How to Kill Mites in Clothes

Dust mites feed on dander, dead skin and hair. Since these all can show up on clothing, clothing is a hot spot for dust mites. These kinds of mites may seem relatively harmless because they do not bite humans. They aren't even visible with the naked eye. But dust mites and their feces are one of the most common causes of indoor allergens. They can even trigger asthma attacks. Keeping your clothes as free of dust mites as possible can limit the mites' ability to cause problems.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic bags
• Detergent
• Washing Machine
• Dryer
• Freezer

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Instructions

• 1

  Change the settings on your water heater. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that water heaters be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding and save energy. But to kill mites you need to set the water heater to at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

• 2

  Wash all machine washable clothing in the hot water with detergent. The high heat will kill the mites as well as rid your clothing of the residue the mites leave behind.

• 3

  Dry laundry using the hot cycle for a minimum of 20 minutes.

• 4

  Place all other clothing inside a plastic bag and seal it. Put the bag into the freezer for 24 hours. The cold temperature will kill the mites, but it will not get rid of the feces. Allow your clothing to reach room temperature and then take them to the dry cleaner.