How to Get Rid of Dust Mites

Co-authored by Scott McCombe

Last Updated: January 28, 2023 References Approved

Dust mites are microscopic arachnids that live all over your house], including on pillows, toys, linens, furniture, blankets, and elsewhere. Despite how small they are, dust mites leave lots of droppings, and these droppings can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions. It's not possible to completely eliminate dust mites from your home, but there are steps you can take to reduce their numbers, and this will reduce allergy symptoms and the chance of asthma attacks.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Cleaning the House

1
Dust with a damp cloth. Dust mites feed on dead skin, dander, and other things that are found in dust. Therefore, where there's dust, there are likely dust mites. A key to eliminating dust mites is getting rid of their food source, and that means dusting with a damp cloth. Rinse the cloth regularly to avoid spreading dust.
- It's important to use a damp cloth, because a dry cloth will just stir up allergens and spread dust around the house.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} The exception is using a dry microfiber cloth since it traps dust instead of spreading it.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Ashley Matuska
  Professional Cleaner
  Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.}
- Items to dust include furniture, shelves, books, decorations, trinkets, pictures, fixtures, and other items that collect dust.
2
Vacuum the entire house. Vacuuming is another great way to get rid of dust, skin, dust mite feces, and other allergens from your house. To avoid spreading dust and allergens, it's important that you use a vacuum outfitted with a HEPA filter that will trap allergens and prevent them from being blown around the house.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.}^{[4]
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- When vacuuming, pay particular attention to floors, baseboards, furniture, carpeting, rugs, and behind and underneath furniture.
- Bagged vacuums are better than ones with a canister since dust could easily get back in the air when you empty it.^{[5]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ashley Matuska
  Professional Cleaner
  Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.}
- Use upholstery attachments to get the seams, crevices, and corners of your furniture.
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3
Wash your bedding in hot water.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} Dust mites can be found all over your bedding. Remove the pillowcases, sheets, blankets, and covers from your bed. Place the items in the washing machine and wash them with hot water and the regular cycle. When the washing machine is done, transfer the items to the dryer and dry them on a hot setting.
- To kill dust mites, the washing machine or dryer must reach between 130 and 140 F (54 to 60 C).^{[7]
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  Research source}
4
Clean curtains and drapes. Dust mites love heavy curtains as much as they love pillows and bedding. Remove curtains and drapes from their rods or tracks and check the care label for washing instructions.
- For washable curtains, remove any hooks or hangers. Transfer the curtains to the washing machine and wash them with hot water. Transfer them to the dryer or hang them to dry according to the care label.
- Some curtains may be dry clean only. Take the curtains to a dry cleaner to kill dust mites.^{[8]
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  Research source}
- You can vacuum blinds and curtains using the brush attachment on your vacuum.^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ashley Matuska
  Professional Cleaner
  Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.}
5
Wash toys. Toys, stuffed animals, and other fabric items are great hiding places for dust mites. Collect all washable items and wash them in the washing machine using hot water. Transfer the load to the dryer and dry the items on high heat.^{[10]
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6
Freeze items that can't be washed. There are some items that you won't be able to machine wash to kill dust mites. With these items, you can freeze them instead to get rid of mites. Transfer each item to a separate plastic bag, and seal the bag tightly. Transfer the item to the freezer and leave it there for 24 hours. Good candidates for freezing include:^{[11]
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- Pillows
- Special toys
- Delicate fabrics

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Creating an Anti-Dust Mite Environment

1
Reduce humidity levels in the house.^{[12]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} Dust mites love high humidity. The easiest way to decrease the humidity in your house is with a dehumidifier. You can also decrease the humidity by opening windows on dry days. Always use fans and vents when cooking, showering, and other activities that create steam.
- By reducing the humidity in your house, you can create an environment that's not ideal for dust mites, and you will slow down how quickly they reproduce.
- Install a hygrometer to keep an eye on the humidity, and keep the level below 50 percent.^{[13]
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2
Turn down the temperature. Dust mites also love high temperatures. The ideal temperature for them is between 75 and 80 F (24 and 27 C). In winter, set your thermostat to 70 F (21 C), and even cooler in the bedroom if that's comfortable. In summer, use fans, windows, and air conditioning when necessary to keep your house cooler.^{[14]
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3
Spray your home with a disinfecting spray. Disinfectants like Lysol are ideal for killing dust mites, and will make your home inhospitable to them. After your regular dusting, spray the disinfecting spray everywhere that dust tends to collect, including:^{[15]
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Trustworthy Source
PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source}
- Corners
- Baseboards
- Floors
- Shelves
- Curtains
- Near furniture
4
Use eucalyptus. Certain essential oils, and eucalyptus specifically, are effective at killing dust mites. There are a few ways you can use eucalyptus around the house to make your home unfriendly for dust mites, including:
- Add 20 drops of eucalyptus oil to your washing machine, especially when you're using a cold or warm water setting.^{[16]
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- Pour about 30 drops of eucalyptus oil into a spray bottle and fill the bottle with water. Use the spray around the house, including on your bed, furniture, pillows, toys, carpets, and other areas where dust mites live.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Controlling Dust Mites

