Ever wake up with a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, or sudden sneezing? Dust mites, those microscopic creatures that live in mattresses, pillows, and other soft surfaces, might be the cause. They thrive in warm, humid spaces and are a common trigger for allergies and asthma.
If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of dust mites, you’re not the only one. The good news is that a few steady changes to your cleaning routine can bring their numbers down fast. This guide walks you through simple steps you can start using today to help you breathe easier at home.
How to Get Rid of House Dust Mites
House dust mites are tiny—far too small to see—but they live in almost every home. They tend to settle in warm, soft places like beds, mattresses, carpets and upholstery, which makes them hard to avoid.
The most effective plan combines regular hot washing, smart bedding choices, consistent cleaning, and good humidity control. Together, these steps help you reach the main goal for most households: fewer symptoms and a more comfortable living space.
Here’s how to get rid of house dust mites:
Wash Bedding Weekly
Most of your exposure to dust mites happens in bed, so this is the highest-impact place to start. Washing bedding regularly removes both the mites and the allergen-carrying droppings they leave behind.
Here’s what to do:
- Wash sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, and pillow protectors (if you use them) once a week.
- Wash duvets, pillows, mattress protectors and encasements every three to six months, depending on the manufacturer’s care label.
- A hot wash of 60°C or higherkills dust mites effectively. If you wash at lower temperatures, you can rinse away some allergen, but many mites will survive and rebuild their numbers.
- Use a non‑bio or mild detergent if you or your family have sensitive skin, and avoid heavy fabric softeners that may add residue.
- If you cannot wash at 60°C, consider using an anti‑allergen laundry additive recommended for house dust mite allergy UK sufferers, following label directions.
- Dry bedding thoroughly, either in a warm tumble dryer or on a line, making sure it is fully dry before you put it back on the bed.
- If someone in your home has asthma or a diagnosed dust mite allergy, be extra consistent with this schedule.
Use Dust-Mite-Proof Mattress and Pillow Covers
Mattresses and pillows can hold thousands of dust mites in a UK home, and you can’t wash them weekly. Encasement covers create a tight barrier, so you aren’t in direct contact with the mites inside. They also help protect new mattresses and pillows from becoming heavily infested.
You can:
- Choose “dust‑mite‑proof” labelled encasements with a fine weave that allergists often recommend for dust mite control.
- Fully zip covers around the mattress and pillows to create a complete barrier, not just a loose topper.
- Wash these encasements every few months at 60°C, or following the care instructions, to keep them clean and effective.
Freeze Non-Washable Soft Items
To manage house dust mites in the UK, it helps to keep soft items to a minimum. Cushions, decorative throws, and stuffed toys all trap dust and warm moisture, which creates an easy home for mites.
If a care label allows it, washing these items at 60°C every few weeks is one of the most reliable ways to kill dust mites and remove their allergen. Many soft items, though, can’t handle high heat. In those cases, freezing is a useful alternative.
Studies have shown that holding items at around −15°C for 24–48 hours can kill dust mites and their eggs.
Simple freezing routine:
- Place the item in a sealed plastic bag.
- Put it in the freezer for at least 24 hours; 48 hours is safer if space allows.
- After freezing, wash the item (if possible) or vacuum it to remove dead mites and allergen.
Vacuum Frequently with a High-Filtration Cleaner
Carpets, sofas and mattresses all hold dust and skin flakes, the main food source for dust mites. A reliable vacuum helps lift both the mites and the material they feed on.
For the best results, look for a model that offers:
- High-efficiency, multi-stage filtration that can capture around 99% of fine particles down to 3 microns.
- Strong suction and a well-sealed body, so the vacuum pulls debris out of fibres and keeps the captured dust contained.
How to clean:
- Vacuum carpets, rugs, and fabric sofas at least twice a week, and more often in high‑traffic rooms.
- Move furniture occasionally so you can reach dust that gathers along edges and under sofas and beds.
