| First: Bedrooms |
| Cover pillows and mattresses with zippered covers, which are impermeable to mites and mite allergens. |
| Wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot or warm water with detergent or dry in an electric dryer on the hot setting weekly. When necessary, blankets should be replaced with those that can be washed. Comforters (or duvets) should be removed or covered with fine woven covers. |
| Use washable, vinyl, or roll-type window covers. |
| Remove clutter, soft toys, and upholstered furniture. |
| Where possible, carpets should be removed or replaced with area rugs that can be cleaned/washed. |
| Second: Rest of house |
| Reduce upholstered furniture, particularly old sofas. |
| Replace carpets with polished flooring where possible. Carpets on concrete slabs or over poorly-ventilated crawl spaces are a problem and should be replaced with polished flooring, if possible. |
| Vacuum weekly using a cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system. |
| Window coverings should be washable, vinyl, or roll-type. |
| Control humidity to <50% relative humidity at normal temperatures (ie, 68 to 72°F). |
| Third: Changing houses* |
| In general, allergy sufferers should not be encouraged to move from their home except in those cases where they are living in basements or overtly damp housing. |
| Individuals who are allergic to mites (or molds) should be advised about the potential benefit of moving to an apartment (second floor or higher) or a house with second floor bedrooms and wooden floors. |
