Dust mites are very small arachnids that feed on skin cells. Depending upon your hygiene and location, dust mites can become so prevalent that they produce allergies. Although you cannot completely remove all dust mites from a home, a combination of the following methods should be used to get rid of dust mite problems.

• Cover your mattress, mattress pad and pillows with allergenic covers. If possible, use the plastic options, since dust mites cannot live in plastic, as they do in fabric. Encase pillows, mattress, and box springs in allergen-proof covers. Be sure to cover every pillow on the bed. Remove any pillows that do not have covers. Remember to zip the cover tight.
• Wash as much of the bedding as you can in hot water, over 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius). Include pillow covers, mattress pads and comforters, if possible, wash all blankets, sheets, and bedding materials every two weeks in hot water and Dry your bedding in a hot dryer. This will kill any dust mites that lived through the washing cycle.

• Remove carpeting if possible and replace with washable area rugs but if you have to keep them then Vacuum areas every week with a vacuum cleaner. Buy a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, if you do not have one already. This will actually pick up dust mite waste and eggs, unlike other models.

• Dust mites love living in an environment where the temperature is between 75°F and 80°F (24°C and 27°C) and the relative humidity is around 70% to 80%. Anything outside this range won't necessarily kill them but will push them outside their comfort zone and slow down their breeding.
• Set the temperature inside your house to no higher than 70°F (21°C). This is considered a normal and healthy environment for a human, but is very slightly below optimal for a house dust mite.
• Learn about the humidity levels in your house. Dust mites thrive in high humidity environments, so they are worse in many coastal areas. Buy a dehumidifier. Run the dehumidifier in your bedrooms first. Aim for a humidity level that is less than 50 percent. At 35 percent, the dust mites will propagate less.

• Remove dust collectors like stuffed animals. Pick one favorite animal that is washable. Place pillows and stuffed animals that you cannot wash in a large plastic bag. Remove the oxygen in the bag, to try to make it as small as possible. Place the large bag, or individual bags, in the freezer for 48 hours. This can kill dust mites in stuffed animals, throw pillows and down pillows.