Natural Home Products for Dust Mites

Many people have allergies to dust mites, ranging from mild to severe. This reaction causes sneezing, runny nose, and wheezing. It also can trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma. These mites are attracted to areas with dust and they eat skin cells shed by people, which means they especially like bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting.

Beds

• To reduce dust mites, avoid wool or down quilts, comforters and blankets, which capture dust and are difficult to clean frequently. Place an airtight cover over your mattress and a washable cover on top. These covers are available in vinyl, rubber, and tightly-woven fabric. Covers can be purchased for pillows as well. These covers stop dust mites from living and multiplying inside the mattress or pillows. The box spring can be enclosed in a vinyl or plastic cover.

Laundry

• Wash sheets and pillowcases every week and blankets every two weeks. To kill dust mites, all these items should be washed in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the bedding cannot be washed in hot water, then place it in a clothes dryer on hot for at least 20 minutes before washing. Putting bedding in the freezer for 24 hours also kills dust mites. Another option is a mite-killing treatment such as De-Mite, with the active ingredients benzyl benzoate, tea tree oil, and methyl salicylate.

Bedrooms

• Store out-of-season clothing somewhere other than the bedrooms or in an airtight container, because clothing attracts dust. Bedrooms should be free of knickknacks, books, magazines, and other items that collect dust. A wooden or metal chair should be used rather than an upholstered one, and it is best to avoid Venetian blinds unless you clean them regularly.

Floors

• Carpets collect dust. Remove as much carpeting as possible in favor of floors made of tile, wood, or natural linoleum. You can add washable cotton throw rugs instead of carpet.

Dusting and Vacuuming

• When dusting, use a damp mop or rag or one with oil soap to prevent dust from becoming airborne. For carpet, use a vacuum cleaner with a high-efficiency particulate air filter or a double-layered micro-filter bag, both of which decrease dust emissions from the machine.

Humidity

• Since dust mites thrive in a humid environment, maintain humidity at 30 to 50 percent. If you live in a humid climate, this may require a dehumidifier or air conditioner. In cold winter climates, heat from furnaces, electric baseboards and wood stoves all keep humidity low.