Cold or warm washing with water alone, water and detergent or with water and detergent and bleach could remove 60 to 83 per cent of mites from clothing and bedding.
Results: Washing clothing and bedding in water alone, detergent, or detergent plus bleach removed 60% to 83% of the live mites. Washing removed more mites from some items than from others.
A general rule of thumb is that hot water—130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher—kills dust mites*.
Wash normal bed sheets/linen regularly, at least every week at 60c. Note: Cold washing removes 90% of dust mite allergens as they are water soluble but the dust mite can live through a washing cycle at less than 55c.
Clothing. Dust mites can even enter your closet and stick to your clothes. That's why sometimes when you wear your clothes, it itches a little. Dust mites will surely thrive especially through items that are often used.
Temperature of the Washing Machine
To kill dust mites, it is necessary to wash items at a suitably high temperature. We make sure that certified washing machines can reach a temperature of 55°Celsius (131° Fahrenheit) and maintain it for 15 minutes.
Essential oils contain compounds that repel or kill insects, including dust mites. The best essential oils for getting rid of dust mites are clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil. Add 20 drops of oil to four ounces of witch hazel, and spray your mattress, couch, drapes, and other dust mite hangouts.
Luckily, Lysol can kill up to 99% of dust mites. However, killing dust mites alone won't get rid of allergens. Remember that the main elements that ignite allergens are dust mites waste. For this reason, if you want to get rid of them, you must do more than spraying Lysol.
Steam will also kill dust mites. If you have bedding that cannot be washed, steam cleaning is all-natural and better than dry cleaning. Both steam cleaning and dry cleaning will take care of surface soil, but dry cleaning will not kill dust mites. Also, steam clean chairs, sofas, couches and carpets.
Sprays and aerosols containing syngergized pyrethrins should kill mites immediately on contact, though the treatment will only remain effective for up to a few hours. Insecticide sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin are effective against many mites and should retain their killing properties for several weeks.
Tea tree oil has a range of household uses, one of them being an effective yet natural pest control. This natural oil has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties and when made into a spray can effectively treat dust mites on a range of furniture.
If you're concerned your mattress has dust mites, you can clean it. One simple step is to remove any detachable covers and use an upholstery attachment to vacuum the mattress and all of its crevices.
Step 2: Heat Treatment and Washing
If mites are on you, take a hot shower with some medicated shampoo. Do this regularly if you have been having mite issues and for general cleanliness because this will dramatically reduce or eliminate mites.
According to the American Lung Association, dust mites in your bedding won't bite, sting, or burrow. However, tiny dust mites can cause allergic reactions. So if you suffer from asthma or hay fever, then you need to know how to get rid of these irritating creatures from your home environment.
Mite allergens are found in dust-filled textiles in the highest concentrations; these include upholstered furniture, carpets, curtains and plush toys as well as beds. Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites.
Febreze has done it again! This new product is designed to not only eliminate odors but to also reduce up to 95% of inanimate allergens from pollen, pet dander, and dust mite matter that cause discomfort when breathed in from the air.
Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach is an EPA-registered sanitizer and disinfectant that kills various bacteria, viruses and fungi, but it is not registered to kill dust mites.
Dust mites
These tiny creatures do not bite or live on humans. Instead, proteins in the exoskeletons and feces of dust mites can induce allergic reactions in people. Exposure to mites can lead to patches of small, red bumps on the skin accompanied by the following respiratory symptoms: nasal congestion and sneezing.
Dust mites – sometimes called bed mites – are the most common cause of allergy from house dust. Dust mites live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 75 to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 50 percent.
Predators. The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Encasement material to stop house dust mites from entering a pillow, mattress or duvet, can be made from plastic, vapour-permeable materials, finely woven fabrics, or nonwoven synthetics. Pore size is important when considering the material.
You cannot feel dust mites crawling on your skin. The allergic symptoms are caused by inhaling the microscopic fecal matter and shed skins. The dust mite feeds on shed human and animal skin cells.
Dust mites are very small, insect-like pests that feed on dead human skin cells and thrive in warm, humid settings. Dust mites are too small for us to see. They are not parasites that bite, sting or burrow into our bodies.
In contrast to their cousins, ticks and spiders, mites are not noticeable to the naked eye. A few assessments record them in the scopes of 0.2 to 0.3 mm long at most. So, you probably won't be able to see dust mites with only a human eye. Their translucence helps hide that creepy crawlies even more.