How to Use Baking Soda in a Bowl to Control Dust Mites

If you sneeze frequently when dusting your home, particularly your bedroom, you may be allergic to the dust that has accumulated there. More than likely, you are allergic to something living in it: dust mites. Dust mites are tiny arachnids (in the same animal family as spiders) that feed off the dead skin cells you shed every day. They do not carry disease. If you are not allergic to them, they are harmless. You may not like the idea, however, that a typical mattress houses up to ten million dust mites. There is a non-toxic way to control them in your home.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup baking soda
• 15 to 20 drops of essential oil
• Large bowl, at least 1 qt. size
• 1 glass jar, 1 qt. size

Instructions

1. Put one cup of baking into a large bowl. Add 15 to 20 drops of essential oil (any concentrated oil extracted by distillation, like lavender, peppermint and eucalyptus).

2. Mix thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a glass jar. Cover and store overnight so that the oil will be thoroughly absorbed by the baking soda.

3. Strip your bed and sprinkle the baking soda and essential oil mixture over your mattress as well as your bedroom carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes; then vacuum it up.

4. Wash your sheets in hot water and dry them with a damp cloth with three to five drops of the essential oil fragrance you like.

5. Consider adding this routine to your usual weekly cleaning to keep your dust mite population to a minimum.

Tips & Warnings

• Some stores sell allergen vacuum bags that have baking soda. Using them to keep dust mites from escaping from your vacuum might provide extra protection.