10 Non-Toxic Dust Mite Remedies for Your Home
As a Filtrete Brand Ambassador, I’m back to give you more ammunition for fighting allergies! As a lifelong dust mite allergy sufferer, I’ve spent more than my share of times being congested and even suffered asthma attacks from a robust dust mite population. Over the years I’ve learned several non-toxic ways to remedy a burgeoning dust mite population. Controlling dust might seem like the obvious solution to dust mites, but actually there are several specific things you need to do to control the actual mites.
First, let me tell you a little bit more about my nemesis. Dust mites are almost microscopic (you can see them with a 10x magifying glass) and tend to live among the dust in your home. Upholstered furniture, pillows and mattresses are the most desirable environments for their populations. They feed off of skin cells shed from our body. Dust mites like warm (room temperature) and humid environments.
You can never completely eliminate a dust mite population, but you can reduce the population to ease the suffering of those that are allergic to dust mites. You also don’t need to resort to chemicals or drastic measures. You can actually wage war against dust mites with some very simple tricks and tools.
Ten Non-Toxic Dust Mite Remedies
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1. Cover your bed and pillows with dust mite protective covers.
2. Wash sheets in hot water once a week.
3. Throw your pillows in the freezer for a few hours once a month.
4. Be lazy! Don’t make your bed. Believe it or not, pulling the covers back and airing out your mattress after a good night’s slumber actually helps the humidity evaporate from your bed. Remember how much those dust mites love humidity?!
5. Make your own dust mite repellent to spray on your bed. Dust mites are repulsed by the smell of Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavendar, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Make your own aromatic spray by adding a few drops of one (or more) of those essential oils in a water-filled spray bottle. Lightly mist your bed and allow it to air dry.
(New scents to try: I also just read that a mixture of Basil and Lemongrass will not only repel dust mites, but also fleas and lice!)
6. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner. A HEPA vacuum has a filter that traps any dust that doesn’t go in the bag instead of spewing it back into the air.
7. Vacuum rugs and other “soft” items in your home on a regular basis.
8. Vacuum your mattress. This sounds funny, but once a month remove your sheets and vacuum your mattress using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum.
9. Clean your air intake vents. Â Vacuum the fins and around the air intake. Wipe the dust accumulation around the perimeter with a damp rag (dry rags will only spread the mites.)
10. Use 1900 High Performance Maximum Allergen filters by Filtrete to trap allergens and dust.
Want more information about eliminating allergens in your home? Filtrete has a resource page for allergen defense. You can also sign up for their newsletter to learn more about improving your air quality, get reminders to change your filter and receive information about rebates when you buy Filtrete products.
Follow Filtrete via social media on Facebook or Twitter for more tips and tricks for keeping your home healthy.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Filtrete. I have the honor of being an ambassador for them and have been sharing information from 3M Filtrete. I was given key messages to share, but all the words and thoughts are my own.  I have been compensated for my time and for this post. I continue to work with certain companies like Filtrete that I believe in, because of their quality and because I feel they have helpful messages for my readers. I will always disclose to you if you are reading a sponsored post. #HealthierHome #Ad
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I have bugs in my couch and on bed .I like to be cool and my boyfriend likes it warm and the next morning he will have 6-10 bites but if I don’t scratch they will go away in a couple of hours I’d that first mites I can’t see them but I can feel them crawling sometimes please help.
Dust mites are microscopic. You can’t see or feel them. I’d look for fleas or bed bugs. Can an exterminator to be sure.
Please send as many remedies for dust mites as possible. Lives in a lead poisoned unit.one child with life threatening asthma. Another child with toxic allergies..
could being alergic to dust mites cause an itchy rash on body?
Susan, I’m not sure. I don’t react in that way. It’s best to talk to an allergist. Or try switching your laundry detergent?