- Use upholstery tools to clean cushions, armchairs, and fabric headboards where dust and mites may collect.
- Vacuum slowly so the machine can pull dust from deeper layers. Empty the dust container frequently and clean filters as specified by the manufacturer so performance stays strong.
If you’d like to keep on top of cleaning without spending half your week vacuuming, eufy’s robot vacuum and hybrid models can fit well into a dust-mite routine.
eufy Robot Vacuum E20 (3-in-1)
The eufy Robot Vacuum E20 is a bit different from a typical robot vacuum. The core vacuum unit slots into three forms: robot, stick and handheld, so you can clean floors, stairs, mattresses and sofas with one system.
Key ways it helps with dust mites:
- Strong suction for deep dust: In robot mode it delivers up to 8,000 Pa of suction for floors, and up to 30,000 Pa in handheld/stick mode for spot cleaning and fabrics. That level of pull helps lift dust and debris from carpet pile and upholstery, where mites and their droppings tend to collect.
- Five-stage filtration for fine allergen: E20’s AeroTurbo™ five-stage filtration is rated to capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. That means more of the very small allergen-laden particles stay in the machine instead of drifting back into the room.
- Self-emptying dock: The base station uses a dust bag of around 3L, designed to hold several weeks of debris and seal itself when removed. That reduces how often you have to open the robot and handle dusty bins, helpful if you’re sensitive.
- Flexible cleaning for soft surfaces: Because you can turn it into a stick or handheld vacuum, you can go beyond floors and regularly vacuum mattresses, sofa cushions and fabric bed frames.
In practice, the E20 suits you if you want one system that covers whole-room floor cleaning plus targeted fabric cleaning, without buying a separate cordless stick.
eufy X10 Pro Omni
The eufy X10 Pro Omni is a robot vacuum-mop combo designed for mixed hard floors and carpets. It pairs 8,000 Pa suction with a base station that handles bin emptying, water management and mop care.
Why it’s useful for dust-mite control:
- Strong suction on carpets: The 8,000 Pa suction helps pull out fine dust and skin flakes from carpet fibres, exactly the material that mites feed on and hide inside.
- Vacuum + mop in one run: Dual rotating mop pads and a built-in water system let the X10 vacuum and mop in one pass. On hard floors, that means it can remove both loose dust and the light film that often holds allergen in place.
- Self-emptying and water management: The Omni base empties the dustbin into a sealed bag (2.5L) and manages clean and dirty water for mopping. This reduces your contact with dust while keeping the robot ready to run.
- Smart mapping for consistent coverage: LiDAR navigation and AI obstacle detection help the robot follow planned routes around furniture rather than random paths, so you get more reliable coverage of carpets and high-traffic routes where dust builds up.
eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro
The eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S1 Pro is the flagship all-in-one cleaner, combining an 8,000 Pa vacuum, an advanced HydroJet floor-washing system and a very capable 10-in-1 UniClean station.
How that translates for dust mites:
- HydroJet floor washing: The mop uses a roller-style system with pressure to scrub hard floors. This helps remove stuck-on grime and fine dust that vacuums alone can leave behind.
- Always Clean Mop™ system: The mop rinses itself while it works, so you’re not spreading the same dirty pad around the room.
- 10-in-1 UniClean station: The station empties the dustbin, washes and dries the mop, refills water, and handles waste water. Because the station manages so much, it’s easy to run frequent deep cleans.
- Corner-to-edge shape: The robot’s square profile is designed to reach edges and 90-degree corners more effectively than a round body. Those areas tend to collect undisturbed dust, so better edge cleaning supports your dust-mite strategy.
The S1 Pro makes the most sense if you want high-end, “set it and forget it” floor care that covers edges, open areas and hard floors in one system, with very little manual maintenance.
eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S2
The eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S2 pushes power even further. It uses 30,000 Pa suction along with an upgraded HydroJet system and an advanced base station.
