We all know that bed linen and pillows can be a breeding ground for dust mites, but now a team of researchers have released hard evidence showing just what's going on between the fibres of your sheets.
A research team from the Ohio State University and Acarology Lab have released a video showing millions of dust mites writhing happily in their own faeces.
Bleurgh.
The microscopic spiders feast on dead skin cells (humans produce 14g per week), producing potent digestive enzymes that can cause allergy flare-ups in people with asthma, eczema and hay fever. While they are largely harmless, they can also exasperate rhinitis and dry eyes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3X-Tn2ihOE
Changing sheets and duvet covers weekly and freezing soft toys can help combat the problem. Oh, and you might want to dump your pillows: After two years of use, a whopping ten per cent of a pillow's weight is made up of dust mites and dust mite droppings.
Excuse us while we go home and boil our bedclothes.
