Dust mites are microscopic bugs known for causing allergic reactions. They live inside soft carpets, furniture, and upholstery. The bugs can cause sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, itchy/watery eyes, and pain in the face.
In extreme cases, they can lead to asthma. These are dangerous symptoms that aren’t welcomed by anyone; thus, homeowners are seeking to exterminate these allergy-causing pests by all means.
One of the most thought-about methods to remove dust mites is steam cleaning. Many people ask, “Can steam cleaning removes dust mites forever?” And if you sail in the same boat, keep reading from this script because, at the end of it, you shall learn a lot, including how to remove dust mites and keep allergies at bay using a steam cleaner.
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So, Does Steam Cleaning Kill Dust Mites?
Yes, steam cleaning kills dust mites using heated water. And while not all dust the dust mites in your home will die, most of them will be killed by the high temperatures. The exercise, however, has to be conducted thoroughly.
How To Know That You Have Dust Mites
As mentioned before, dust mites are very microscopic, which means you can’t see them using your bare eyes. But you can still detect their presence using proven methods.
The pests are the main cause of allergic reactions in people around the world because they feed on dead cells and are tiny enough to be inhaled.
So, how will you know that dust mites have invaded your space? Well, there are a few indicators. The bugs live around places with dead cells like furniture, bedding, and other upholstery.
And while you won’t see them, you’ll start experiencing continuous allergy symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and itchy skin & eyes to mention a few in their presence.
It’s important not to confuse these tiny pests with bedbugs, which are usually visible and cause painful (and visible) bites on your skin. Bedbugs, however, can also be killed using a steam cleaner.
Meanwhile, use the following procedure to get rid of most of the dust mites causing menace in your home.
How to Kill Dust Mites Using a Steam Cleaner
If you steam clean your home carefully and correctly, dust mites will not stand a chance. Here are expert-endorsed step-by-step instructions on how to get it done effectively:
1. Clear The Area and Dust The Surface
Remove everything that could distract you from effectively steam cleaning the area affected by dust mites. Also remember to dust surfaces to remove dust mite feces, which themselves cause a lot of allergies. In case of hard surfaces, wipe them using a piece of a damp cloth.
2. Prepare The Machine
Add pure water to the steam cleaner’s reservoir and plug it in to get the water heated. Studies have shown that dust mites die at a temperature of 135°F. You can heat the water to around 140°F to avoid taking any chances. After the water is heated enough, pull the trigger until the first steam comes out.
3. Steam Clean Thoroughly
Hold the steam cleaner above the surface you wish to clean and pull the trigger to release hot steam. Steam in sweep motions to ensure that no section of the surface is left behind.
Move slowly but ensure that you do not hold it over a surface long enough to damage it. Repeat the processes if the machine runs out of water until all surfaces are cleaned.
4. Vacuum The Surface
After steaming, you need to vacuum the surfaces to remove any debris. Of course, steam cleaners do not get rid of debris but add more by loosening dirt and stains; killing bacteria and insects, and more.
More Ways to Get Rid of Dust Mites
Steam cleaning is one of the most effective ways to kill dust mites. But you can also use the following methods to kill or keep the bugs away.
1. Wash Your Bedding Often
Our beddings are warm for dust-mite breeding and full of dead cells for their food. Washing them regularly (preferably once each week) in hit water will control these bugs.
If your beddings aren’t washable, keeping them in the tumble dryer for around 15 minutes will do the trick. Better still, you can keep your bedding in a freezer for 24 hours to kill the dust mites.
2. Use Allergen-Proof Covers
Use these protective covers to avoid contact with your pillows and mattress so that the pests cannot get access to their food (dead cells from your body).
Therefore, find a cover for your bed and start the trick today. Remember to combine this with washing, steam-cleaning, and vacuuming for maximum results.
3. Remove Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
With wall-to-wall carpeting, dust mites get an ample playground. Carpets also hold dead cells in their fabrics, and they’re difficult to clean. Remove them and replace them with hard floorings like laminate, wood, or tiles if you have an infestation. But if you can’t remove them, remember to vacuum them daily.
4. Lower Room Temperatures
Dust mites are known to breed best in warm temperatures between 68°F and 77°F. That means setting your home temperatures below 68°F will create an unfriendly environment for them. While this won’t prevent them, it will stop them from multiplying.
Why We Prefer Steam Cleaning
There are a plethora of advantages of using steam cleaners over other methods to remove dust mites. Here are some:
- Steam cleaning is eco-friendly. It doesn’t involve any chemicals, which means your family members are safe.
- It not only kills dust mites but also sanitizes the surfaces to remove bacteria, germs, and other unwanted stuff. It also deodorizes surfaces.
- Steam has tiny particles, which can travel into cracks and crevices and find hidden dust mites that chemicals couldn’t.
- Because it uses water only, steam cleaning is relatively less costly in the long run.
- Steam can be used to clean and sanitize an ample mix of surfaces. Simply confirm this with the manufacturer.
- Steam evaporates quickly to let the surface dry faster as compared to many other cleaning methods.
