There are millions of dust mites in our beds, which feed on our sweat and dead skin cells. They are microscopic creatures that thrive in our homes regardless of how clean we try to keep them.

They excrete about 20 droppings of waste per day, which contain protein compounds. The human body tries to protect itself from these harmful compounds by producing antibodies. The antibodies, on the other hand, release histamine, which causes itching, swelling, and redness.

It has been estimated that 1.5 million dust mites reside in our beds, and their excretions can lead to asthma and dust allergies.

Common symptoms of allergies triggered by dust mites:

  • Watering eyes
  • Itchiness
  • Clogged lungs
  • Infected eczema
  • Hay fever
  • Runny nose
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Breathing issues

Dr. Stephen Pretlove from the Kingston University School of Architecture says that during the night, our bodies produce a great amount of sweat, which is an ideal environment for these microscopic bugs.

So, when you make your bed in the morning, dead skin cells and sweat stay trapped in there. However, if you leave it unmade for some time, the air and light will trigger their dehydration.

On the other hand, the director of the cleaning laboratory at the Good Housekeeping Institute, Carolyn Forte, says that leaving the bed unmade won’t help you to get rid of the dust mites, but it can reduce their harmful effects.

In order to prevent their multiplication, you should wash pillowcases and sheets once weekly and lower the humidity in your home. Dust mites need warm and humid places to survive. So, if the humidity is below 60%, their reproduction will cease, and they will eventually die out.

What’s more, dust mites feed on animal dander, so if you own a pet, make sure it has a separate sleeping area.