient experiences attacks of the disease more often.
- Allergies are possible with a severe cough, watery eyes and runny nose. If you eliminate the allergen, you feel better and the symptoms disappear.
- Hives are accompanied by itching, and characteristic pink spots appear on the body.
- Atopic dermatitis - manifested by redness and peeling of some areas of the skin, severe itching is possible. The disease requires long-term treatment.
- Swelling of the airways is the most dangerous possible reaction, as it can be fatal.
Symptoms of presence
The main sign that a large number of mites have accumulated in the pillow is an allergic reaction caused by parasite excrement. Feces contain an antigen that causes the body to react. Sometimes allergies are caused by cuticle particles from dead or shed mites.
Symptoms:
- Watery eyes, swollen eyelids, suppuration of the cornea.
- Redness of the skin, itching, peeling, cracking of the skin.
- Nasal congestion and discharge, sneezing.
- Coughing attacks, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
- Attacks of suffocation.
- Hives.
- Decreased appetite, gastrointestinal disorders.
Note! The symptoms of allergies to fungus and mites are similar, so it is recommended to undergo a special test with the direction of your doctor.
If left untreated, symptoms over time develop into conjunctivitis, atopic dermatitis, bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, and Quincke's edema. In some cases, fatal swelling of the airways can occur.
Interesting! Dust pests do not bite or feed on humans, and therefore are not capable of transmitting dangerous diseases.
If a person has a weakened immune system, mites will cause acne and pimples on the skin. An allergic reaction may be present only in some family members, which most often affects children.
For reference! Vitamin C helps the body fight allergens.
Test strips will help in determining the presence of parasites . The set contains 10 pieces. Research is carried out this way. Take a little filler out of the pillow, put it in a container, add water and lower the test strip. Or the dust is mixed with water. The color of the strip determines how many ticks are in the pillow.
Fact! After 5 years of use, about half the weight of a feather pillow is dust mite excrement.
What are feather mites?
Feather mites can feel comfortable not only in blankets and pillows, but also in other products consisting of down or feathers. The tick lives for about 80 days, and leaves behind a clutch of eggs, the number of which reaches 60-70 pieces. They live in entire colonies. One gram of dust can contain from 10 to 10,000 individuals. The norm is the presence of up to 100 parasites in 1 g of dust, since this concentration of insects is quite safe for humans.
Dust (feather) mites are synanthropic organisms. They always live next to a person. Ideal conditions have been created here: fairly warm, moderate humidity, plenty of food. Mites often feed on woolen lint in bedding. However, the main source of food is dead human skin cells, of which there are about one and a half grams daily.
More about the parasite
One of the human companions, the linen or bed mite, lives for several hundred years and is distributed in all parts of the world. He feels comfortable with a person. It feeds on dead skin cells, dandruff, lost hair, hides in the folds of dirty bed linen, in pillows, blankets, mattresses and feels great in a dusty room that has not been cleaned for a long time.
A person does not notice the presence of a bed mite if he has good immunity and does not know what an allergic reaction is.
Sensitive people have it more difficult. Their skin and respiratory organs respond to pest bites with endless runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and skin irritations in the form of a small red rash.
It is possible to examine a bed mite (it is a type of saprophyte) only with the help of a microscope, it is so small.
A tick (as we see it in photographs) looks like this:
- yellow-brown;
- the body is flattened, covered with chitin;
- length – from 0.2 to 0.6 mm;
- six limbs with suction cups;
- head in the shape of a triangle.
An adult tick lives for a month and a half, during which time the female lays more than three hundred eggs.
What does a feather mite look like? Photo under a microscope
Few people know that feather mites are individuals belonging to the group of pests Dermatophagoides (dust parasites). They are characterized by a body length of 0.1 to 0.5 mm. This allows them to remain undetected for a long time. Moreover, in a dream, when a person’s head is on the pillow, there are no external sensations. Even the appearance of a large number of pests does not cause discomfort during rest.
If you are wondering what ticks look like in pillows, you need to consider that they move using 4 pairs of limbs. Moreover, there are suction cups and claw-like protrusions on the legs. This allows pests to stay on the fluff of the fluff. The body of parasites is oval, convex.
These mites have powerful mouthparts
(consisting of claw-shaped chelicerae), thanks to this, pests chew through particles of dead epidermis.
Feather mite under a microscope. Feather mites have powerful mouthparts Photo of a feather mite under a microscope
The best fillings for “pregnant” pillows
Expectant mothers need special comfort while sleeping or resting. Special pillows have been invented for them to support their growing belly at night.
It is better to choose a synthetic material as a filler - it does not cause allergies, which is very important for both mother and baby
Grass Textile Comforel – holofiber balls
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
90%
buyers recommend this product
These soft balls are made of siliconized fiber and have a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 cm. The filler is produced by a company from St. Petersburg. The material does not accumulate static electricity and does not cause allergies. It is light, soft and breathable.
Advantages:
- keeps its shape perfectly;
- Can be washed multiple times;
- can be pressed in gentle mode;
- durable;
- hypoallergenic.
Flaws:
- requires thorough rinsing, as it produces a lot of foam;
- After washing, the product must be straightened, otherwise it will take a long time to dry.
This filler is suitable for sewing pillows intended not only for pregnant women, but also for nursing mothers.