Yes, you can get red itchy bumps from dust mite fecal matter and/or their dead bodies. I’m taking allergy shots to get thru this itchy mess. Cleaning your home helps but I need shots to help with the red itchy bumps on my legs and arms.
I have been ‘down’ in a recovery of a double compound fracture on lower right leg. I believe I have been receiving bites and under the skin problems on my upper body (mostly arms and neck) by either mites or lice from my doggie that sleeps with me. I am bathing & scrubbing with Dial antibacterial soap & changing, washing, drying in HOT water & air. The dog is being treated but what can I do?? My arms are full of bites that must occur furring the night. The floors are all tile & being kept as clean (with a bleach solution) as much as I can. Desperate !!!
Lora, dust mites usually don’t give you bites like fleas would. They are microscopic and usually feed on dead skin cells. They are more problematic for people who are allergic to dust mites. Is your dog being treated for fleas? Also, my thought went to bed bugs (I really hope that’s not the case.) You may want to talk to a pest control expert to determine what you’re dealing with first. Best of luck and I hope you heal quickly.
Some things I am doingvthat are helping. Use Windex spray with amonia on your baseboards and in bathroom. Do not spray near your dog. Use lint roller on your she’s and bedding. Wipe neck and back with Listerine and then wash off. Threw out my LR really nice rug that was like a carpet.. In stead now have small rug I can wash. It is a constant battle since I live in a very dusty city. Wash floirs c with vinegar solution every week.
Could you please update the link for the house mite killing solution recipe? The link is currently broken.
Thank you!!
The Cure. People will tell you to kill dust mites on the body by the use of topical ointments. Actually, You kill dust mites by what you take internally. Take large doses of oil of oregano supplements throughout your day. This oil permeates through your pores and kills your dust mites. Use coconut oil over your skin to get a good nights. However the oregano is the cure. Look up oregano and dust mites on line for reassurance and then buy it to be relieved.
I was actually looking for such kind of stuff and saw your post at the correct time. Thanks these tips are really useful to get rid of the dust mites. Very informative post. Keep posting such stuff.
My husband is allergic to dust mites as well. I put our pillows and blankets in a hot dryer on a regular basis, no room in the freezer. We also have tile and wood floors through out the house too, no wall-to-wall carpets.
A great post Brittany! Full of really handy recommendations. I’ve never heard about the freezing idea before. How exactly would that work? Dust mites do love humidity and it’s a great tip about the bed covers but what about the rest of the house? It’s quite difficult to keep the heat controlled as well as maintaining a balanced air quality. I think these bigger factors play a huge role too. Great tip about the oils!
Speaking of dust, would it be beneficial to get the heating ducts cleaned on the inside? I live in a very old house and the vents have not been cleaned out in the 25 years we have been in the house. There was a guy at the home and garden show that said you need to clean them every 10 years.
Love your tips on dust mites!! Never thought about using the freezer though!
Nancy, that’s a great idea! We did that when we moved in, but could probably do it again!
Thanks! I am allergic to dust mites and never thought about some essential oils repelling the mites. My bed in encased as well as the pillows. This will have a nice fragrance too! MB
Am I seeing things? Did you put a filter in your cold air return?
Pam, this is one of our two air returns in our house. Both take an air filter. We have a heat pump/AC unit that does double duty.
Thank you so much for this post! Here in Arizona I feel like we never get rid of dust! You have some great tips! I love my essential oils and use them for LOTS of things around the house, but they will now be used for this as well!
OK, now that I have the creepy crawlies, I’m doing all these things. Awesome post, getting lavender oil tomorrow. I’m not sure why I haven’t done that before but now I am. Thank you Brittany!
My skin is crawling! Great tips … now I need to go take a shower! 🙂
Jacque, well, at least if you shed your crawling skin they will feast on that. They don’t normally live on you ;-).
I have been using all the oils mentioned in a bottle of water, Every week I change my bed linen and I spray the bed, the pillows. Thank you so much for all those tips. Dalia