Watched a talk show the other day with an expert on "Dust Mites"-- so many of us are allergic to their droppings and they leave a lot and millions or even billions live in our mattresses pillows, bedding etc.
Heres some low cost ways to keep them to a minimum
-- they love and breed rapidly in darkness and moisture so hang your sheets and blankets up each day -- out in the sun is best as the sun and air kill them off. Beat these with a broom or a stick to get the dust out
-- use very hot water when washing-- for sheets and pillows slips -- the heat kills them
-- vacuum the mattress and pillows with a small attachment without bristles- I have a powerful shop vac. I do this regularly
mattresses and pillows should be replaced often -- but I can't afford that. If you are badly allergic to them use plastic mattress covers and pillow slip cover-- with fabric covers over that. The cheap way is to use garbage bags over pillows and then a pillow cover. Fold bags around pillow and tape with masking tape. Mattress can be covered with poly plastic and taped also then a cover.
Brush pets often as their dander feeds them -- In mattresses they live on our dead skin, dandruff. Vacuum uphostery with a small attachment and rugs too-- so you get lots of suction.
The expert weighed a pillow that had been used for a year or so-- It weighed half a pound more than the same pillow that was unused. Thats 8 oz of droppings and mites and these things are so microscopic-- like thousands of them can fit on the head of a pin. ,,,,,,,,,, and we all have them