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Laundering a dust mite

March 12, 2002

A five year U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study reported that washing clothes and bedding in hot water (50 C or 122 F) for greater than 30 minutes is required to kill one of the common varieties of house dust mites.

One-hundred percent of these mites can be killed by soaking 12 minutes at 53 C or 127.4 F.

A 4 hour soak in warm water (35 C or 95 F) to which bleach was added killed less than half of this common variety of mites.

As you can see, house dust mites are survivors. I have an alternative medicine (natural remedy) allergy book on my bookshelf. Yet for dust mites it offers no recipes, but recommends machine washing of bedding at 130 F.

I asked environmental expert Steve Hill with National Allergy Supply for his thoughts and here is what he said:

"I do not know of any home brew recipes for mite control but there is an excellent product that kills mites in any water temperature. It's called de-mite and it uses tea tree oil and benzyl benzoate to do the job. We sell tons of this product."

National Allergy Supply also has luxurious comforter covers and bedding supplies for dust mite protection. Click here for more information about de-mite, comforter covers, and other items for dust mite control.

AllergyNursing.com recommends: The Anatomy of an Allergy-Free Bedroom (National Allergy Newsletter, October, 2005.) I'm proud to recommend these quality products from National Allergy Supply. Read my comments about this advertiser here .

Allergy Free: An Alternative Medicine Guide by Konrad Kail, N.D. is a book I purchased while at the AAOA Meeting in Denver in September of 2000. Alternative medicine continues to be a controversial subject among physicians and you should always check with your physician before employing any natural or alternative remedies.