99% of dust mites can be eliminated from your bedding by the simple addition of a long soak in Eucalyptus essential oil.” The research work with this eucalyptus oil solution for dust mites was done at the University of Sydney in Australia.
Special fabrics like silk, organic cotton, and microfiber are your best bet against dust mites, while still remaining breathable enough to keep you cool while you sleep. Making sure you pillow and mattress protectors also seal shut with a zipper is another way to help.
Machine washing of woolen blankets in a 0.2% eucalyptus oil solution for 30 and 60 minutes reduced the recovery of live wild-type mites by 97% and 99%, respectively (Fig.
Unlike pet allergens, dust mite allergens do not usually stay in the air. Instead, the allergen settles quickly into dust or fabrics. These allergens cling to bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets and curtains, which also serve as nests.
If you wake up with itchy skin, watery eyes or a runny nose - chances are your allergies were triggered by dust mites in your mattress, pillow or bed sheets.
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.
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.
Eucalyptus oil has been proven to repel roaches, ants, flies, spiders, lice, and more.
If you have a dust mite problem in your home, bedding—sheets, blankets, and bed covers—should be washed at least weekly in hot water (130 to 140 F) to kill the mites.
Joining you in bed are countless dust mites and bacteria, not to mention lots and lots of your own dead skin. Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says you should wash your sheets at least every two weeks — maybe more, depending on factors like whether you live in a warm climate and whether your pet sleeps in your bed.
To block house dust mites from entering a fabric researchers recommend that the customer looks for a product with a thread count greater than 246/in2 (threads per square inch) in a smooth fabric made from twisted cotton or synthetic fibres.
A general rule of thumb is that hot water—130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher—kills dust mites*.
Freshening mattresses
Mattresses can get musty, mouldy and downright manky. Each time you change the sheets, give your mattress a thorough spray with Bosisto's Eucalyptus Spray. Leave 30 minutes before making the bed again. It kills germs and gives you that “ahhh” feeling of instant freshness!
Vinegar is highly acidic and will kill just about any mite that crosses its path.
Lavender was the second most effective, and lemon oil the least, but still effective. STUDY RESULTS: Lemon Oil – 61% of the dust mites were immobile after 30 minutes and 80% were dead after 2 hours. Lavender Oil – 86% were immobilized after 30 minutes and 87% were dead after 2 hours.
If you're wondering “Does baking soda kill dust mites?” the answer is yes! Baking soda is a pretty potent weapon against dust mites in your bed. Using it is a simple process as well. Add a little bit of essential oil to the baking soda and then spread it across the top of your mattress, then vacuum.
Sprays and aerosols containing syngergized pyrethrins should kill mites immediately on contact, though the treatment will only remain effective for up to a few hours. Insecticide sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin are effective against many mites and should retain their killing properties for several weeks.
If your mattress is not encased in a dust mite-proof case and you suffer from allergic reactions, you should vacuum your mattress at least monthly to reduce the number of dust mites. If the mattress has a dust-proof cover that is cleaned frequently, then a twice-yearly cleaning should be all that is needed.
The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
Spray Tea Tree and Eucalyptus Oil
So, once you have cleaned your bedroom, add 2 tablespoons of organic tea tree oil and 2 tablespoons of organic eucalyptus oil into 2 cups of distilled water. Pour into a bottle and spray literally everywhere in your bed and bedroom. This will kill and repel any dust mites.
When a person who is sensitive to the dust mite breathes in these particles, they can cause allergy symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, runny nose, congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Dust mites can also cause asthma symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing.
At night when it's dark and a sleeping human body increases the temperature of the mattress, dust mites migrate to the surface to feed on dead skin cells. They leave their shells and excrement behind. Before sunrise, they return to the deeper layers of the mattress where they are completely protected.