1
Get rid of clutter. Clutter and unnecessary items around the house attract and trap dust, and this creates a feeding frenzy for dust mites.^{[17]
X
Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} One of the best ways to get rid of dust mites is to eliminate their food source, and while it's not possible to completely get rid of dust, you can reduce it by throwing out, selling, or properly storing items like:^{[18]
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Research source}
- Books
- Decorations and ornaments
- Picture frames
- Trinkets
- Home accessories
- Decorative pillows
2
Dust regularly. Regular dusting with a damp cloth is a great way to reduce dust in the house and eliminate food sources for dust mites.^{[19]
X
Expert Source

Ashley Matuska
Professional Cleaner
Expert Interview. 15 April 2019.} Always dust by wiping surfaces with a damp cloth to avoid spreading dust and other allergens around the house.
- For the best results, dust your entire house on a weekly basis.^{[20]
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  Research source}
3
Wash linens and bedding regularly. Because linens and bedding are such a hot spot for dust mites, it's important to keep these clean. Weekly washing in hot water that's between 130 and 140 F (54 to 60 C) will help to control dust mites in your bedroom.^{[21]
X
Research source} Be sure to wash:
- Sheets
- Pillowcases
- Duvet covers
- Blankets
4
Get rid of carpeting. Carpets and rugs are among the worst places in your house for harboring dust mites. While regular vacuuming and washing (for small rugs) will help to reduce mite numbers, getting rid of the carpet altogether will be even more effective.^{[22]
X
Research source} When possible, remove carpeting and replace it with:
- Tile
- Hardwood
- Laminate
- Cork
- Concrete
5
Replace dust-collecting fabrics with easy-to-clean items. Because things like thick curtains and drapes can house large numbers of dust mites, you can help get rid of them by replacing these items. For instance, you can replace curtains with plastic blinds or wooden shutters, and fabric cushions and pillows with leather or pleather ones.
- Not only are these items easier to clean, but they also won't attract dust mites the way fabrics do.^{[23]
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6
Groom pets regularly. Pet dander is another huge food source for dust mites. To reduce dander in the house, take your dogs and cats outside daily for a thorough brushing. For dogs, you should also give them monthly baths to reduce dander and fur around the house.
- Pets can also suffer from dust mite allergies, so keeping them cleaner is beneficial for you both.
7
Use mattress and pillow covers. Mattress and pillow covers are plastic or hypoallergenic fabric envelopes that protect your bed from dust mites, bed bugs, and allergens.^{[24]
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Expert Source

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Expert Interview. 19 November 2019.} The covers encase your mattress or pillows and prevent dust mites from getting in, and protect you from allergens that are already present.
- To keep these covers clean, wipe plastic ones with a damp cloth and wash fabric ones weekly.
8
Increase the ventilation in your house. Better ventilation means lower humidity, more airflow, and less dust, and all of these are good for controlling dust mites. You can improve ventilation by opening windows, using ceiling and portable fans, and by making use of vents in the house, such as in the kitchen and bathroom.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can you get rid of dust mites in your bed?

Scott McCombe
Pest Control Specialist
Scott McCombe is the CEO of Summit Environmental Solutions (SES), a family-owned local pest solutions, animal control, and home insulation company based in Northern Virginia. Founded in 1991, SES has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has been awarded “Top Rated Professional,” and “Elite Service Award" by HomeAdvisor.

Scott McCombe

Pest Control Specialist

Expert Answer

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Start by washing your sheets in hot water that's at least 130°F to kill the mites. Then vacuum or steam your mattress.