What stands out for dust-mite control:
- Very high suction for thick carpets: That 30,000 Pa peak suction is closer to a strong cordless stick vacuum than a traditional robovac. On deeper carpets up to 5cm, higher suction can pull more dust, skin flakes and mite droppings from between fibres.
- HydroJet mopping and AeroTurbo deep-clean system: The S2 combines powerful airflow with a high-pressure mopping system, designed to wash and vacuum in a single pass while keeping the mop surface refreshed.
- Ozonated water cleaning: The Omni S2 also uses ozonated water to keep things extra clean. It creates this water through electrolysis, then uses it to rinse the mop, clean the water system, and wash your floors. This helps remove 99.99% of germs, and the sanitising effect lasts for up to five days.
Clean with a Damp Cloth Regularly
Change how you dust hard surfaces. Dry dusting often just moves particles around and throws them into the air, where you breathe them in. A damp method works better.
Try to:
- Wipe surfaces like shelves, tables, window sills, and TV stands with a slightly damp microfiber cloth(not dripping wet).
- Rinse and wring the cloth frequently so you lift dust away instead of smearing it.
- Dust from higher surfaces downwards so you collect any particles that fall as you clean.
- Avoid feather dusters, which tend to flick dust into the air rather than remove it.
- Include less obvious spots such as skirting boards, radiators, and the tops of doors in your routine.
Remove Clutter
Dust settles on every surface. The more small objects you have, the more places there are for dust and mites to collect. Hospitals repeatedly highlight decluttering as part of dust mite control.
You can:
- Clear piles of clothes, books, and boxes from the floor and under the bed so you can vacuum properly.
- Keep bedside tables fairly clear so you can wipe them quickly.
- Choose simple, easy‑to‑clean furnishings rather than heavy drapes and lots of cushions.
- Limit soft toys on the bed; keep most in closed storage and rotate favourites.
- Reduce the number of small ornaments that are hard to dust.
- Store items in closed cupboards or drawers instead of open shelves where dust quickly builds up.
- Make it a monthly habit to declutter and dust.
Consider Hard Flooring
Now, think about what is under your feet and under your bed. Carpets trap dust, pet hair, and skin flakes, giving dust mites a perfect home. Switching some areas to hard flooring can reduce this build‑up.
You might:
- Replace wall‑to‑wall carpet with laminate, vinyl, wood, or tiles in severe allergy cases, especially in bedrooms.
- Use washable rugs instead of fitted carpets; wash or shake them outdoors regularly to remove dust.
- Vacuum any remaining carpet with a high-filtration cleaner frequently and focus on areas around and under the bed, where dust tends to collect.
- Consider occasional professional or steam cleaning (as appropriate for the carpet type).
Keep Humidity Below 50%
Dust mites need moisture to survive. They thrive when relative humidity stays above about 50%, especially in warm rooms with lots of fabrics. Sustained humidity below 40–50% can significantly reduce their numbers.
To manage this, you can:
- Use a simple digital hygrometer to monitor humidity in the bedroom and living room.
- Open windows regularly when the outdoor air is dry enough, creating cross‑ventilation where it is safe to do so.
- Run extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms while cooking and showering, and leave them on for a short time afterwards.
- Use a dehumidifier in damp rooms, basements, or north‑facing spaces that tend to stay moist in the UK climate.
- Avoid drying clothes on radiators in living spaces; use a vented dryer or a heated airer in a well‑ventilated room instead.
Use Air Purifiers
Finally, consider what you can do about the air you breathe. Air purifiers do not remove mites from mattresses or carpets, but they can help reduce airborne particles, including mite allergens, especially in living rooms and bedrooms.
To make the most of them, you can:
- Choose a purifier that is appropriately sized for the room and has good filtration performance for fine particles (HEPA filters).
- Place the unit where air can flow freely around it, away from walls and heavy furniture.
