Dust mites may be small, but they can cause big problems for your health.

These tiny bugs are common in households, and notorious for triggering allergy and asthma symptoms.

Find out how to reduce and prevent house dust mites so you can enjoy a cleaner and healthier home environment for you and your family.

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny little white or translucent bugs that can only be seen under a microscope. They feed off the dead skin flakes humans shed every day, and thrive in environments with warm temperatures and high humidity. This makes places like your carpet, mattress, bedding, and deep layers of your sofa some of their favourite spots to live.

House dust mites are extremely common in homes everywhere in the world (except Antarctica), and can trigger allergies and asthma all throughout the year.

How to know if you have house dust mites

Not sure whether you’re playing host to these creepy crawlies or not? There are a few ways to detect house dust mites, but the simplest way is to inspect the dust in your home under a magnifying glass. Follow these steps to see if you’re living with house dust mites:

1. Buy yourself a microscope – any kind will do, as long as it offers at least 10x magnification.
2. Use a piece of clean tape to collect a sample of dust off your floor, mattress, couch, or anywhere else in your home.
3. Inspect the tape under your microscope – be on the lookout for little white bugs with 8 legs.

If you find yourself experiencing symptoms of allergy or asthma regularly in your home, it could be a tell-tale sign of a dust mite infestation.

What are the symptoms of dust mite allergy?

Think you might be allergic to dust mites? Dust mite allergies are extremely common, with their faeces and body parts acting as allergens for many people.

Some of the common symptoms of dust mite allergies include:

Runny or blocked nose
Coughing
Itchy, red, watery eyes
Postnasal drip

Dust mites may be triggering your asthma if you experience the following symptoms in your home:

Breathing difficulties
Tight or painful chest
Wheezing
Coughing and shortness of breath

Visit your doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms. They may recommend a skin allergy test or blood test to determine whether you have a dust mite allergy.

If your allergy or asthma symptoms are a result of house dust mites, you should act to reduce them from your home as quickly as possible.