Theraline – polystyrene beads (EPS granules)
4.7
★★★★★
editorial assessment
86%
buyers recommend this product
This filler is produced by the German company Theraline and is especially recommended for expectant mothers. Small balls with a diameter of only 0.5 mm made of polystyrene are sometimes called “anti-stress balls”. Indeed, they have the ability to calm and relieve tension. The filler is odorless and has an excellent orthopedic effect. A 9 liter package is enough to fill a pillow of any size.
Advantages:
- European quality certificate;
- absolute safety;
- special device included for easy filling.
Flaws:
cannot be washed.
This material is ideal for expectant mothers to relieve stress and have a comfortable sleep.
Harm from mites in bedding
Without examining bedding using a microscope, it will not be possible to identify unwanted neighbors - their sizes are so small that they are not visible to the naked eye.
Colonies of microscopic insects, fungi and bacteria inhabit any dusty corners of the apartment, actively growing on bed linen, in the thickness of pillows and mattresses, in the pile of the carpet and soft toys.
It is almost impossible to get rid of them once and for all, but this is not a reason to completely ignore the problem. Acarids cannot cause direct harm to humans, because they do not feed on blood through bites, but on exfoliated skin flakes, particles of sweat, dandruff, and sebum. But their excrement poses a serious threat.
The size of an adult varies from 0.1 to 0.5 mm, and its waste products are even smaller. During the digestion process, ticks have to produce large amounts of enzymes that break down the human epidermis.
Practice shows that people who love space, who toss and turn in their sleep and who have respectable dimensions are satisfied with the size of a single bed.
Almost every car bed model has a trunk box, which is suitable for storing bed linen and pillows. There are voluminous crib bodies that replicate the silhouettes of real cars, with spinning wheels made of soft plastic. Details here.
Fecal pellets left by insects contain these components in high concentrations. They are the main threat to the human body.
Getting on the mucous membranes when breathing, settling on the skin, attacking the eyes and polluting the lungs, the active substances cause serious disturbances in the respiratory system, irritate the skin, and can cause impairment of vision and smell.
The most common diseases and symptoms, the invisible cause of which are mites in pillows:
- allergies accompanied by rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma attacks;
- atopic dermatitis;
- swelling of the respiratory tract, trophoneurotic edema or urticaria (Quincke's edema);
- up to 70% of diagnosed cases of bronchial asthma.
With a reduced immune barrier, they can cause skin irritations, acne and deep infections - other mites (for example, demodex) that parasitize directly in the human body can penetrate into microdamages in the skin formed under the action of enzymes.
Symptoms of the presence of dust mites
Typically, if the number of dust mites is below average, symptoms may not appear at all. After all, for thousands of years, when such insects were not known, people had no idea about such a “neighborhood.” However, if there are 500 or even 1000 individuals per 1 millimeter, this can cause a lot of problems:
- bronchial asthma;
- rhinitis;
- dermatitis;
- conjunctivitis;
- respiratory allergy.
Of course, most people don't pay attention to the presence of dust mites. However, under certain circumstances it is still worth paying special attention to. For example, if you notice constant nasal congestion, frequent sneezing, itching of the mucous membrane. If the nose is constantly stuffy, a person breathes through the mouth. In this case, the brain does not have enough oxygen, which causes headaches. Other symptoms that may be a cause for concern include:
- redness of the eyes;
- swelling of the nasal mucosa;
- swelling of the eyes and severe watery eyes;
- itching of the palate;
- wheezing in the chest;
- heavy and difficult breathing;
- dry cough;
- skin irritation: redness, burning, peeling, itching.
If these symptoms begin to appear, it is recommended to take action. After all, inaction will only aggravate the situation. After all, world practice knows situations where dust mites have caused serious illnesses with fatal outcomes.
The danger of a linen mite bite
Dust mites in pillows find themselves in greenhouse, extremely favorable conditions. Thanks to human sweat and the hygroscopicity of the materials used for bedding, an optimal humidity level is maintained inside.
The constant warm atmosphere of the bedroom is just as pleasant for microinsects as it is for people. And periodic drafts and ventilation only add comfort - they really love the flow of fresh air.
The colony multiplies very quickly, and there is more and more waste. Any mattress or feather product without proper care can double its weight in 5 years - that’s how much dirt, microorganisms and fungi accumulate there.
So it turns out that instead of proper rest, a person each time receives an increased dose of toxic allergens, inhaling them throughout the night. Moreover, symptoms and discomfort may appear 10–20 minutes after the start of contact with the bed.
And by the morning the result is manifested in all its glory - redness of the eyes, swelling of the face and mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, headache and scratching on the skin.
Hygiene standards in many countries do not allow the use of feather and down bedding. Such rules apply especially harshly to children's institutions, hospitals, hotels, hostels and other similar institutions.
The reason for the ban is the impossibility of complete and irreversible destruction of parasitic colonies of bed mites inside the product.
When purchasing bedding, it is better to give preference to fillers such as silicone, holofiber, padding polyester, and other synthetic materials. They are less susceptible to colonization by microorganisms, and caring for them is not so labor-intensive. From natural materials, you can choose bamboo or coconut fibers, buckwheat husks, and hop cones. As a summer cottage option, meadow hay is quite suitable - it is only important to ensure that no poisonous herbs or plants that cause allergic reactions are included in the collection (see Which filling is best for pillows).
