How can I recognize mites in bed myself? | Mites in bed

How can I recognize mites in bed myself?

Unlike bedbugs, mites cannot simply be seen with the naked eye. They are tiny – less than a millimeter long – and embedded in the textiles. So how do you recognize the annoying roommates?

Scabies mites (grave mites) can only be recognized by the symptoms they cause. A strong sudden itching all over the body and reddish skin changes are very suspicious symptoms for an infestation with ditch mites. However, searching the bed is of no use in this case, as you will not find the mites or other clues.

If you notice the typical symptoms of scabies, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist immediately and to take hygienic measures. House dust mites, on the other hand, inhabit every bed in a certain number. Up to 1.5 million such house dust mites can live in our mattresses without us noticing.

Some sides claim that one can find excrements of the mites in the bed with a very large mite population. This is however rather unrealistic. When knocking the mattress, it is possible that more dust is stirred up.

This could be an indication of a large mite population. Basically, however, the symptoms are also decisive for recognizing mites in bed. Anyone who wakes up in the morning with sneezing, red and itchy eyes and a stuffy nose is most likely plagued by an allergic reaction to the mite faeces.

What to do against mites?

Mites prefer places where it is warm and slightly humid. The bed is therefore ideal for this purpose. The moisture is created by the air we breathe and the sweat we secrete at night.

In addition, house dust mites prefer to feed on small skin scales, which are practically in abundance in the bed for the mites. A pillow typically contains several thousand mites, so a proper pillow is very important for allergy sufferers. A simple measure against mites in bed is generous ventilation.

The more fresh air comes to the bed, the less the mites feel comfortable there. Also, the temperature in the bedroom should generally not be too high. It should be around 18 – 20°C.

Mites on the other hand prefer temperatures above 25°C. They also prefer an air humidity of about 70%. If more heating is done in winter, the humidity drops, so that the number of mites decreases.

In addition, you can buy anti-mite sprays in the pharmacy, which contain vegetable bitter substances that inhibit the growth of the mites or their maturation. Mostly neem oil is used for this purpose. If you repeat the application after about a month, the protection is sufficient for about a year.

With these sprays, however, the number of mites can only be minimized, and all mites cannot be killed. Especially for people with an allergy to mites in bed, there are special bed covers (so-called encasings) for mattresses and bedding, through which no mites can penetrate. The costs are usually at least partially covered by the health insurance for people with allergies.

The covers should be washed regularly at 60°C. In general, bed linen, whether or not it is allergy sufferers’ linen, should be washed regularly at a temperature of 60°C.This measure is also helpful against the grave mites. Since mites also like to accumulate in carpets or the like, the purchase of a vacuum cleaner with filter is also useful, because normal vacuum cleaners release small particles like the excrement of mites to the outside again.