Get Rid of Dust Mites Naturally

Do you suffer from dust mite allergies? Are you currently experiencing a dust mite infestation in your home? Are you looking for an effective, natural method to get rid of those dust mites? You’re in luck! I’ve collected all of the most effective ways to naturally get rid of unwanted dust mites from your home – and they actually work! Keep reading to find out more.

How do you naturally get rid of dust mites? When you’re faced with an allergy to dust mites, completely avoiding them is nearly impossible, however, you can significantly reduce them from your home by following some of these methods:

• Dust Regularly
• Keep Humidity and Temperature Low
• Cut Clutter in Your Home
• Consider Removing Carpet and Getting Hardwood
• Change and Wash Bed Sheets Regularly – In Hot Water
• Groom Pets Regularly
• Used Bed Covers as A Barrier
• Use Diatomaceous Earth

Home Remedies to Get Rid of Dust Mites

With several different options, you’ll likely find a method that works best for you. Now let’s talk about what makes these methods work and the benefits of implementing them.

1. Dusting Regularly

A regular schedule of cleaning and dusting should be your first line of defense against dust mites as that is the food source of dust mites.

You will shed thousands of dead skin cells every day and so will your pets – this will only sustain dust mites and their overall population in your home.

Dusting is a cleaning method that has a love/hate relationship with many people. It is often very difficult to keep dust at bay unless doing it every day, and if the individual has severe allergies, it can exacerbate them.

The best way to keep dust at low levels in your home is to determine where it tends to accumulate and ensure that those places are dusted frequently. Always remember to start from the top and go to the bottom. You should use a microfiber duster or damp cloth, otherwise, you could just be stirring the dust up and moving it around.

2. Keep the Humidity & Temperature Low

If you’re able to detect an infestation, you can easily make life unbearable for dust mites by controlling the temperature and humidity in your home. Adjusting these two parameters won’t be an immediate fix, however, coupled with other methods you will definitely see a fast improvement.

Dust mites prefer temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 70-80%. Once you detect the infestation, you can lower the temperature to 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level to 40-45% (maintaining humidity lower than 50% is better for you anyway). You can find a hygrometer at your local hardware store that tells you the humidity levels in your home.

This method is more of a slow-death for dust mites and will be more effective if you implement other methods at the same time.

3. Cut Clutter in Your Home

Home decor is always a fun thing to shop for and look at, but remember, if it collects dust it collects dust mites. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your comfort and style to prevent and get rid of a dust mite infestation, but sometimes it can be a good thing to be a little more minimalistic.

It’s a good idea to take inventory of your home and find items that aren’t necessary – like magazines and newspapers, certain table ornaments, books, and other accessories. This will also limit the number of items you have to dust regularly, which is a bonus!

4. Consider Removing Carpet & Getting Hardwood

Most new-build homes have been celebrating the hardwood look over carpet, which is good in the world of dust mite prevention! Though you may find your carpet to be comfortable and cozy and an added design element in your home – all it does is collect dust and dust mites.

Carpets and rugs will harbor more than 100 times the allergens compared to hardwood floors. Whenever the carpet is disturbed, the dust matter goes airborne and circulates before settling again on various surfaces. Just like mattresses, carpet is a magnet for dust mites.

Getting rid of carpet, or at least limiting the number of rooms that have carpet in your home is one of the best, most effective ways to get rid of dust mites. If this isn’t an option for you, consider having your carpets steamed regularly (monthly is good) to kill the collecting dust mite population.

5. Change & Wash Bed Sheets Regularly – In Hot Water

Like we talked about with the carpet, your bed is a very comfortable place for dust mites. They will burrow and collect in your mattress, pillows, bedsheets, and anything else you keep on your bed.

Dust mites like your bed because it is warm and humid, with lots of skin cells to feed on (that’s pretty gross). The best way to limit the number of dust mites making their home in your bed is by changing your sheets regularly – weekly is best – and washing them in hot water. The water should be around 130 degrees Fahrenheit to kill the dust mites.

Even though it can be a pain to change sheets every single week, especially if you have multiple beds in your home, it’s a very effective method. Once you get into a routine, it will be easier to maintain the weekly schedule, and you’ll get to sleep on clean sheets more often!

6. Groom Pets Regularly

If you have pets, you’re likely well aware of the amount of hair that they shed. Added to that hair is pet dander, which adds to the dust mite food supply.

Some of the things you can do to minimize pet dander is regular brushing and bathing, grooming, and keeping pets from getting on furniture and in bedrooms. Though we love our pets and keeping them from cuddling on the couch with us is hard, it can help save you from huge dust mite infestations.

Routine is key to keeping your home and your pets clean and free of dust mites. After you establish the routine it is much easier to maintain it.

7. Use Bed Covers As a Barrier

You can go to your nearest home goods store and purchase mattress, pillows, and box spring covers that protect against dust mites. By using these covers, you effectively starve them by keeping them from their food supply – which is you.

Some bed covers can be a little pricey, but the cost is worth it, especially if you have allergies or asthma. They are made of tightly-woven fabric that prevents the dust mites from colonizing or escaping from the mattress and pillows.

8. Use Diatomaceous Earth

You are probably wondering, what is Diatomaceous Earth? It is a powder obtained from sedimentary rocks that also contains high levels of compound silica. It is not dangerous and very inexpensive, and also, multipurpose! You could find many other uses for the powder other than for killing dust mites.

Diatomaceous Earth dehydrates dust mites and kills them within minutes – this is the quickest method to get rid of dust mites. All you have to do is sprinkle a light layer of the powder over the surfaces that may be infested (carpet, rugs, bed, couches) and let it sit for about 30 minutes. After letting it sit just be sure to vacuum the areas thoroughly!

You can find DE at home and garden stores or online retailers, but make sure to get the food-grade version as it’s less likely to irritate your nose and cause itchiness.

Claim Your Home Back!

Each of these methods for getting rid of dust mites naturally is effective and will show you an almost immediate difference. So start trying them out and choosing one that works best for you – you won’t be sorry! It’s time to claim your house back from dust mites!