It is advisable to change any pillows after six months (maximum a year) of regular use, especially for those stuffed with natural materials. This measure will most effectively protect against problems caused by proximity to ticks.
If this is not possible, then you can at least try to reduce the number of parasite colonies and get rid of their waste products.
How to detect bedbugs?
Bedbugs are very small insects and it is not so easy to find them in a mattress during the day. Due to their small size, they are able to penetrate inside seams and climb into the narrowest crevices. Bedbugs do not love light, they are nocturnal inhabitants and in order to detect them, it will take a lot of work. And yet there are several signs by which bedbugs can be detected:
— Bed bugs emit a specific smell. Smell the mattress. If you notice an unpleasant specific smell, then most likely bedbugs have settled in your mattress.
— Carefully examine the mattress, look deep into the seams. In the habitat of bedbugs, you can notice light yellow or brown dust - these are the exoskeletons of bedbugs left after molting. Black crumbs can also be seen in the seams - these are bedbug feces.
- Bites. If every night there are more and more allergy-like bites, then you are being bitten by bedbugs.
Preparing the mattress for processing.
How to deal with ticks in bed
Everyone knows that hygiene is the key to health. This rule turns out to be effective in any situation, and the problem with bed parasites is also partially solved by observing sanitary standards.
Frequent washing and obligatory ironing of pillowcases with a hot iron will help get rid of unwanted “tenants” on the surface. But deep cleaning will require more significant effort.
In hospitals or hotels, bedding should be processed in autoclaves - exposure to high temperature and pressure effectively destroys not only adult ticks, but also tick eggs.
Unfortunately, this approach greatly spoils the appearance of the products and requires special equipment, so it is not applicable at home. And public institutions often neglect the rules, so on a business trip or on vacation it is safer to purchase a small personal pillow than to use the one provided by the hotel.
As a last resort, you can sleep on an inflatable pillow - its surface is easy to clean and disinfect, so insects have no chance.
Feather mites in pillows can be destroyed by taking them outside at least once a month - the sun or frost will do the job perfectly. It is important to take into account that such temperature treatment cannot be short; 1 hour will not play a significant role.
A product with down or feather filling should be frozen for 24 hours, periodically shaking and fluffing (see Cleaning feather pillows). The sun's rays and a temperature of 40 degrees act slower than frost; you will have to fry for 2-3 days. The advantage of such procedures is that in 2–3 hours, under the influence of ultraviolet light, allergens are decomposed and neutralized.
A significant disadvantage is that sunbathing and street ventilation will only bring a temporary effect, since the adult individuals will die, but the eggs, which are very resistant to changes in external factors, will survive.
To reduce the contamination of the bedroom, it is necessary to carry out regular wet cleaning, dust in all accessible places, wash the floors and wipe the furniture with a strong saline solution (200 g of salt per bucket of water).
Any bedding, mattress covers, as well as fleecy bedspreads, blankets, pajamas, housecoats should be washed and shaken out as often as possible, and it is best to dry them in the sun - this will remove most of the acarids and their metabolic products.
Standard euro size of a single bed: length 200-210 cm, width 90-100 cm. All necessary accessories in European countries are produced in accordance with these measurements.
Removable bumpers for children's beds are very convenient because they can be removed at any time, and then the bed will return to its original appearance. Read a description of the types and designs of protective sides here.
For greater washing efficiency, you can use various acaricidal substances and additives. Easy to use sprays for upholstered furniture and fabric surfaces, additives to washing powder that neutralize mites and allergens produced by them.
As a rule, products with synthetic padding are easy to wash and dry quickly, so they are safer than feather and down ones.
How to get rid of ticks in pillows
It is impossible to completely exterminate all ticks, but you can try to reduce their population. The oldest and most proven method is called temperature exposure.
Pillows and blankets can be taken out into the cold in winter or warmed up in direct sunlight in summer. The period of such exposure should be long, preferably several days in a row.
Effective drugs
Mites on bedding can be easily eliminated by washing and carefully ironing. You can treat furniture and pillows with a steam cleaner, but the downside is that steam only kills adults and does not affect eggs and larvae.
Today there are many special acaricidal drugs that can cope with large numbers of ticks.
Akaril is available in liquid or powder form for cleaning carpets and washing bed linen. It can also be used to treat upholstered furniture and mattresses, but first dissolve it in water. According to users, the product is not bad, but it cannot clean the filling of pillows and feather beds. The advantage is that the product has a completely natural composition.
The cost of a 240 ml bottle is 2,700 rubles, and it is enough for 12 washes.
Allergorr is an excellent Polish spray to combat dust and feather mites. It is enough to spray it over the entire surface of the apartment, on pillows and bedding. The duration of the drug is up to 7 months.
According to reviews, Allergorr is considered one of the most effective products, without an unpleasant odor, and does not cause allergies when used. The price of a bottle (400 ml) is 1300-1700 rubles.
Another spray from the same series is the Swiss drug Milbiol. Users have only positive reviews of it, because it is enough to spray it on carpets, furniture, pillows and blankets. The product has a pleasant smell and does not cause allergic reactions. For a bottle of spray (250 ml) you need to pay only 130-150 rubles.
Folk recipes
In addition to chemical sprays, folk remedies are also used to combat ticks. They are safer, non-toxic, and do not harm pets or people. Although, acaricidal drugs are much more effective than traditional recipes.
