In the laboratory experiments more than 80% of mites were killed after immersion in 0.2% and 0.4% solutions of eucalyptus oil for 30 and 60 minutes (Fig. 1).
A study done by the University of Sydney, Australia, says that adding Eucalyptus oil to your wash will eliminate 99% of dust mites from the bedding.
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.
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.
Wash bedding in hot water (at least 120 degrees F) once a week. Reduce clutter, stuffed animals, and other places where dust mites live. If that's not possible, wash stuffed animals weekly in hot water (at least 130 degrees) to kill and wash away dust mites.
In the laboratory experiments more than 80% of mites were killed after immersion in 0.2% and 0.4% solutions of eucalyptus oil for 30 and 60 minutes (Fig.
All-natural air freshener spray: For an effective natural room freshener that not only smells great but also kills bacteria and viruses that make us sick, mix 15 drops of eucalyptus oil with half a teaspoon of vodka and 2 cups of water in a large spray bottle, and regularly mist for an odor and germ-free home.
—LAYING CARPETS OUT IN THE SUN FOR 3 HOURS will kill mites but the allergen (from dead mites and their faecal particles) will still be there. —CARPETS CAN BE STEAM CLEANED and this will reduce the levels for 1 to 2 months. The steam cleaning needs to be done with steam not hot water.
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.
Results: Washing clothing and bedding in water alone, detergent, or detergent plus bleach removed 60% to 83% of the live mites. Washing removed more mites from some items than from others.
Eucalyptus oil has been proven to repel roaches, ants, flies, spiders, lice, and more.
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.
Inhaling the oil is not dangerous, but one should be very careful in young children and babies, as it could be dangerous to expose them to high dosages of eucalyptus oil, even when inhaled. You should not suffer any side effects from the eucalyptus oil that you inhaled, but just be careful next time.
Eucalyptus - There's a reason you smell this essential oil in spas and see people hanging eucalyptus leaves in their showers on Pinterest. It purifies the air to keep it fresh, and also works as a natural decongestant. It can also be used to open up your sinuses and alleviate congestion due to colds and allergies.
If you won't want to keep your oil diffuser running all night long, another simple alternative is to add a spritz or two of eucalyptus oil onto your pillowcase. Your pillow will smell fresh, and those antimicrobial properties minimize allergy- and cold-inducing dust mites and other bacteria.
Dust mites live and multiply easily in warm, humid places. They prefer temperatures at or above 70 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity of 75 to 80 percent. They die when the humidity falls below 50 percent. They are not usually found in dry climates.
But they occur all year round, whereas hay fever is seasonal. The symptoms are typically worse at night and in the morning because dust mites tend to live in mattresses, pillows and bedding.
They love to burrow in your fabric and feast on your skin cells. And, for this reason, your bed is the perfect place to make their home. Unlike bed bugs, mites don't pose any significant health risks. However, dust mite proteins can trigger congestion, a run nose, watery eyes, and other allergic reactions.
The predators of dust mites are other allergenic mites (Cheyletiella), silverfish and pseudoscorpions.
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.
Vinegar is highly acidic and will kill just about any mite that crosses its path.
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.