Dust mite allergy

[MrsDermotOleary]

DH has a dust mite and cat allergy which is normally kept under control by regularly washing our duvet & pillows and cleaning as thoroughly as I have time for. We went to stay with his parents over the summer and they have 2 cats and a fairly dusty house. DH was quite ill, streaming eyes and nose, sneezing all day etc.

This has continued (to a lesser extent) since we got home a week ago. I have washed the duvet and pillows again, washed the dc's bedding and hung the rug out in strong sunlight (we have laminate floors downstairs.) DS has eczema and DH thinks this indicates dust mite allergy too.

DH is now on a mission and has said we need to get rid of the rug and our 2 sofas. I have suggested putting the sofa cushions in the freezer periodically as this kills dust mites but he's not sure. Apparently we can afford to buy 2 new leather sofas. Our house faces east and is cold even in mid summer-how can he expect the kids to play on a bare floor? He has just spent almost £300 on duvet & pillow protectors for ours and ds's bedding. He also said no drying clothes on radiators as dust mites love warm, moist environments. SO he wants me to tumble dry everything and only have the heating on low all winter.

I think he is over reacting, he thinks I don't care about his health.

Any ideas or advice about what to do and how to compromise would be gratefully received.

Has dh ever taken antihistamines to control his symptoms? When I go to a house where there are cats, I take an antihistamine tablet beforehand.

A compromise might be to try steam-cleaning carpets and furniture and see if his symptoms improve.

IMO the kids would get used to playing on a bare floor.

Yes he has taken antihistamines but is reluctant to take them daily over long periods. Certainly when we visit his folks he will need to take them.

I think steam cleaning is a good idea. Our rug is woollen and says it can't be steam cleaned so think we might have to get rid. DS is potty training so would make things a bit easier.

Thank you.

hi, ds has just been told he has a very high dust mite sensitivity so I am just getting my head around the whole cleaning regime.
But just thought I would add that our 3dcs don't have rugs in their rooms or in the family room downstairs, apart from an elc foam letter mat thing and it has never bothered them at all. It also makes it so easy to clean the area.

I have those allergies, I taken piriton daily and have done for the last 12 years as well as the other measures. I have to say getting rid of the carpets and buying a leather sofa did help.

Carameli I like the idea of the foam mat, what a great idea!
DH seems to think the sofas are worse than the rug so am looking into getting those steam cleaned.

MrsDermot - My dh has a dustmite allergy - we have a leather sofa and no carpet anywhere. We have either tiles or lino. Our house is cold and the children walk around in bare feet in the spring and summer - they really don't mind the cold floor - they like it in fact! I have a theory bare feet on a coldish floor helps disperse their energy.

My dh did take medication daily for a couple of months, a nose spray I think, and since then his allergy has been a lot better.

I disagree about the foam letter mats - they get filthy and are such a hassle to clean. There are question marks about the chemicals used in them; the main second hand shops in Belgium will not accept any because they are not considered good for health.

Hi! We have a similar situation here. Hard flooring in most of the bedrooms, covers on mattresses and pillows, always washing bedding....and the leather sofas bought because of Dh and Ds's allergies. Also, as soon as Dh sneezes in winter he touches the radiator. If it's hot, he turns it down and if its cold, he turns the heat up.....It used to drive me mad!!

One thing that helped Ds was putting a bedspread over his pillow and covers which he then removes at night.

The new leather sofas have been an improvement, but the old ones probably needed replacing anyway. For the Dc's on the hard floor we had a synthetic mat with loop pile with a hopscotch type pattern and it was no problem, but they quite liked playing with cars , trains etc on the hard floor!!

I feel your pain, but Dh was very hard to live with when sneezing and blocked up and wouldn't sit on the sofa.

Ok belgo that's good to know. Thanks everyone for your advice. We are off to look at leather sofas this week and getting rid of the rug.

Another thought.

My Dh is much worse during the summer months when the grass pollen is also a problem. The total allergy overload is greater and so the dust mite allergy is worse. (All his allergies become more severe, eg he can't eat apples in summer but can the rest of the year).

My husband's runny eyes, blocked up/sneezy nose, which certainly seemed to be dust mite related (though never tested) has been many, many times better after the purchase of:

www.breathingspace.co.uk/10-190-Airfree_E60.htm following a recommendation on here. It's on in the bedroom all the time.

I have a DS who has very severe eczema triggered by his dust mite allergy.

I dont have carpets and the floors really dont feel cold. You can get a nice posh rag rug from Habitat and put it in the washing machine once a week.

I wash covers and cushions weekly. I like a bit of shabby chic so am prepared to do this in order to indulge this. It would be easier to go minimal but that would make me sad

There is a new doobry that is a hoover/dustmite killer. Its handheld but v.expensive. If you can afford it, it may be worth it.

I steam clean too.

Dust is my enemy and I damp dust at least once a day (I live in the city).

Hoover beds and sofas daily and dont forget under and behind things.

My cleaning regime sounds a bit mental but its worth it and it doesnt take me long because I have been doing it for so many years.