You can prepare a lotion from water and tea tree oil, with the addition of a couple of drops of Eleutherococcus tincture. Before going to bed, apply the lotion to the skin of the face and neck, wipe the body.
This will repel parasites and make the bed safe.
Some housewives advise treating furniture and pillows with regular saline solution. The most modern way to get rid of feather mites is a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
It not only collects all the smallest particles of dust, but also destroys microscopic mites.
Prevention of re-infestation of housing
To prevent dust mites from appearing in your home for as long as possible, you must:
- Regularly carry out wet cleaning in the apartment.
- Ventilate the home.
- Wash clothes at least once a week.
- In cold weather, take carpets and blankets outside for several hours, this way you can protect yourself from the appearance of new ticks.
- Monitor the condition of the skin and fur of pets.
When parasites appear in the house, it is not only unpleasant, but even dangerous to health. Therefore, when dust mites appear, it is necessary to immediately take measures to destroy them. Fortunately, there are a lot of such methods, everyone can choose the one that is suitable for themselves. If your health condition worsens, you must contact disinfectants, otherwise you may develop pathologies such as:
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A dust mite is a microscopic spider that is most often not dangerous and many people should not be afraid of it.
It can live anywhere in your home, but an ordinary person cannot see this spider-like creature.
Only under a microscope can you see what a tick looks like. Although they are tiny, they can cause great harm to your health.
Arachnids leave their feces and this causes allergies and even asthma in a large number of people.
These parasites live peacefully with many people, although they are small in size, they bite. Their bites on the body do not leave visible marks. The mites bite off the old skin and the cleaning process occurs.
There are cases when a diagnosis of a dust mite bite is made, but this is not the case; human skin reacts to the mite feces.
Thus, red pimples appear on the area of the body that touches feces. Which at the same time itch. Mites are mainly found in mattresses and pillows; these are the ones that need to be cleaned most often.
Therefore, it is necessary to take measures against dust mites at home, do wet and dry cleaning, and ventilate the apartment or house.
Use a special spray and lower the temperature in the room to 18-20 degrees. Thus, surfaces are treated and dust mites are combated.
Table of options for how to get rid of dust mites and how to prevent them:
| Type of processing | Processing method |
| Dusting | Use a damp cloth to wipe off dust on all home furnishings. |
| Vacuum cleaner and its use | Vacuum cleaners come in different varieties, so you can simply vacuum thoroughly, or if the vacuum cleaner is a washing one, you can also wash the floors |
| Laundry | Wash the bed at a water temperature of at least 55-60 degrees |
| Cleaning curtains and drapes | Wet or dry cleaning must be carried out without violating the instructions |
| Washing soft toys | Wash in hot water and dry if possible |
| Freezing | Place non-washable items (pillows, toys or fabrics) in a bag and place them in the freezer for at least a day. |
Which pillows do ticks not live in?
Fortunately, nowadays there are many other fillings for blankets, mattresses and pillows that are completely unsuitable for dust mites. The website "Who's Over 30" will tell you about the best of them.
Bio-pillows filled with buckwheat husks
This type of filler is very hygienic; it does not become clogged with dust or parasites.
Such bedding is absolutely not inhabited by insects; dust mites do not live in pillows filled with buckwheat husks, since there is no food for them.
In addition, such bedding is hypoallergenic and has an orthopedic effect.
Hypoallergenic pillows
These are accessories for sleeping and relaxation that are made from 100% natural materials - allergen-repellent wool and 100% cotton.
Such pillows are absolutely airtight, due to which neither dust nor parasites can get into their middle. The service life of such products is up to 10 years!
Caring for them is quite simple - you just need to change the pillowcases every two weeks, wash in lukewarm water, without using aggressive detergents, bleaches or conditioners.
Bamboo pillows
The fiber of this plant has unique natural properties, namely, bactericidal, antistatic, and deodorizing.
Dust mites do not live in such pillows. Bamboo fibers contain a natural antiseptic that prevents bacteria and parasites from multiplying.
About 70% of bacteria that land on a pillow die. It should be noted that over time, the antibacterial properties of bamboo pillows do not weaken, remaining even after numerous washes.
Recommended by topic
Eco-friendly pillows made of eucalyptus fiber. The beige cover is decorated with an image of eucalyptus leaves and has an olive-colored piping around the perimeter. Eucalyptus creates a feeling of coolness and does not give the slightest reason for allergies.
The filler conducts air well and does not retain moisture. Thanks to essential oils, it has a healing effect.
The model holds its shape well, but by the end of its service life it may decrease in volume.
Hefel Pure Silk
4.9 Rating
Type: classic Size: 50 × 70 cm Case filler: Tussa silk 100% Core filler: holofiber
Cover material: TENCEL Cover fabric: satin Level of support: medium
The pillow is made of Tussa silk. The premium model is decorated with a pillowcase made of TENCEL satin fabric, which is highly breathable. It contains holofiber inside, which gives the pillow elasticity. TENCEL silk and eucalyptus fabrics are great for people with sensitive skin. The case is equipped with a zipper, the filling can be adjusted. The disadvantage of the pillow is its high price.
