At least 12 million Brits are allergic to their own home
It's best not not think of the idea that there are millions upon millions spider-like creatures roaming around your home invisible to the naked eye, because chances are you won't want to stay there anymore.
Now the house dust mute is behind an unprecedented rise in household allergies, with at least 12 million Britons allergic to their own homes, according to new research.
Allergy UK said "home fever", also known as perennial allergic rhinitis, is on the rise, with more sufferers seeking help for symptoms including a runny nose and sneezing.
A poll of 1,600 people with allergies found 58 per cent react to house dust mites, 31 per cent said they were allergic to mould and 45 per cent had a pet allergy. Some 30 per cent of sufferers are also allergic to the chemicals found in common cleaning products.
NHS figures suggest 12 million people receive allergy treatment in any one year and six million are so seriously affected they require specialist help. Hospital admissions for allergy have risen over the last two decades.
Some estimates suggest 21 million people in the UK now have some sort of allergy.
The poll for Allergy UK found 59 per cent of indoor allergy sufferers said their symptoms are worse in the bedroom. Estimates suggest a bed can house two million house dust mites while the average pillow doubles in weight over a period of six months due to dust mite faeces.
While there is no cure for home allergies, the charity recommends people take simple steps to cut the number of allergens in their home.
These include dusting regularly with a damp duster followed by a dry cloth, washing bedding once a week at 60 degrees or higher and regularly steam-cleaning carpets and curtains. Other tips include using allergy protectors on mattresses, duvets and pillows, replacing the mattress every eight to 10 years and buying new pillows every year.
Allergy UK research suggests 16 per cent of people wash bed sheets every three weeks or less while 58 per cent wash bed linens between 30 or 40 degrees, which is not high enough to kill mites. It also found 13 per cent of people have had their current mattress for 11 years or more while 25 per cent keep pillows for five years or more.
Indoor Allergy Week runs from November 14 to 20.