Mold, pollen… the ambient air is not always loaded with healthy substances, and the dust mites or present around us don’t help matters. Every evening, we lie down in our cozy bed hoping to spend a night punctuated by sweet dreams. However, for some, especially those who suffer from allergies, getting under the sheets is like literally taking a bath in dust mites, these micro-organisms seeking heat and humidity that feed on our dead skin and which infest everyone (yes, in even the cleanest homes!). Here are our solutions against dust mites to avoid exacerbating a dust mite allergy (itching following exposure to allergens, coughing and sneezing, asthma, runny nose, conjunctivitis, respiratory discomfort, etc.)! No need for irritant spray to sign the eviction notice for these “little beasts”.
1) Basic advice
- You must ventilate every day even when it is cold and be very regular in the household (vacuuming with a HEPA filter in particular).
- Don’t overheat your interior. The ideal for a bedroom is in any case to be around 18 or 19°.
- Combat humidity (repairs, unblocking vents, ventilation of the room, moving furniture for better air circulation, no air humidifier, saturator, fish bowl, etc.)
- Wash bedding regularly at 60° minimum. You can use boiling water for your sheets or even the dryer. Don’t forget the curtains and stuffed animals during your big cleanings! As for the frequency, the most diligent and allergic will do it every week for the sheets (every 2 or 3 weeks for the less diligent) and every month for the pillows and the duvet.
- Avoid carpets and rugs whenever possible, especially in the bedroom. And the same goes for the piles of dirty clothes that pile up tirelessly in a corner.
- Don’t think everything is okay because it says “anti-mite covers”. Sometimes this label can be misleading or misleading. So, adopt the good habits mentioned earlier and below!
2) Baking soda to fight dust mites
Sometimes there’s no point using a thousand expensive products from the supermarket when this miraculous powder can do all the job even better! After one hour of application at a rate of 4 teaspoons of bicarbonate per m2, 80% of the mites are killed and 100% in two hours! Simply apply it, brush the mattress, leave for a few hours and vacuum. Do the same for pillows and bedding.
To treat fabrics, clothes and pillows, you can put one tablespoon of bicarbonate per liter of water and let it soak.
3) The best essential oils against dust mites
Some have anti-mite and anti-bacterial properties! Here is a list of notable essential oils:
- tea tree
- Citron
- Eucalyptus globulus
- Eucalyptus radiata
- True lavender
- Field mint
- Palmarosa
4) Anti-mite detergent
To obtain an anti-mite detergent, simply add a tablespoon of radiata or globular eucalyptus essential oil to your usual bottle of liquid detergent. It is then necessary to mix carefully. You can even do your laundry yourself and scent it with an anti-mite essential oil!
5) An anti-mite lotion to spray
It is a mixture to spray and let dry well to counter these critters. It can be kept for a few months and is extremely effective! Simply mix the juice of 2 organic lemons with 2 teaspoons of essential oil (your choice: eucalyptus, field mint or true lavender) and dilute in 1.5 liters of water.