Magic night Len
4.6 Rating
Type: classic Size: 70 × 70 cm Filling: polyester 100%
Cover material: linen 70%, polyester 30% Cover fabric: cotton 100% Support level: medium
The hypoallergenic pillow does not accumulate static electricity. Characterized by a high level of breathability. Manufacturers have used TwinZone technology: two layers have different structures and compositions. The external filler contains a large amount of flax, which has bactericidal properties. The fabric of the cover has a beautiful pattern. Gradually the inner filler rolls off.
Primavelle Cotton
4.4 Rating
Type: classic Size: 50 × 72 cm External filling: cotton 80%, polyester 20%
Core filler: holofiber Fabric material: 100% cotton Support level: medium
The model is decorated with a delicate case with a floral pattern. The top layer of the product contains a large amount of cotton, which allows air to circulate freely. Hollow fiber helps maintain volume and prevents the accumulation of dust and odors. Cotton retains water, so the pillow needs to be dried regularly.
Ascona Organic
4.4 Rating
Type: classic Size: 50 × 70 cm Filling: artificial swan down
Cover material: eucalyptus fiber 100% TENCEL Support level: medium Height: 20 cm
A pillow filled with swan down, its properties reminiscent of its natural counterpart. The pillowcase is made of eucalyptus fiber. The pillow contains Miracle Membrane - a miracle membrane, it evenly distributes heat, protects against microorganisms, and performs air exchange. Another feature of the model is the A-vent valve. Some of the filler can be removed and the height adjusted.
Ormatek Easy Soft
4.1 Rating
Type: classic Size: 50 × 70 cm Filling: holofiber
Cover material: satin, 100% cotton Support level: medium Height: 17 cm
The hypoallergenic pillow is comfortable from the first days of use. The non-removable cover is made of satin. It's easy to choose a pillowcase for your pillow. The white model is decorated with orange piping on the sides. The hollow fiber structure provides excellent ventilation. The product quickly removes moisture. Lumps gradually appear in the filler.
How to clean your bed from harmful microorganisms
It is not possible to get rid of ticks completely and forever; the main rule is to keep the house clean and carefully care for bedding.
What will help get rid of dust microorganisms in pillows:
- Ideally, replace down and feather products with accessories with synthetic filling: padding polyester, holofiber, comforter, which must be washed once every six months at temperatures above 50 °C.
- If you don’t want to part with natural materials, or for children, you can choose an alternative with the following fillings: buckwheat husk, bamboo or coconut fiber, latex.
The hypoallergenic properties of buckwheat and the antibacterial properties of bamboo make these materials optimal for children's bedding.
Fans of fluff and feathers can bring out “guests” in several ways:
- Airing the pillows in the air for at least 5–6 hours gives a temporary effect. In winter - in frost, in summer - in direct sunlight. This method does not work for long, since tick eggs are insensitive to heat and cold, only adult individuals die.
- Once a year it is worth disinfecting such products with special dry cleaning products.
- You can also clean the pillow yourself. The bedstead needs to be washed, ironed (or replaced). Down filling - treat with a soap solution (100 g of laundry soap + 100 g of ammonia per 10 liters of water), rinse thoroughly and dry, then put the product back together.
Attention! Regardless of the material of manufacture, it is recommended to change all sleeping accessories every 5–6 years.
It is worth noting that it is impossible to get rid of dust mites by cleaning only the bed linen. Additionally, you need to weaken the provoking factor:
- sort out deposits of soft toys;
- reduce the number of carpets and curtains;
- Follow the rules for storing winter clothes.
Methods of controlling parasites
Ticks develop and reproduce at humidity levels greater than 50% and air temperatures of 22-26 degrees Celsius. Most of all they love “deposits” of dust. Such places could be:
- cabinets with bookshelves, books themselves;
- soft toys for children;
- carpeted floors, shoes, especially old ones.
Dust mites can be found in wool blankets, furniture upholstery, and any other fuzzy indoor surfaces. Most of them are found in pillows, especially feather or down ones, and it is very difficult to get rid of them. It's easier to change the pillow.
More information about the habitat of dust mites can be found here.
- Direct sun.
- Frosty air.
- Wind.
- Hot iron.
- Any heat treatment.
Carefully review all things. It is better to throw away old carpets, mattresses, soft toys. This also applies to old feather pillows that were inherited from my grandmother. There is no point in cleaning products that have served for more than one year.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with Cysticercosis in humans: symptoms, treatment, pathogen
Approximate lifespan of bedding:
- mattress – up to 10 years;
- blankets – 5 years;
- pillows – 2-3 years.
After the end of their service life, even if these things are in good condition, it is better to throw them away rather than risk your health. In winter, bedding can be taken out into the cold. This will help reduce the number of ticks and destroy their eggs.
spring-cleaning
After getting rid of old things, you can start cleaning the house. Soft toys can be dry cleaned if you don’t feel comfortable throwing them away. Regular cleaning with a damp cloth will not be enough to get rid of pests. Although constant wet cleaning helps reduce their population. You can add salt to the water to enhance the effect (5-10 spoons per bucket of water).
On a note! It is recommended to ventilate the room more often, and also reduce the humidity to 40%! for at least a month. This will create unfavorable conditions for ticks and help reduce their numbers.
Wash
After washing, the bed should be thoroughly dried outside and ironed after drying. In general, it is recommended to iron all bedding and clothes after washing. High temperature can destroy many parasites that are invisible to our eyes.
