How to Get Rid of Dust Mites in Your Home

Dust mites are generally harmless, microscopic critters that feast on skin flakes that you and your family members shed regularly. While the dust mites do not spread disease, bite or cause other issues, their droppings can cause health symptoms.

Many people are allergic to dust mite droppings. While people often say they are allergic to dust, they actually are usually allergic to dust mites’ decaying bodies and excrement. Numerous symptoms can develop, such as rashes, asthma attacks, a runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing, congestion and sneezing.

How Do You Know If You Have Dust Mites?

Chances are that a home with dust also has dust mites. Because dust constantly returns even after thorough cleaning sessions, the fight to kill dust mites in a home requires regular attention and the right strategies. Not everyone is allergic to dust mites. However, if you or your family members have any of the above symptoms that are worse when you are indoors at home, you may need to take effective steps to kill dust mites as soon as possible.

Where Can You Find Dust Mites?

Dust mites are found wherever dust is. These mites can live up to three months, and they can breed multiple times over that time period. Some of the spaces where they are most common are on furnace ducts, curtains, dusty furniture, upholstered furniture, carpets, rugs, pillows, linens and mattresses. To get rid of dust mites, these are the areas that require your full attention.

How to Get Rid of Dust Mites

With dust and dust mites common in many areas of the home, you need to focus on the areas where dust is most common. You also need to make your home environment less hospitable for them to live.

#1 Change & Wash Beddings Weekly

As you sleep, tiny skin flakes land on your bedding. Because the dust mites feed on these flakes, the bedding needs to be cleaned on a weekly basis. To fully eradicate the dust mites, launder the bedding on the hot water setting. If any of your bedding cannot be machine washed, you should tumble it in the dryer on the hottest setting for at least 15 mins.

If the dryer method is not realistic, you can also kill dust mites by freezing the items for 24 hours. Place the item in a bag before putting it in the freezer. Freezing, however, will not remove the allergens.

#2: Clean from Top to Bottom

When cleaning your home, always clean from top to bottom. This is because dust and dust mites can fall to the floor as you wipe down the ceiling fan blades, strip the sheets from the bed and complete other chores. Always transfer the dirty laundry items to the laundry room before vacuuming.

#3: Protect Mattresses Properly

When buying a new protective cover for your mattress, look for a style that is advertised as being dust mite proof. These are generally zippered covers that cannot be penetrated by dust mites. If you zip any dust mites inside the protective cover, they will die. Remember to wash this protective cover weekly. In addition, steam clean your mattress every six months.

#4: Get Rid of Wall Carpeting

The thick fibers that make carpet so comfortable to walk on unfortunately will trap skin cells. This makes carpet a great living environment for dust mites. Compared to hard surface floors, carpeting is more difficult to thoroughly clean. This means that you may leave behind some dust mites and their remnants when vacuuming.

For the best results, consider replacing carpet with hard flooring.

#5: Vacuum Regularly

Your carpeting as well as your area rugs and upholstery can harbor dust mites, and they must be cleaned regularly. Choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. At minimum, vacuum these areas weekly.

If possible, vacuum daily or every other day to keep the dust mite population to a minimum. Because hot steam kills dust mites, make an effort to steam clean the carpet as part of your seasonal deep cleaning chores.

#6: Wash Fabrics in Hot Water

In addition to the linens on your bed, you should wash other fabrics in hot water. Some of these items include throw blankets and pillows, jackets and bathroom rugs. These should be washed in the hottest temperature setting possible. Read the item’s label before washing it.

#7: Manage Humidity in the Home

Dust mites thrive in humid environments and in temperatures between 68 and 77° Fahrenheit. Monitor your home’s humidity level, and use a dehumidifier as necessary to reduce the humidity level to under 50 percent. If possible, lower your thermostat to 67° or below.

#8: Avoid Bulky Window Covering & Treatments

Heavy window coverings trap dust and are rarely cleaned. This is especially true if they must be taken to the dry cleaners to be laundered. Choose lighter materials that can be machine washed, and wash your curtains regularly. Otherwise, consider foregoing curtains altogether. Remember to dust your blinds weekly.

#9: Control the Clutter

Clutter accumulates in areas throughout the home, and it can easily gather dust and dust mites. Dusting clutter is often easier said than done, so the best advice is to avoid clutter. Get in the habit of walking through your house at the end of each day and returning items to their home location.

If you normally have many knickknacks or other items on shelves and tables, consider getting rid of some of those items.

#10: Use a Damp Mop & Cloth to Remove Dust

When dusting, use a lightly damp cloth. A dry cloth will simply wipe the dust into the air and on the floor. A damp cloth will collect the dust and dust mites. Rather than using water, consider using a small amount of clove oil, which is known to eliminate the dust mites. Before using oil on any surface, test a small area of the item to ensure that the oil will not cause damage.

FAQs

What Can Kill Dust Mites Right Away?

Heat kills dust mites immediately. When possible, launder your items in the hottest setting in the washing machine and dry them using the hottest dryer setting. Items that cannot be machine washed may be steam cleaned or placed in the freezer.

Why Dust Mites Make You Sick?

The dust mites themselves do not make you sick. The dust mite’s dead bodies and excrement, however, are common allergens. Because of this, exposure to areas where dust mites are prevalent can cause a significant allergic response.

Do Dust Mites Go Away on Their Own?

Dust mites are found wherever the environmental conditions are hospitable and there is a food source. These mites feed on skin flakes from humans as well as animals. They live in temperate and somewhat humid environments. When these conditions are not present, dust mites will not thrive.

Dust mites are an unfortunately common problem, and they require your regular attention. Rather than following all of the steps to keep your home free of dust mites, you can take the easier path by hiring the Cleanzen maids to clean your home. Learn more about our Boston house cleaning services today.