How to Get Rid of Dust Mites in a Mattress

Dust mites are so small you really can't see them with the naked eye. They usually reside in blankets, mattresses, stuffed animals and carpets. They eat dander and flakes of dead skin, thereby eliminating extra dust, so there is a purpose for their existence. However, for many people, dust mites are problematic because of allergies. For this reason, learning how to get rid of them, especially in a mattress, is an important lesson.

Things You'll Need

• Hot water Mattress and pillow covers Eucalyptus oil

Instructions

1. 

   Keep the stuffed animals off the bed, or get rid of them altogether. Eliminating dust mites in your mattress is more important.

2. 

   Wash your sheets and other bed linens in hot water. This will kill the dust mites as well as their eggs.

3. 

   Purchase two mattress covers and place one over your mattress and the other over your box spring. Choosing a mattress cover that envelops your entire mattress is even better. Purchase pillow covers that zip. You should be able to find both mattress and pillow covers in most stores that sell linens.

4. 

   Reduce moisture levels in your home. Since dust mites thrive in warm, moist places like most insects, reducing moisture is crucial. Try to keep humidity level in your home under 35 percent.

5. 

   Get rid of the carpet. Carpet is an incubator for dust mites and all sorts of minute critters. Having a carpet invites dust mites to hop over to your bed. Carpet also harbors dust and dander.

6. 

   Use a few drops of eucalyptus oil when laundering your sheets and blankets. According to researchers from the University of Sydney, this effectively gets rid of dust mites.

Tips & Warnings

• When cleaning floors, never sweep. Instead use a Swiffer Wet Jet, which vacuums and washes at the same time.

Resources

• Guardian.co.uk
• Killing Dust Mites