It has been found that about 100 grams of finely divided salt per square meter of substrate is generally sufficient to kill a significant amount of dust mites on the order of about 90 to 99%.
Just like hot temperatures, freezing cold temperatures also kill dust mites. For more delicate fabrics or items that cannot be washed (such as silk or lace) freeze them. Place the items in a clear plastic bag and put them in the freezer for 24 hours. This will kill the dust mites completely.
Dust mites are repulsed by the smell of Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavendar, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Make your own aromatic spray by adding a few drops of one (or more) of those essential oils in a water-filled spray bottle.
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.
Although baking soda and vinegar can help remove mattress odors, neither can kill dust mites.
If you're wondering “Does baking soda kill dust mites?” the answer is yes! Baking soda is a pretty potent weapon against dust mites in your bed. Using it is a simple process as well. Add a little bit of essential oil to the baking soda and then spread it across the top of your mattress, then vacuum.
STUDY RESULTS: Lemon Oil – 61% of the dust mites were immobile after 30 minutes and 80% were dead after 2 hours.
Spray Lysol on dust surfaces to kill dust mites
After cleaning dust surfaces with a vacuum, apply and spray Lysol on your furniture and fabrics.
Mix one cup of baking soda with a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Then simply sprinkle baking soda on the mattress and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then vacuum it all off using the hose attachment to suck up all the baking soda fully. . This will suck up the dust mites along with the baking soda.
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. They are not usually found in dry climates.
Dust mites occur naturally and can appear in nearly all homes. Humidity is the most important factor in determining whether a house has high levels of dust mites. This is because dust mites do not drink water like we do; they absorb moisture from the air.
Dust mites have “sticky feet” and can resist the suction power of the typical household vacuum. A great, natural cleaning option I have learned is to treat mattresses and bedding with tea tree or eucalyptus oil, which has been proven to kill dust mites.
But they occur all year round, whereas hay fever is seasonal. The symptoms are typically worse at night and in the morning because dust mites tend to live in mattresses, pillows and bedding.
Allergen levels are at their highest between May and October, the peak breeding season of house dust mites. Most of the mites die during the winter, but the allergen-containing dust is stirred up by heating systems. This often causes the symptoms experienced by affected patients year-round to worsen during the winter.
They love to burrow in your fabric and feast on your skin cells. And, for this reason, your bed is the perfect place to make their home. Unlike bed bugs, mites don't pose any significant health risks. However, dust mite proteins can trigger congestion, a run nose, watery eyes, and other allergic reactions.
When you minimize your exposure to dust mites, you can expect fewer or less severe allergic reactions. However, it's impossible to completely eliminate dust mites from your environment. You may also need medications to control symptoms.
The best way to remove dust mites from your home is by steam cleaning carpets and furniture, and regularly removing dust with a damp mop or rag. You should also wash your bedding weekly in hot water to kill dust mites, especially if you struggle with allergies.
Make sure your home is dust-free as possible and use a damp cloth or rag to wipe down shelves, and other items that collect dust in the home. Steam cleaning or washing items in hot water is a sure-fire way to kill and eliminate mites of all types. Use a steam cleaner to heat treat your carpeting, furniture and bedding.
Killing dust mites in your curtains, clothes, and bedding
All you'll need is a washing machine, dryer, food-grade hydrogen peroxide 3%, and laundry detergent. The heat from the hot water and the antimicrobial properties of the hydrogen peroxide 3% are sure to kick those mangy mites to the curb.
Anti-Dust Mite Spray
Use a disinfecting spray after dusting and wiping surfaces such as floors, shelves, blinds, skirting boards, and corners, since it not only kills the dust mites but also creates an inhospitable environment for them. You can also use an anti-allergen spray.
In the laboratory experiments more than 80% of mites were killed after immersion in 0.2% and 0.4% solutions of eucalyptus oil for 30 and 60 minutes (Fig. 1).
Wash sheets in soapy water at 140 F every one or two weeks to kill all mites. Take blankets to the dry cleaner, hang them outdoors once a year, or wash them frequently.
Washing of bedding, soft toys and soft furnishings at usual washing temperatures removes more than 95% of allergens but does not kill dust mites. Temperatures above 60 degrees are needed to kill dust mites. Regardless of wash temperature, washing should be repeated about every 8 weeks as dust mites will repopulate.