How to REMOVE MITES from the MATTRESS

Mites are defined as a subclass of arachnids that is made up of thousands of different species. Currently, they have been detected more than 50,000 different species, although it is estimated that there may still be many more that have not been studied or classified. In many cases, its presence is related to dust or plants, as is the case with the Tetranychidae family of mites, which is made up of more than 1,200 different species.

In general, mites that live in houses are found, above all, in areas that are more difficult to detect such as mattresses, pillows, rugs… Added to this is their small size, since the “home species” measure a maximum of 0.5 millimeters, which makes them imperceptible to the human eye.

Mites are not considered allergenic, although it is true that they cause some health problems as a result of their feces. This is because they have a protein that causes allergic reactions and episodes of rhinitis and asthma, as well as rashes or eczema on the skin.

As we have mentioned previously, mites are not perceptible to the human eye, although it is estimated that a mattress can have up to two million of these “little bugs”. How to know if there are mites in the mattress? To detect its presence, therefore, it is important to pay attention to another series of factors. In fact, the best way is to see if you have any problems or conditions when you are in bed or when you get out of bed in the morning because mattress mites feed on the remains of people’s skin. And what are the symptoms of mites in the mattress? Mainly, you should be alert if they occur or are noticed:

• Allergic reactions: If you already have a problem with asthma, rhinitis, or hay fever, the symptoms of these health conditions will intensify when you are in bed and, practically, as soon as you enter it. Thus, you will feel an increase in mucus, sneezing, itchy nose, pressure in the chest, or noisy breathing, among others.
• Itching: Itching somewhere on the body is also another sign that there may be mites in the mattress.
• Rashes and eczema: The appearance of pimples or redness, among other possibilities such as skin irritation in the form of a rash or eczema, is another clear example that you have mites in the mattress. Typically, these symptoms are visible when you wake up in the morning in the neck and face area, as well as in the skin folds on the body.
• Fatigue: Mattress mites can also cause fatigue because the person does not rest well, in part, because they do not breathe properly, even if they do not have a level of asthma or rhinitis.
• Cough: The appearance of coughing in bed and its intensification are another clear symptom of the presence of mites in the mattress.
• Conjunctivitis: Mites can also cause conjunctivitis and eye problems such as redness due to irritation.

You may also be interested in the Symptoms and treatment of mite allergy.

When talking about how to remove mites from the mattress easily, there are several actions you can consider to carry out this cleaning, although it is difficult to eliminate them completely. A good option to avoid mites is to sleep on an anti-mite mattress. But if it is not the time to make this purchase, we are going to tell you how to clean a very dirty mattress with a series of tips so that you know how to remove mites from the mattress:

• Washed: It is important to wash mattress and pillow covers very well, as well as all bedding such as sheets, blankets, duvets, and bedspreads. You should do it once a week with hot water. It is also key to wash your pillow every seven days.
• Drying: In addition to washing all bedding with hot water, it is essential that they dry well and at a high temperature if the dryer is used.
• Rugs: It is key not to have carpets in the bedroom because mites also live on them and can jump to the mattress and pillow. If you have them, they should be cleaned well every week, vacuuming well.
• Aspire: To eliminate mites, the mattress must be vacuumed every week to prevent their proliferation. To do this, there are vacuum cleaners that allow you to perform these functions and even some specific models for cleaning mattresses.
• Products to get rid of mattress mites: To clean a very dirty mattress, it is also possible to use commercially sold sprays that are applied to the beds directly to remove them.
• Baking sodaIn addition to mattress cleaning products, there are also very effective home remedies such as baking soda, since they help disinfect the bed.

How to clean a mattress with baking soda

If you want to know how to eliminate mites from a mattress with baking soda, all you have to do is follow these simple steps:

1. The mattress is placed in a place where there is enough space (such as a terrace) and where the sun shines on it.
2. Next, 250 grams of baking soda are mixed with five drops of tea tree essential oil.
3. This solution is poured onto the mattress with the help of a strainer or spray bottle.
4. Once the mattress is well sprayed, wait approximately an hour for it to act. After this time, you have to turn it over and do the same on the other side.
5. Cleaning the mattress with baking soda ends by vacuuming both sides so that everything is very clean.

You may also be interested in How to prevent dust mites.

In addition to the tips we have talked about in the previous section on how to clean the mattress of mites, it is possible to follow other tips to eliminate and avoid them:

• Put an airtight cover and that it is anti-mite on the mattress and pillow.
• Always ventilate the house well especially the bedroom, so that the air is completely renewed.
• Clean household dust and, especially, the room in which the bedroom is located. Use a damp cloth so that the dust with the mites is trapped and does not remain suspended in the air.
• Control humidity It is key because mites are attracted to humid environments. Always at home, the level must be below 50%.

With these tips to get rid of mites in the bed that we give you at FoxWiki, we hope we have helped you learn more about how to clean a very dirty mattress and how to eliminate mites so that you don’t have any health problems. If you have any questions, always consult with specialists so that they can indicate the best solutions.