Cleaning for dust mite allergy: what really helps and what doesn't

With a dust mite allergy, what helps most is consistent cleaning of the bedroom: mite-proof covers on the mattress and pillows, washing bed linen at 60 °C, vacuuming with a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner and dusting with a damp cloth at least once a week, together with lower air humidity. The individual measures work only when combined and done regularly. Cleaning is not a substitute for treatment; consult an allergist about the right approach.

Where dust mites live and why it matters

House dust mites are creatures invisible to the naked eye, and their allergens mix with the dust in your home. National Jewish Health states that dust mites live in bedding, carpets, upholstered furniture, old clothes and soft toys.

You have the most contact with allergens in bed, where you spend many hours every night. That is why cleaning for an allergy starts in the bedroom and only then moves on to other rooms.

It is important to set expectations: in its leaflet, Cambridge University Hospitals points out that measures against dust mites will reduce the amount of allergens but not remove them completely, and that one or two measures carried out irregularly are unlikely to change anything.

Bedroom: the bed comes first

Protective covers

Mite-proof covers on the mattress, pillows and duvets separate you from the allergens inside the bedding. According to the Cambridge University Hospitals leaflet, this is the most effective single measure, but it is not enough on its own; covers should be breathable and must enclose the item completely. National Jewish Health recommends taping over the zip with fabric tape.

Washing bed linen

Wash bedding that is not in a protective cover at 60 °C, as stated in the Cambridge University Hospitals leaflet; a lower temperature kills dust mites only partly. The EPA advises washing bed linen once a week in hot water and letting it dry completely. Always check the care label to see whether the fabric can be washed at this temperature.

Pillows, duvets and soft toys

According to Cambridge University Hospitals, items that cannot be washed at a high temperature can be dry-cleaned, or pillows and soft toys can be put in the freezer for at least 12 hours once a month. Freezing kills dust mites but does not remove allergens, so wash the toy after freezing or at least shake it out outdoors. The EPA recommends washing soft toys in hot water and letting them dry completely before play.

The bed and its surroundings

According to the Cambridge University Hospitals leaflet, upholstered headboards are a place where dust mites live, and it recommends removing them. Do not store boxes of textiles under the bed, and do not leave unnecessary cushions and bedspreads that cannot be washed on the bed.

Vacuuming and dusting

Regular removal of dust is the second pillar. The EPA recommends using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter on carpets and upholstered furniture, so that dust does not return into the air during vacuuming.

1. Vacuum floors, carpets, the sofa and upholstered chairs at least once a week.
2. If the mattress has no protective cover, vacuum it every week.
3. Dust with a damp cloth, not a dry one or a feather duster, which stirs up allergens.
4. Do not forget the areas under the bed, behind furniture and along skirting boards, where dust lingers longest.
5. After cleaning, air the room and wash the cloths.

If possible, the person with the allergy should not do the vacuuming and should not be in the room while it is being done. This is recommended by both National Jewish Health and Cambridge University Hospitals.

Floors, carpets and textiles

Smooth floors are easier to keep clean than carpets. National Jewish Health recommends removing the carpet from the bedroom and using smaller washable rugs instead. For severe allergy, Cambridge University Hospitals mentions a vinyl or wooden floor instead of a wall-to-wall carpet.

• Choose washable curtains and drapes and wash them according to the label.
• Keep clothes in closed wardrobes, not on chairs and open shelves.
• Limit open shelves with books and decorations, on which dust collects.
• You can have the sofa and mattress cleaned by upholstery and carpet shampooing. After shampooing, the fabrics must dry completely, so ventilate well during and after it.

How to treat the mattress itself is described in the article How to clean a mattress at home, and for carpets in How to clean a carpet at home.

Humidity and ventilation

Dust mites thrive in damp conditions. The Cambridge University Hospitals leaflet recommends keeping air humidity below 50%, but above 30%, and reducing it by ventilating and using extraction in the bathroom and kitchen. National Jewish Health gives an even stricter target, humidity below 40%, and according to it dust mites multiply above 60%.

• Get an inexpensive hygrometer and monitor the readings, especially in the bedroom.
• Ventilate briefly and intensively, even in winter.
• Do not dry laundry in the bedroom.
• Use a humidifier only if the hygrometer shows really low readings.

Children's room and living room

Children with allergies spend a lot of time on the floor and with toys, so a child's room deserves the same care as the bedroom. Limit soft toys to a few favourites that can be washed or frozen, and store the rest in closed boxes. Wash play cushions and blankets as often as bed linen.

In the living room, the main sources of dust are the sofa and the carpet. If you are buying new furniture, smooth materials that can be wiped are easier to keep clean than coarse fabrics. Choose decorative cushions with a washable cover.

What to look for in equipment

• Mattress and pillow covers: they should be breathable and enclose the item completely, ideally with a zip. Choose them accordingly and follow the manufacturer's washing instructions.
• Vacuum cleaner: with a HEPA filter and a sealed system, so that dust does not escape back into the air. Clean or replace the filter at the interval stated in the manual.
• Cloths: microfibre, washed after every cleaning.
• Hygrometer: an inexpensive digital one is enough; place it in the bedroom away from the window and heating.

What does not help or helps little

• Anti-mite sprays: Cambridge University Hospitals does not recommend them, because they help only to a limited extent.
• Washing at a low temperature kills dust mites only partly.
• A one-off big clean without regular follow-up. Dust and allergens gradually build up again.
• Dry dusting and shaking out textiles indoors, which stir allergens into the air.
• A single measure, such as covers alone without washing and vacuuming.

Weekly routine for a household with an allergy sufferer

1. Strip the bed linen and put it straight in the wash at the temperature it can withstand, ideally 60 °C.
2. Wipe the protective covers of the mattress and pillows with a damp cloth, if the manufacturer allows it.
3. Dust with a damp cloth in the bedroom, then in the other rooms.
4. Vacuum the bedroom, sofa and carpets with a HEPA-filter vacuum cleaner, and the floors last.
5. Mop the smooth floors.
6. Air the rooms and check the hygrometer.
7. Once a month, add the freezer or a wash for pillows and soft toys.

You can include regular cleaning following this routine in your household cleaning plan. For thorough cleaning of upholstery, there is our sofa and mattress shampooing service.

This article describes cleaning and is not medical advice. Consult a doctor or allergist about the diagnosis, treatment and suitable measures for your household.