Things You'll Need:
- Vapor steam cleaner
- Water
- Dust mite test kit (optional)
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Step 1
Purchase a steam vapor cleaner that has the right amount of pressure for your individual needs. Your vapor steam cleaner should have between 50 and 65 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure. (Steam cleaners for commercial use may have higher than 65 psi.)
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Step 2
Put clean water into your vapor steam cleaner and add the correct attachment. The internal boiler temperature of the steam cleaner should be between 281 and 298 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, with a steam temperature of between 240 degrees and 270 degrees Fahrenheit at the nozzle tip. When the steam vapor cleaner is at this high temperature, it kills dust mites on contact. On average, cleaners with 50 psi will reach temperatures up to 281 degrees Fahrenheit. If there is 65 psi, then the internal boiler temperature will reach 298 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Step 3
Use the vapor steam cleaner at least every eight weeks on the areas of your home where you want to kill dust mites. The eggs can lay dormant for months in your carpet, and the best way to prevent these eggs from hatching into dust mites is to kill them with steam.
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Step 4
Clean your furniture and mattresses, too. Dust mites live in upholstery and cloth. To do a thorough cleaning of your house, you must use the vapor steam cleaner on items such as couches, armchairs, and beds as well as your carpet and tile.
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Step 5
Check the areas of your house for dust mite activity with a dust mite test kit. Dust mite kits take about an hour to detect how much dust mite allergen is left in your home after cleaning. The kits are easy to use at home, and they do not have to be sent to a laboratory to read.