- Run it on a continuous low setting or on a timer during peak allergy seasons if recommended by the manufacturer.
- Clean or replace filters according to the instructions so the device keeps working efficiently.
Combine air purifiers with regular cleaning and humidity control. Together, they offer more relief for house dust mite allergy sufferers than any single step on its own.
What Causes Dust Mite Allergies?
At this point, it helps to understand what actually triggers symptoms in people with dust‑mite sensitivity.
A house dust mite allergy is often not triggered by the mites themselves, but by the proteins in their droppings. Each mite produces around 20 waste particles a day, and these can continue causing symptoms long after the mite has died.
Because these particles are extremely small, they easily become airborne when you vacuum, shake out bedding, or walk across carpet. When someone with a dust mite allergy inhales them, the immune system treats them as harmful invaders, causing inflammation in the nose, eyes, or airways.
Common contributing factors include:
- Warm, humid homes where mites can thrive all year round, especially in insulated houses.
- Thick carpets, heavy curtains, and soft furnishings that trap dust and skin flakes.
- Poor ventilation, which allows allergens to accumulate indoors.
- Not washing bedding frequently enough or using non‑protective mattress and pillow covers.
- Existing asthma, eczema, or other allergies, which can make the body more reactive to house dust mites.
Signs You May Have a Dust Mite Problem
To move forward, it is useful to recognize when dust mites might be contributing to your symptoms.
Because mites are invisible to the naked eye, most clues come from how you feel, especially in certain rooms or at certain times of day. If you notice that symptoms improve when you are away from home and worsen when you return, dust‑mite allergens could be involved.
Typical signs include:
- Sneezing, blocked or runny nose, and post‑nasal drip, especially on waking in the morning.
- Itchy, red, or watery eyes when you are in bed or sitting on soft furniture.
- Coughing, wheezing, or tight chest in people with asthma or other existing breathing conditions.
- Itchy skin or eczema flare‑ups that seem to coincide with time spent in dusty rooms.
If symptoms are persistent or severe, it is sensible to speak to a GP or allergy specialist.
Conclusion
Learning how to get rid of dust mites is an ongoing process of management rather than a one-time task. Remember, the goal is to reduce their numbers and exposure to their allergens, not to achieve an impossible standard of a completely mite-free home. Consistency with these easy tricks will lead to a significant reduction in allergy symptoms and contribute to a healthier, fresher living space for everyone in your household.
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FAQs
How do I permanently get rid of dust mites?
It’s almost impossible to permanently remove every dust mite, but you can keep numbers very low. Wash bedding weekly at 60°C to kill mites and remove allergens. Use allergen-proof covers on mattresses and pillows, vacuum carpets and upholstery regularly with a high-filtration cleaner, and keep indoor humidity below about 50% with good ventilation or a dehumidifier. Together, these steps make your home much less welcoming to mites.
How do you tell if you have dust mites?
You can’t see dust mites, but you can recognize their presence through symptoms. If you often sneeze, have a runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, or skin irritation — especially when you wake up or after being in dusty rooms — dust mites may be the cause. Symptoms that get worse at night or during activities like vacuuming are common signs. These reactions come from allergens in dust mite waste, not the mites themselves.
What do dust mites hate the most?
Dust mites hate dry, low-humidity environments, so keeping indoor humidity below 50% is one of the most effective ways to control them. They also can’t survive high heat, which is why washing bedding in hot water helps kill them. Extreme cold works too — freezing certain items for a day can reduce mites. Strong scents like eucalyptus, clove, mint, or rosemary may also help repel them.
Do dust mites live in pillows?
Yes, dust mites often live in pillows because they provide warmth, moisture, and a steady supply of dead skin cells to feed on. Over time, pillows can accumulate dust, skin flakes, and mite waste, which may trigger allergy or asthma symptoms. Using allergen-proof pillow covers and washing pillowcases weekly in hot water at 60°C can help reduce mite levels and keep pillows cleaner.
