How to Freeze Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live on dead skin and pet dander. These bugs do not carry disease and are not an issue for most people. However, people can be allergic to dust mites, which have been linked to asthma in children according to the American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology. Household insecticides do not kill dust mites. However, dust mites can be killed by exposure to high and low temperatures. Freezing dust mites can be completed on a cold evening or even in your deep freeze.

Things You'll Need

• Garbage bags
• Freezer
• Vacuum

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Instructions

• 1

  Place items that commonly hold dust mites -- pillows, stuffed animals, sheets and rugs -- into plastic garbage bags.

• 2

  Put the garbage bags in a large freezer or outside when the whether is cold. Dust mites prefer temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Exposing mites to cold will kill them.

• 3

  Keep the items in the cold environment for at least 2 hours to kill any mites that may be living in deep recesses of the materials like the pillow. Remove the items from the garbage bag and let them thaw.

• 4

  Vacuum the items as soon as they are thawed to remove the dead mites. Use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to try to limit the amount of dust that gets into the air.