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Carpeting

You may love the feel of carpeting under your feet, but mites find it just as attractive. “Even if you vacuum constantly, you’ve still got mites,” Dr. Wedner warns.

What to do: Remove wall-to-wall carpeting—who doesn’t like a beautiful wood floor?—and use small rugs that can be washed in hot water monthly. “And keep the humidity below 50%” with your central air system or a dehumidifier, Dr. Randolph says. “Dust mites thrive in humidity.”

Next: Spices