Dust mites feed off our dead skin cells. Unfortunately their droppings have a protein that many people are allergic to. Ten percent of Americans today have asthma which is the leading cause of children missing school. Dust mites are possibly the number one cause of asthma problems in the home. Dust mites live about six weeks and female dust mites lay between 60 to 80 eggs during their lifetime.
Dust mites have no natural predator so they just keep multiplying.
A full size mattress has approximately two million dust mites in it. A gram of dust has 1,000 dust mites in it. Fortunately for owners of traditional waterbeds, they are easy to take care of. Simply wash all bedlinens weekly in water that is over 140 degrees temperature and wipe the mattress down with mild soap solution, and rinse. Periodic washing of pillows is highly recommended.