The Best Way To Clean A Mattress To Eliminate Dust Mites

If someone in your family has allergies or asthma, it's a good idea to start regularly cleaning your mattresses. Mattresses are a hotspot for sweat and dust, which attract dust mites. While they may sound scary, dust mites are extremely tiny insects that will not bite or harm people, but they do love to feed on dead skin cells. A person can leave behind up to 500 million skin cells every day, making our clothes, bedding, and carpets a perfect place for these bugs.

Though dust mites themselves are harmless, their waste can cause allergic reactions, such as sneezing and congestion, when inhaled, per the American Lung Association. People without allergies are not usually bothered by dust mites, but those with asthma may experience attacks because of these insects. Dust mites are prevalent in most homes, no matter how clean they are. To get rid of dust mites, try vacuuming your mattress with the hose and an upholstery brush attachment.

If your mattress has a protective cover on it, you won't need to vacuum it as often, but if it doesn't, you'll need to clean your mattress once every month. When you're ready to clean your mattress, start by stripping the bed of all coverings, sheets, and pillows and washing them in warm or hot water. Then, vacuum your mattress, making sure to get into all the tiny cracks and crevices, including the quilting and the box spring. Using a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will suck up and trap dust mites rather than just moving them around.

While it doesn't kill dust mites, sprinkling baking soda over the mattress and allowing it to sit for at least 15 minutes will soak up any moisture from sweat and help get rid of odors. You can also add a few drops of essential oils to your baking soda beforehand for a fresh scent.

For an even deeper clean, try steaming your mattress after it has been vacuumed. This can be done with a garment steamer or with an iron's steam feature. Hold the steamer or iron close to the mattress, but not close enough for water to drip onto it, and the steam will kill the mites. Allowing direct sunlight to beat onto your mattress, whether through a window or outside, is also helpful, since UV rays kill dust mites.

Regularly vacuuming carpets and couches, dusting, and washing bedding and stuffed animals will deter dust mites. These insects love humidity, so running your air conditioner or a dehumidifier in the bedroom can help slow them down. If you tend to sweat at night, it's also important to allow your sheets to dry out before making your bed in the morning. For those with severe allergies, investing in a latex mattress, which isn't as prone to dust mites, can help keep you from sniffling.