In honor of Halloween, we’ve compiled the weirdest, foulest facts about the creepy crawlers living in your house that can make you sick. These unwanted house guests are what should really give you the ‘willies’ this Halloween. Yes, bug allergies are a real thing. Before you read this, put away those fun-size Twix bars. You won’t be hungry anymore. Two of the worst and most disgusting causes of allergies in your home are from dust mites and cockroaches. Let’s move in slowly with the lesser of two evils: Dust mites.
Dust Mites: The True Vampires of the Insect World
You may have heard this commonly thrown-around statistic: Dust is mostly dead skin cells. Gross, right? Turns out, the truth is much worse. Dust consists of dead skins cells, sure, but also the creatures that dine on them—dust mites. Specifically, their corpses and poop.
Dust mites are members of the spider family. Just like vampires, who only feed on human blood, dust mites live exclusively on one part of the body—dead skin tissue. Your mattress is probably full of them.
A study by The Discover Channel’s MythBusters found that your 90-pound mattress can gain 20 pounds in 10 years. This extra weight is a mixture of drool, lice, dead skin cells (you shed 2 to 3 pounds a year), dust mites, their dead bodies, and their feces.
How to Fight Dust Mite Allergies
So how can you fight these creepy crawlers? According to the Asthma and Allergy Center of America, the best way to avoid dust mites in your mattress is by using allergy bedding. Washing any bedding in hot water once a week is also recommended for dust mite control.
Vacuums with HEPA filters and powerful suction are also a good choice. And, they'll get rid of other particle-build up that can create additional allergy issues.
Other ways to avoid and reduce dust mite allergy symptoms in your bedroom:
- Clean your hard floors with a damp or cloth
- Use a HEPA vacuum to clean your carpets at least once a week
- Avoid high humidity with an efficient HVAC system and dehumidifier if needed (keep your humidity around 50%)
Cockroaches: The Nastiest Allergy
The ACAAI reports some disturbing news on our grossest home intruders, and they’re more common than you think. Not only do 63% of homes in the US have cockroach allergens, the number increases to almost 100% in urban areas.
What exactly are people allergic to? Their saliva, feces and shedding body parts can trigger both allergies and asthma. The best way to find out if you have cockroach allergies is to visit an allergist to get a skin test. The symptoms of cockroach allergies are similar to seasonal allergies but last longer: coughing, nasal congestion, ear infection, skin issues and wheezing.
How to Avoid and Get Rid of Them
Eliminating cockroaches can be a hassle, but keeping them away isn’t that difficult. The easiest ways to do it based on the ACAAI are:
- Keep your house clean, especially kitchens, sinks, counters and stoves. To clean them naturally, consider a using steam cleaner.
- Seal food containers before throwing them in the trash.
- Fix any leaks that can provide them with access to water.
Cockroaches in Your Cupboards—and Your Chocolate Bars
One study found cockroach allergens on 11% of living room floors and 13% of kitchen floors. These cringe-inducing critters can live for up to a month without food, and up to a week without their head. They’re causing asthma rates to soar among children, especially those in inner cities.
Roaches aren’t just eating your food. They’re in it. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an average of 8 insect parts are found in one chocolate bar—and this is well below the level deemed safe by the FDA.
We recommend using baits and traps (rather than chemicals, which can irritate allergies and cause indoor air quality issues) whenever fighting the zombie roach apocalypse. And as for those Twix bars, we want to know…will you ever eat chocolate again?
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