Last Updated: July 12, 2024
Dust mites are horrifying to look at — good thing they're invisible to the naked eye! And although they don't bite or transmit diseases, they can do a number on your respiratory system. Luckily there's a solution! Here’s how to get rid of dust mites with natural products.
Dust mites are ubiquitous critters that thrive on every continent except Antarctica. While they’re not particularly harmful bugs, they’re the most common allergen in the home.
If you have year-round allergies, frequent asthma, or eczema flare-ups, it may be related to dust mites. The best way to find long-term relief is to reduce the population of these tiny bugs in your home.
So, let’s get to it — here’s how to get rid of dust mites naturally.
Dust mites are microscopic members of the arachnid (spider) family. Although many people assume they live in dust, that’s not exactly the case.
You can certainly find dust mites in household dust (which is made up of dead skin cells, pet dander, pollen, dirt, and other stuff), but these tiny scavengers have other places where they much prefer to spend their time.
Dust mites are attracted to moisture and food. And since their diet consists of the freshly shed, dead skin cells of humans and pets, the humid location dust mites love best is the place where you park your body for one-third of your life: Your bed.
Dust mites skulk around on and inside your mattress, blankets, pillows, and — don’t tell your kid this — the stuffed animals that hang out on the bed.
They live to feed on the dead skin cells that slough off your body while you move around in your sleep. If your home is particularly humid, dust mites may find your couch, curtains, and carpets to be ideal hangouts, too.
If you dare, check out this video to see what these little guys look like up-close and personal as they feast where you sleep:
Let’s just say that it’s pretty likely that you do. Around four out of five homes in the U.S. have detectable levels of dust mite allergens in at least one bed. Don't worry, though! They aren't parasites or notable disease vectors, nor do they bite or burrow into your skin.
Unless you're allergic to them, you probably wouldn't know whether you have dust mites or not — as they're just way too small for your nerve endings to register.
It's not uncommon to be allergic to dust mites. In fact 25 percent of the population is susceptible to experiencing symptoms related to exposure to them — their droppings in particular. If you have mild to severe year-round allergy symptoms (that tend to worsen at home or in your bedroom), asthma flare-ups, and skin reactions after sleeping — tackling your dust mite problem might offer the relief you've been searching for.
Here are some of the more common dust mite allergy symptoms:
Tackling your dust mite problem might offer the relief you’ve been searching for.
Don’t try to use poison to kill dust mites — it’s pointless and will harm you more than your dust mite population. The truth is, there’s probably no getting rid of dust mites completely.
You can definitely reduce the dust mite population in your home, however. And with it, your allergic, asthmatic, and skin reactions — with just a few simple steps.
Essential oils contain compounds that repel or kill insects, including dust mites.
The best essential oils for getting rid of dust mites are clove, rosemary, and eucalyptus oil.
Add 20 drops of oil to four ounces of witch hazel, and spray your mattress, couch, drapes, and other dust mite hangouts.
To get rid of dust mites in your mattress, thoroughly vacuum it with a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner, then encase it in a dust mite-proof mattress cover.
Wash your pillows in hot water — 130 degrees will kill dust mites — and slip those into a dust mite-proof case, too.
Keep your home humidity level at 50 percent or below.
If you live in a humid region, use your air conditioner to keep humidity down, or use a dehumidifier. An inexpensive hygrometer can measure your humidity level.
Carpets and drapes are a favorite spot for dust mites — and for mold spores, pollen, and lots of other allergens.
If you can, pull up the carpet and refinish or install hard flooring. Washable area rugs are another great option so you can clean them more frequently.
If you can’t pull up your carpet, try sprinkling diatomaceous earth on the carpet every season to give your rugs a thorough dust-mite cleaning.
Replace fabric drapery with shades or another harder material.
Vacuum at least twice weekly with a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum cleaner, and use a damp microfiber cloth to dust.
Turn the fan setting on your thermostat to the ON position while you dust and vacuum, and leave it on for 15 minutes afterwards. As air cycles through your HVAC system, the filter will remove dust mite allergens from the air.
If your allergies are worse in your bedroom, install a portable electronic air purifier to remove the microscopic droppings and dust mite corpses that get sent into the air when you fluff your pillows or roll around in bed.
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