On sale you can find products designed specifically to combat dust mites. There are also tests that determine the concentration of pests in dust (Acarex). Treating surfaces with preparations allows you to forget about ticks within 1-2 months.
The most important and simple rule in the fight against dust mites is cleanliness.
- We wash the floors well at least once a week.
- We vacuum 2 – 3 times a week. It is advisable to use vacuum cleaners with an Aqua filter so that parasites do not spread throughout the apartment, flying out from the back of the vacuum cleaner.
- You need to vacuum not only carpets and floor coverings, but also chairs, beds, and upholstered furniture.
- Clean your closets well of old fur hats, coats, fur coats, unnecessary clothes and shoes. This is all an accumulation of dust, which means a “nursery” for dust mites. The closets should be spacious and clean.
- You need to wipe all shelves and cabinets, computer desk, notebooks, books with a damp, clean cloth.
- Treat lacquered furniture with polish.
- Bed linen should be changed every week, washed in hot water.
- It is necessary to store clean laundry in a dry place, as a humid environment promotes the appearance of dust mites.
- Featherbeds, feather and down pillows, if you cannot throw them away, then have them cleaned on time, at least 2 times a year. There the feathers are washed, treated with special solutions, and sewn into new pillowcases. This prevention will save you from parasites.
- Use dust mite repellents. Such preparations are sold for spraying in the room (aerosol) and for adding to the washing machine.
Replacement of down and feather
The times when down pillows were considered the best are in the past. Today there are many fillers in which parasites do not like to settle.
Herbal options include:
- buckwheat husk – elastic, hypoallergenic, with a pleasant aroma;
- bamboo fiber – antibacterial, elastic, breathable;
- latex is elastic, easy to clean, eliminates the appearance of mites and other microorganisms.
Synthetic polyester fillers allow for more frequent hygienic treatment:
- holofiber – non-woven material;
- comfort - elastic polyester balls;
- Sintepon is an inexpensive material, but quickly loses its shape.
When choosing a filler, consider the age and individual needs of the person. For children, it is better to choose natural fibers that do not cause allergies. Ticks that live in pillows do not grow in buckwheat and bamboo.
What is prohibited to do
If a person is infected, some recommendations must be followed to prevent complications, namely:
- You cannot squeeze pimples, scratch them, or perform any other actions to get rid of them yourself; all treatment should be carried out strictly according to the doctor’s recommendations. Because there is a risk that the infection gets into the deep layer of the skin and then complications cannot be avoided.
- If you are ill, it is forbidden to use decorative cosmetics. When applied, larvae remain on the cosmetics, and this leads to repeated infections.
- Remember that mites need an oily environment, so you should not use creams during this period, thus creating ideal conditions for the infection to multiply and spread to other areas of the skin.
- Massages, scrubs and masks are prohibited.
- During this period, you cannot visit the pool, bathhouse, or sauna.
- When washing, the water should not be hot.
Treatment must be carried out comprehensively, so be sure to pay attention to your diet. Do not eat processed foods, very fatty and fried foods, exclude spicy and canned foods from your diet. Reduce your consumption of coffee and chocolate to a minimum.
Can lice live in a pillow?
A louse is a parasitic creature, which means it cannot exist outside the host for a long time (several days), since it feeds on blood. An adult lives for 38 days, managing to lay several hundred eggs. The bites of these insects are painful and itchy, as saliva is simultaneously injected, which prevents blood clotting, which is accompanied by unbearable itching.
A human lice inside a pillow will not survive without food, but it can be found on bedding. But we are not talking about a colony of lice, their vital activity and the laying of nits, but about a short-term stay. If the individual does not return to its owner within 24 hours, it will die.
Linen lice can live in the folds of clothes that are worn for several days in a row, form colonies in secluded seams, lay nits, but also need forays for food.
Important! Lice reproduce only at a temperature range of 22–40 C, and die at 44 ° C. It is recommended to wash bed and underwear at a temperature of 50 °C and iron them.
Why and how bed bugs appear at home
There is still no exact answer to the question of where linen mites come from in a person’s apartment. Their appearance and presence do not indicate unsanitary conditions. They even live in places where they monitor cleanliness, regularly change bed linen, wash clothes and shake out bedding. Their population may be so small that people do not notice them.
In homes where cleaning is done poorly, and bed linen is changed once a month or less often, dandruff and dead particles of human skin and hair accumulate in dust and folds of fabric - what bed mites love. Having received food, the parasite begins to multiply, and its population in the apartment increases sharply. A female linen mite lays up to 300 eggs per day. More than a hundred of these adult individuals live in a gram of dust.
Linen mites are transmitted by:
- people (with clothes);
- pets (cats, dogs, birds);
- other insects living in human homes (cockroaches, bedbugs).
Due to the fact that the linen mite can be brought from anywhere, it is impossible to understand how and when it appeared in our house.
It lives in the same place as people, because it feeds on human dandruff, pieces of human hair and particles of dead skin and nails. It is easy to pick up a linen mite from another person, especially an untidy one. This parasite thrives in the folds of clothes that have not been washed for a long time, and in hats.
Dogs and cats, which love to lie in bed and on a person’s bed, carry on their fur up to a dozen different invisible pests, including bed mites. Having met other pets on the street while walking, they exchange the inhabitants of their fur, and the tick ends up in another house, where it begins to look for food.
