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Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live in the creases of your furniture, carpets, mattresses, and blankets. They feed on human and pet skin cells and can cause a lot of discomfort, including allergic reactions. Improving hygiene is a great way to reduce the population of these pesky pests, but using Lysol disinfectant can help get rid of the mites. But, does Lysol kill dust mites?
Lysol is a strong disinfectant that can kill 99% of dust mites. Spray Lysol on all the infested surfaces to eliminate all the dust mites. Allow it to dry naturally then wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth. Vacuum the area thoroughly to remove the dead dust mites that can cause allergies.
Dust mites can cause serious irritation in your living spaces. While using products like the Sprayway Good Night Aerosol Spray works great to get rid of them, you might also want to try a common household disinfectant spray such as Lysol.
Does Lysol get rid of dust mites?
Lysol kills 99% of dust mites on contact. Spray a generous amount of Lysol on areas with mites, including bedding, floors, and corners, because the disinfectant works only on contact. Clean the surfaces with a HEPA vacuum to remove the dead dust mites, which can still cause irritation.
Lysol contains benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient which is known to disinfect surfaces and kill dust mites, fleas, scabies mite, and bacteria.
In order to get rid of dust mites permanently in an infested environment, you will need to spray Lysol on all surfaces where they can grow, such as carpets bedsheets, mattresses, and upholstery.
Keep in mind that Lysol disinfecttant spray contains the following active ingredients: alkyl dimethyl, ethanol, benzyl ammonium saccharinate, and antiseptic ingredients like isopropyl alcohol. You might want to check if you react or are allergic to any of those.
How to Use Lysol to Kill Dust Mites
The best way to get rid of dust mites around the house using Lysol is by spraying the disinfectant onto infested areas. For bedrooms, however, you may want to use Lysol wipes on the bed frames. This will help you avoid getting Lysol on your bed sheets and pillows, as some of the product’s ingredients are inorganic.
Here’s how to kill dust mites using Lysol disinfectant:
- Thoroughly clean the room using a wet mop or a vacuum cleaner to minimize the amount of dust and dust mite.
- Spray a generous amount of Lysol on the hiding spots of the dust mites including along the floorboard, or within the crevices situated on your bed and furniture framing.
- Allow the spray enough time to dry up on its own.
- Wipe out the surfaces on which you applied the Lysol using a wet piece of cloth.
- Repeat this procedure every week to kill and control dust mites permanently.
Dust mite excrement is very tiny just like fiberglass dust particles and can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions for house occupants with related respiratory conditions. This is why you need to take the necessary measures to control the dust mite population in your household.
Can you spray Lysol in blankets and bedding?
You can spray Lysol in your bedding, carpets, blankets, bedsheets, mattresses, and pillows, but make sure you clean these items thoroughly to remove it and its odors. Being a chemical, Lysol can cause irritation in people with sensitive skin or those suffering from scabies.
If spraying Lysol disinfectant in your bedding is not an option for you, try steam cleaning your bedding, carpets and all the surfaces in your house to get rid of dust mites and other irritants. Steam cleaning is a lot safer and effective only that it requires repeated applications to be very effective.
SEE ALSO: Dangerous Bugs that Look Like Dust and Lint
Lysol Alternatives for Dust Mite Control
If you’re working on a budget and can’t spend on Lysol spray or Lysol wipes, you can try out a couple of home remedies for eliminating dust mite. What’s more, given that some of the ingredients in Lysol are inorganic, you may want to consider natural and eco-friendly alternatives for getting rid of dust mites. Below, we discuss some of the most effective dust-mite killers available at home, as well as a commercial, eco-friendly option:
Alcohol + Essential Oils
This DIY, homemade dust-mite killer only requires you to mix some vodka and essential oils with water. The essential oils are the key ingredient here. You’re better off going with eucalyptus oil, as it’s a rather prolific dust-mite killer. The vodka, meanwhile, serves as a preservative for the essential oils. The best part about this homemade remedy is that it’s totally free of any toxic chemical ingredients.
Hot Water
Yes- believe it or not- hot water (anything above 30-degrees Fahrenheit) is quite effective at killing dust mites. And since dust mites love hiding in beds, you can get rid of them by periodically washing your bedsheets and pillowcases in hot water.
Alternatively, you can kill the dust mite using a drying machine after washing the bedding with cool water. All you have to do is drop your bedding in the dryer and set a temperature of 130-degrees Fahrenheit or higher for about 18 minutes.
DeMite Laundry Additive Allergen Eliminator – Eco-Friendly
This eco-friendly brand product is our best recommendation for dust mites that creep up on your laundry. The DeMite Allergen Eliminator is formulated with a concentrated laundry additive that works to eliminate microscopic allergens like mold spores, pollen, and dust mite. The best part about this product is that you only need a small amount to get rid of every dust mite present on your load of laundry. This enables you to save more in the long run.
The DeMite Laundry Additive is also safe for use on all types and colors of fabrics. And that’s not all this product delivers consistent results regardless of your region’s climate. Finally, this product is made from natural ingredients, and- therefore- poses no harm to humans, animals, or the environment.
Steam cleaning for dust mites
Another great way to get rid of dust mites in your home is steam cleaning. If you do not want to use chemicals to kill dust mites, steam is a great alternative. The high temperatures of steam shot at a high pressure can get rid of dust mites and other pesky parasites in carpets, surfaces, bedding, etc.
Turn steam cleaner on and wait two minutes before sweeping with attachment nozzle. Be sure to sweep in all directions to get dust mites from under couches and other surfaces as well. Hot water boiling at 100 degrees Celsius (212 Fahrenheit) will kill many different types of bugs within seconds including bedbugs, cockroaches, fleas, ticks, spiders etc. without using any chemicals at all.
HVAC tech with over 30 years of experience. Retired and doing repair work on the side around Madison County, AL.