How to Get Rid of Fleas, Dust Mites & Their Friends: 5 Easy Ways

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Jan 22, 2019

How to Get Rid of Fleas, Dust Mites & Their Friends: 5 Easy Ways

Good things come in small packages, but that doesn't mean all small things are good. We’re talking about fleas, dust mites and their cousins.

These little troublemakers are practically invisible yet annoying. You can’t see them, but they can affect the health of you and your family.

You might be wondering - where do they come from and how do you get rid of them?

Well, that’s why we’ve listed 5 ways to remove these tiny creatures. These include natural ways as well as using the right products and machines to get rid of them.

So, without further ado, let’s find out the 5 Easy Ways to Get Rid of Dust Mites.

1.  Turn down the heat - they don’t like cold temperatures

Room temperatures get high during the hot New Zealand summer.

Dust mites thrive in a room temperature of anything between 24°C and 27°C. But here’s the deal - decreasing your room’s temperature doesn’t necessarily kill them; however, it will stunt their breeding.

But that doesn’t mean you have to convert your home into a refrigerator.

So, what’s the right temperature? Well, temperatures no higher than 21°C are ideal, especially during the summer; and in the winter the temperature will take care of itself.

Dust mites are not only fond of high temperatures, but also high humidity. Who said you only need a dehumidifier in the winter? It’s time to bring that bad boy back into action to monitor your room’s humidity and make sure it’s less than 50%.

2.  Dust is no good, you might want to clean it up

As the name suggests, “dust” mites are the creatures of dust. Killing dust mites and fleas can be easier if you’re proactive and stop dust from accumulating in the first place.

To do this, stop and take note of all the areas in your home that accumulate dust, everything from wardrobes to carpets.

Make sure you remove the dust completely instead of just sweeping it to another location.

You can always vacuum your carpets and rugs, but not every surface can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner. For instance, you might want to use a cleaning spray and a rag to wipe the dust off your TV cabinets and drawers.

3.  Wash fabrics in hot water

Although they love warm weather, dust mites can’t stand too much heat.

Did you notice how warm and comfortable your bed sheets are when you wake up in the morning? Your bedding form a perfect breeding ground for dust mites.

That’s why it’s recommended that you wash your bedding every week; and if you do it the right way, you can say goodbye to almost every dust mite.

But what exactly is the right way?

You can put your pillowcases, bed sheets, duvet and your clothes into the washing machine and set the temperature high enough to kill the mites, but not too high, as you could risk shrinkage to the fabric.

For example, you might be able to wash the whites and dirty clothes at 55°C - 60°C. However, delicate fabrics might need a lower temperature. Always check the label before setting the temperature.

It is also a good idea to take your mattress outside in the sunshine every 4 weeks to air it out and help kill dust mites. Alternatively you can also give your mattress a deep clean with the Rug Doctor, using the Hand Tool connection and the Upholstery Cleaner solution.

4.  Use the freezer to freeze the dust mites

Do you have a cute stuffed teddy bear? Stuffed toys, pillows or anything that is a bit bigger than usual and filled with dust is almost impossible to clean.

No matter how much you’re tempted to, don’t put them in the washing machine. Even hand-washing might not be an option, because fabrics, stuffed with more fabrics and stuffing can take forever to dry. You might get rid of the dust mites, but you’ll then have to deal with mould and mildew.

So, what’s the alternative?

It’s simple; put the stuffed toy, or anything similar - that is small and impossible to wash, in a plastic bag, and then put the whole thing in the freezer for 6-8 hours. To make some room in the freezer you might need to eat all that ice-cream to make some space, but what a great excuse to eat ice-cream, right?

And the best part is, the dust mites won’t survive the freezing temperature! Yay!

5.  Clean your carpets deep-down

Hands down this is the best option to keep your carpets clean and you should totally consider investing in it. 

Carpets are soft and warm, and when you walk on them with your shoes on, dust gets trapped amongst the fibres. Although you can benefit from taking your shoes off inside, it doesn’t completely prevent dust from gathering.

Deep cleaning is simply the best, most cost-effective way to clean your carpet.

You don’t even have to buy a carpet cleaning machine, because you can hire a carpet cleaner from either a supermarket or hardware store, simply hire from your local store!

You can hire the Rug Doctor Carpet Cleaner for as little as $39.99.

Not a bad price for clean carpets and peace of mind, right?

Talking about cleaning carpets, if you have wool carpet, then you would absolutely love these 4 Tips on how to keep your wool carpets clean.

Did you also know, there are different cleaning methods for every type of stain?

Which means cleaning oil stains and coffee stains will require a different product to clean.

Download Rug Doctor’s Ultimate Stain Removal Guide where we cover the cleaning method for almost every type of stain and what product to use.

Print it out and keep it handy, it’s just 2 pages - filled with all the information you need to get rid of any type of stain.

 

Gina Gibbs

Author: Gina Gibbs

Gina is the Business Manager at Rug Doctor NZ. With over 20 years at Rug Doctor, she's dedicated to helping New Zealanders keep their homes clean and healthy. Outside of work, Gina enjoys hiking, reading, and enjoying Vietnamese and Asian fusion cuisine. Oh, and let's not forget her expertise in cleaning up after everyone, especially her two kids!