Important! Cockroaches and bedbugs - companions of unsanitary conditions - carry dirt, infection and dust on their legs and bellies, and along with the dust - linen mites. Linen or bed mites live where it is warm and dusty, close to food
Habitats can be:
Linen or bed mites live where it is warm and dusty, close to food. Habitats can be:
- in soft toys;
- in mattresses;
- on shelves with books;
- in bed linen;
- under furniture where dust accumulates;
- in woolen clothes, blankets and bedspreads;
- in feather pillows;
- in old cotton blankets.
The tick also loves carpets and rugs made of natural pile, curtains and furniture upholstery. That is, all those places where people cannot reach during cleaning.
Do bedbugs live in pillows?
Bedbugs are blood-sucking insects that prefer a warm, draft-free atmosphere. Their bites are painful and can leave marks (droplets of blood) on pillowcases, which help to understand what kind of living creature shares the bed with the owner.
Pillows are not the most favorite habitat of bedbugs; they prefer cozy seams and folds of furniture upholstery or stationary mattresses. These are the places that should be checked first if there is a suspicion of a blood-sucking neighborhood.
Bedbugs avoid pillows for several reasons:
- the large size (4–8.6 mm) does not allow insects to freely penetrate through the thick fabric of the bedspread;
- bedding is often turned over, shaken, etc.;
- Any filler is distributed unevenly inside, making it difficult for bedbugs to move.
USEFUL INFORMATION: How to wash a blanket: camel wool, down, cotton, padding polyester and others
You can get rid of parasites in pillows as follows:
- natural products should be taken to dry cleaning or disposed of;
- synthetic - wash at a temperature of 50 ° C, then dry in the open air.
Bed bugs get into pillows when their population becomes too large and their “favorite” places - sofas and mattresses - are occupied. In this case, you cannot do without general sanitation of the room.
It will not be possible to completely get rid of pests in an apartment, but it is possible and necessary to reduce their numbers by following simple rules, which will help you spend the night hours with pleasure and health benefits.
Danger to humans
There are several types of ticks living in nature. The most dangerous mites are those that parasitize human skin. These are the so-called ixodid ticks.
Parasites are not picky when choosing a food source. They feed on the blood of forest animals and some species of birds. The virus of tick-borne encephalitis, a dangerous disease, develops in the tissues of animals without causing them harm. Humans have no immunity to this infection. In addition to encephalitis, ticks carry borreliosis, typhus, tularemia, etc. You should beware of a tick bite infected with a dangerous pathogen. Infection occurs when the bloodsucker pierces the skin. Microorganisms are contained in the parasite's saliva, which enters the blood.
Habitats
To avoid potential danger, you need to know that the tick prefers small forests, where the rays of the sun rarely shine. Most often, ticks wait for victims in the following places:
- In clearings next to the undergrowth;
- In ravines and bushes;
- In lake thickets;
- In the bushes next to the trails.
A common false claim is that ticks live on trees. This is far from true. Parasites wait for the victim, hiding in the grass and on the branches of bushes. A potential threat could be a dacha plot located near a forest area. On warm days, a tick can wait for a gardener in the weeds near the site.
Caring for feather pillows
You don't have to give up your favorite feather pillows because of mites. They need to be looked after properly. In addition to seasonal drying and freezing, feather washing is recommended. Once every 2 years, pillows are taken to dry cleaning, where appropriate treatment is carried out. You can wash your feathers at home. To do this, you will need a canvas bag the size of a pillow, soap, and ammonia.
The work is performed in the following sequence:
- The feather is poured into a prepared bag, which is tied tightly.
- A special soap solution is prepared in a basin or other container with a volume of 10 liters. You will need 100 g of laundry soap and 100 g of ammonia. After mixing all the ingredients, a bag of feathers is lowered into the container.
- Soaking takes place for 4 hours, periodically the bag is turned over, and the contents are kneaded with your hands.
- Next is rinsing, you will need to change the water several times until all the soap and dirt disappears.
- Fabric with wet feathers is hung in a draft. Washing is done on a sunny day so that everything dries quickly. You will need to wait until it dries completely. In order for the pen to dry evenly, you need to periodically shake it and knead it.
At the same time, the diaper is washed with the addition of an acaricidal drug. Dry fabric is ironed.
Prevention of occurrence
As the name suggests, the main habitat is dust. Another favorite gathering place is feather pillows. Having penetrated the filler, the parasites quickly multiply, forming a colony with dangerous numbers for humans. Parasites also accumulate in the fur of domestic animals. They love temperatures of 18-250C and high humidity, from 55%.
Arachnids settle in places where dust accumulates: under the bed and cabinets, in the corners of the room, on baseboards, blinds, in the upholstery of upholstered furniture, on carpets (especially with long pile), in car seats. The vacuum cleaner bag is an excellent home for parasites. Therefore, it is recommended to use disposable paper bags or containers, and reusable fabric dust collectors should be periodically washed and doused with boiling water.
A magnifying glass will help you determine the presence of parasites yourself. You should inspect the bed frame, baseboards, carpets and floors underneath, and bedding for dogs and cats. Under a magnifying glass, ticks look like small white grains.
Every 1-2 years, feather pillows are dry cleaned. If desired, feathers are processed at home in the following sequence:
- The pillow is ripped open and the feathers are poured into the prepared bag.
