What means can you use to combat house dust mites?

House dust mites are small animals that have always been part of the living environment of humans. However, their feces, which can be inhaled through the air, can cause severe allergies. The mites grow so rapidly that everyone in their household strives to take regular action against them.

You can fight the small arachnids with certain home remedies and cleaning methods as well as with chemical agents. We will introduce you to the various methods and give you tips on how to use them.

Home remedies and biological remedies

cleaning and vacuuming

The most effective home remedy against the annoying mites is cleaning and vacuuming. A damp wiping of furniture and floors at regular intervals of three days is indicated, as the arachnids like to stay in a dusty environment. It is also advisable to clean your carpets thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner should have a HEPA or water filter so that the fine dust mite droppings are not stirred up throughout the room or apartment when vacuuming. This only distributes the droppings. There are also special dust mite vacuum cleaners available in specialist shops, which people with dust mite allergies in particular like to use.

Reduce humidity and temperature

Since house dust mites feel most comfortable at temperatures above 20 °C, cool rooms that are as dry as possible are an effective way to significantly reduce the number of mites. Keep the humidity below 50%, especially in your bedroom, so that mold, which are of great importance for the optimal utilization of the food by the mites, do not multiply can. If you want to be absolutely sure, regularly check the humidity in the bedroom and in your other living rooms with a humidity meter. But don't overdo it. Because if, for example, the humidity falls below 40%, health problems can occur.

freezer

You can also regularly put curtains, other loose textiles and cuddly toys in the freezer overnight, because the mites cannot survive in temperatures below freezing. After the mites have died, however, the droppings remain. You should therefore wash textiles and soft toys regularly; if possible at a temperature of 60 °C.

Change the mattress regularly

Since you can never completely get rid of house dust mites from your mattress, despite all regular measures, it is advisable, especially for allergy sufferers, to replace the mattress regularly. According to experts, after at least seven years there is a maximum amount of faeces contaminated with allergens inside. Stiftung Warentest therefore advises replacing the mattress every seven to ten years.

Washable protective covers

So-called encasings are commercially available, which are particularly advisable for people who are allergic to house dust mites. The allergen- and mite-proof covers enclose the mattress directly so that the bed sheet lies on top of them. These mattress covers are very air permeable while still retaining the smallest particles. This means that the skin flakes do not get into the mattress and cannot serve as food for the mites living there. The population of mites decreases.

No clothes near the bed

Never take off your clothes near the bed, because doing so will throw a lot of dead skin into the air, which can end up on the bed or bedside rug. These offer the mites that are there additional food. Also, do not put your clothes on an upholstered chair in the bedroom or similar, rather on a valet stand or stainless steel or wooden chair.

tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil that, when diluted with water, is very effective against dust mites. To do this, mix approx. 15 to 30 ml of tea tree oil with water and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Shake well and then spray the mixture onto the textiles in your room, especially mattresses, curtains, upholstered furniture and carpets.

Avoidance of dust collectors

If you are one of those people who suffer particularly badly from allergies to house dust mites, it is advisable to exchange upholstered furniture for wood or leather furniture. If this is not possible, you should clean all cushions, carpets and furniture with an anti-mite product, which you can preferably buy from a pharmacy.

neem oil

You can also tackle dust mites with neem oil and neem oil products. You can either mix a spray solution like this with tea tree oil, or use commercially available neem oil-based mite sprays. Niem keeps the mites away because of its smell and also slows down their development so that they can no longer grow properly and become infertile. Mite spray with neem oil is particularly effective when used regularly on mattresses. It can also be used to treat all textiles, cushions and stuffed animals in your home. After a treatment, you should vacuum carpets thoroughly and wash pillows and other textiles to remove dust mites and dead animals. Always observe the manufacturer's rejection on the packaging!

Chemicals

Chemical agents with special acaricides for combating house dust mites are also commercially available. Until 2009, some of these products contained benzyl benzoate, which occurs naturally as a component of essential oils, such as in jasmine or ylang-ylang. However, the fragrance can also be produced synthetically and, at 0.01 percent by weight, is a component of some perfumes and cosmetics and is used here to fix fragrances. Due to its allergenic properties, benzyl benzoate may no longer be used in higher doses. It is still an effective biocide against house dust mites. In detergents, benzyl benzoate is still permitted in higher doses.

Editor's conclusion

House dust mites can be largely reduced with regular cleaning and cleaning measures on furniture, floors, carpets, beds and covers. Essential oils such as tea tree and neem oil have a supporting effect. Smooth surfaces are best wiped with a damp cloth. Vacuum cleaners should have a HEPA filter. However, it is advisable for allergy sufferers to provide their mattresses with a special encasing cover. The regular replacement of the mattress after seven to ten years is also a very effective means.

Worth knowing about remedies against house dust mites

It is almost impossible to completely remove house dust mites from the household, because they live on human skin scales and will therefore always settle where they can find the necessary food find. That is why they are also called Dermatophagoides, which translates to skin eaters. However, by regularly cleaning the bed linen in particular, their number can be kept within limits.

• House dust mites do not tolerate very dry air – they die when the humidity drops below 50 percent.
• Encasings protect mattresses, pillows and covers and prevent the fine particles of mite excrement from being released into the air in the room.
• Washing the pillows and blankets is only useful for boil-proof fabrics. At 40°C, part of the population still survives.
• The house dust mites present in the household can be killed with commercially available sprays from various manufacturers.
• Sprays, which are rather slow in their effect and only lead to success in the long term, contain azadirachtin.
• Other sprays contain natural essential substances that suffocate the mites.
• And then there are products that ensure that the house dust mite's food, namely human dander, becomes inedible for them.

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