Many people suffer from allergies and don’t know the cause. One of the most common indoor allergens is often missed. It hides in plain sight and can affect your health every day. The good news is that a home inspection can help find it.

What Is the Most Overlooked Indoor Allergen?

Dust mites are the most overlooked indoor allergen. They are tiny bugs too small to see. They live in things like carpets, mattresses, pillows, and furniture. They feed on dead skin cells and like warm, humid places.

Even though they are small, dust mites can cause big problems. They can make allergies and asthma worse. You might have itchy eyes, sneezing, a runny nose, or trouble breathing, and not realize your home is the reason.

Where Dust Mites Hide in a Home

Dust mites hide in places that collect dust. These spots include:

Carpet and rugs
Upholstered furniture
Mattresses and bedding
Curtains and fabric blinds
Stuffed animals and fabric toys

They grow fast in homes with poor air flow or high humidity.

Signs You May Have a Dust Mite Problem

You may not see dust mites, but your body may notice them. Some signs include:

Constant sneezing or coughing indoors
Stuffy or runny nose every day
Waking up with itchy eyes or throat
Trouble sleeping or feeling tired often
Asthma attacks that get worse indoors

If these things happen in your home, a hidden allergen like dust mites could be the cause.

How a Home Inspection Can Help

A home inspection can help you find where allergens hide. Inspectors look for things that make it easy for dust mites to grow, like:

Moisture or leaks that cause high humidity
Poor air circulation
Dirty air filters or vents
Old carpet or dusty furniture
Mold or mildew

Some inspectors offer indoor air quality testing. This test checks the air in your home for particles, humidity, and other issues. The results tell you if dust mites are a problem.

What You Can Do After the Inspection

If your inspection finds signs of dust mites, you can take steps to fix the problem:

Use a dehumidifier to keep the air dry
Wash bedding and pillows in hot water every week
Replace old carpets or deep clean them
Vacuum with a HEPA filter
Use mattress and pillow covers
Clean air vents and change filters often

These steps help remove dust mites and stop them from coming back.

Why This Matters for Your Health

Breathing clean air is important, especially at home, where most people spend a lot of time. If your home has hidden allergens, it can make you sick over time. A home inspection finds hidden problems before they get worse. It also helps you make your home safer and healthier for your family.

Conclusion: Small Bugs, Big Problem

Dust mites are tiny but can cause big problems, especially for people with allergies or asthma. They live in places we use daily, like beds, couches, and carpets, making it easy to overlook them. Many people don’t realize common allergy symptoms can be tied to these bugs.

A home inspection can help uncover the hidden spots where dust mites thrive and point out conditions like high humidity or poor airflow that help them grow. Knowing this, now you can take simple steps to improve your air quality and reduce your symptoms. Acting early can make your home cleaner, safer, and more comfortable for everyone inside.

The Most Overlooked Indoor Allergen and How a Home Inspection Can Help