- 100 g of ammonia and 100 g of laundry soap are diluted in 10 liters of water. Dip the bag of feathers into the solution. Leave for 4 hours, periodically turning the bag over.
- Rinse in clean water until it stops lathering.
- The washed bag of feathers is hung out to dry, periodically shaking the contents.
It is recommended to use pillows with natural or synthetic fillings:
- Buckwheat husk. Elastic, hypoallergenic, has a pleasant aroma.
- Bamboo fiber. Antibacterial, elastic, breathable.
- Latex. Easy to machine wash. Dust mites do not settle.
- Non-woven holofiber.
- Elastic polyester balls - comforter.
- Sintepon.
What rules will help limit the number of house dust mites:
- Mattresses, blankets and pillows need to be changed every 5 years, mattress covers - every 8 years.
- Washing bed linen, including removable mattress covers, is recommended at least once every 7 days.
- The pillowcase and pillowcase are made from a material through which skin particles and mites cannot penetrate.
- Wash at high temperature.
- It is recommended to dry the laundry in the sun and then iron it.
- Use covers, mattress covers, double pillowcases.
- Regularly ventilate the apartment and carry out wet cleaning. Maintain humidity no higher than 40%.
- Clean carpets and upholstered furniture using acaricidal sprays.
- Throw away unnecessary items that accumulate dust.
- Wash tulles and curtains. If possible, avoid large, heavy curtains that accumulate dust.
- Clean the mattress and upholstery of upholstered furniture in this way: cover the furniture with a cloth soaked in water and knock it out. The fabric is rinsed periodically. Then the furniture is vacuumed, treated with a steamer or ironed.
- Furniture made from leather and leather substitutes is a good and safe alternative to soft upholstery.
- Books and decorative items are hidden in glassed sideboards to prevent dust accumulation.
- You should not store a large number of soft toys in your apartment. They also need to be washed periodically, exposed to the sun or frost, and treated with acaricidal agents.
- Pets are brushed outside or on the balcony.
They purchase air purifiers and air conditioners, washing vacuum cleaners with aqua and HEPA filters, and steam cleaners. The dishes that are stored in the sideboard are periodically taken out and doused with boiling water. Books on open shelves are wiped with damp wipes. Be sure to thoroughly wash baseboards, corners, areas under the bed and cabinets with saline solution. It is better to prefer parquet, laminate, and tiles to carpets.
Conclusion
A feather pillow is an environmentally friendly product, so to speak. It has a number of worthy qualities, thanks to which the product served our ancestors for many years. Now scientists are attributing more and more shortcomings to it, proposing to replace natural feathers with a synthetic analogue. However, the point is omitted that synthetic fillers also have a number of positive and negative characteristics.
By choosing a high-quality feather pillow, the buyer receives a natural product that, with proper care, will last a long time.
Sources
- https://FB.ru/article/411724/perevoy-klesch-lechenie-i-simptomyi-u-cheloveka
- https://StopKlopam.com/kleshhi-v-podushkah/
- https://misterklop.ru/klesshi/kleshhi-v-podushkah-perevye-kleshhi-prichina-bessonnitsy-kto-takie-otkuda-berutsya-opasny-li-dlya-cheloveka-i-kak-ot-nih-izbavitsya- foto-pod-mikroskopom
- https://like2sleep.com/postelnye-prinadlezhnosti/podushki/kleshhi-v-podushkakh-kak-izbavitsya-ot-nep.html
- https://dezvredexpert.com/kleshhi/vidy-kleshhej/kleshhi-v-podushkax/
- https://sichovka.ru/parazity/kleshchi-v-podushkah.html
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Correct treatment
First of all, you need to understand that treatment involves a whole range of actions, each of which will affect effectiveness. It is necessary to remove not only the symptoms, but also to reduce the number of parasites to a minimum, prevent their reproduction, and also use treatment for skin diseases. Treatment is prescribed only after diagnosis and confirmation of the diagnosis; it is individual for each individual case, taking into account the degree of infection.
The patient is prescribed special ointments that help fight mites and at the same time have a beneficial effect on the skin; therapy also involves the use of vitamins, and possibly the use of antibiotics. The course of treatment will always depend on the stage of development of the disease, on average it is two weeks.
Folk remedies
The use of folk remedies is a fairly popular and even effective technique, which is used very often. For this disease, calendula, namely tincture, shows good results. It is used to wipe affected areas. An equally popular and effective method is to use aloe juice. In this case, the juice is applied to a piece of bandage and applied as a compress. When severe infection is observed, castor oil is used, but it is mixed with Trichopolum and compresses are made every day for up to 10 hours.
Remember that the use of folk remedies requires prior consultation with your doctor, since they also may not be effective, and in some cases dangerous.
How can medicine help?
Treatment of diseases caused by allergies to house dust mites follows general principles. Those. asthma is treated as asthma, allergic rhinitis is treated as allergic rhinitis. But if the causative allergen is known, firstly, you can avoid contact with it, and secondly, carry out so-called specific immunotherapy, or SIT. This method consists of administering an allergen extract in the form of subcutaneous injections in increasing concentrations at certain intervals. SIT is usually recommended in cases where measures to reduce exposure to the allergen have not been effective. Before carrying out SIT, it is necessary to determine the concentration of mites and their allergens in the house where the patient lives, and if it is high, carry out treatment.
