How To Kill Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic insects. They live on human and animal hosts as well as non-living surfaces and feed on dead skin cells. While dust mites are harmless, their feces, saliva and vomit is responsible for causing an estimated 10 percent of Americans to have an allergy serious enough to warrant medical intervention.

Dust mites are often found in large colonies living on items where a considerable amount of dead skin cells, known as dander, collect, such as bedding, sofas and carpets. A typical human will shed approximately 10 grams of dead skin each week. While much smaller, dogs and cats leave behind much more dander than humans, due, in part, to the fact that human dander gets washed down the shower drain rather than hitting the floor. An ordinary mattress can have thousands of dust mites, with colonies 100,000 large, per square yard of flooring.

Washing your bedding can be a very effective dust mite killer. It is recommended to wash your linens and blankets at least once every two weeks in very hot water. If you can’t wash your pillow, consider using a dust-mite-proof cover and get a new pillow every year if you have dust mite allergies. You can also buy a washable, dust-mite-proof pillow to save money on replacing your pillow so often. When washing, the water should be at least 103-degrees Fahrenheit. If you have young children, especially those with an undeveloped immune system and severe allergies, be sure to wash stuffed animals in hot water often or place in the freezer for several hours.

Dust mites thrive in warm, humid conditions. Keep your thermostat under 70 degrees and humidity below 50 percent. You may need to introduce a dehumidifier into your home if you live humid areas like Florida or Louisiana. Opt for hardwood floors over carpets. If you can, remove your carpets and replace with tile, linoleum, vinyl or hardwood.

Another quick dust mite killer suggestion is to freeze them or expose them to sunlight. By folding back your blankets and exposing bedding to the sunlight, you can kill dust mites. Note, however, that while you can kill the tiny arachnids, their residue stays behind. So be sure to vacuum thoroughly and often.