Does anyone in your family wake up in the morning with a stuffy nose, tight chest and itchy throat? Then they might be suffering from dust mite allergies.

Microscopic dust mites are the primary cause of night-time allergies and even asthma. These critters thrive in your bed and pillows, where they feast off your dead skin flakes and pet dander.

Don’t let dust mite allergies interfere with a good night’s sleep. Take action with these tips to create an allergy-free sleeping environment.

  1. Protect your bed

    Ensure your mattress is covered with a dust-mite-proof mattress protector. Don’t forget to encase all pillows with a dust-mite-proof pillow protector Mattress and pillow protectors will prevent dust mite colonies from building up in your bed and pillows.

  2. Wash your bedding regularly

    Bed linen needs to be washed regularly on a hot wash. Ensure you wash your mattress and pillow protectors every six weeks to remove the build-up of dead skin cells.

  3. Vacuum carpets frequently

    Dust mites love to live in carpets, so you need to vacuum rugs and carpets often. Or better yet, replace carpets with hard floors. Sufferers of serious allergies should invest in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.

  4. Declutter your bedroom

    Remove unnecessary knick-knacks and clutter that gathers dust. Replace curtains with easy to clean blinds.

  5. Make your bedroom a pet-free zone

    This is a controversial tip, since many people love the comfort and closeness of sharing their beds with their pets. But for those with serious allergies, sharing a room all night with a pet can significantly exacerbate allergy symptoms. For the sake of your health, you may need to keep furry friends out of your room, or at least off your bed. Dust mites also feed off pet dander, so it is best to keep pets out of the bedroom altogether if possible.