Does Baking Soda Kill Dust Mites? 10 Important Things to Know Before Using It

What kills dust mites?

Dust mites are small bugs that feed off human skin cells. They thrive in warm, humid environments, often taking up residence in bedding and furniture. While they don’t attack people, their presence can cause allergic reactions. Wheezing, runny noses, asthma attacks; dust mites might be too small to see, but they’re definitely felt.

Don’t suffer any longer. It’s time to learn how to keep your home dust-mite-free. Is baking soda the best solution? What else can you do to protect your household? Read on to find out.

Does Baking Soda Kill Dust Mites?

No, baking soda doesn’t kill dust mites, it just makes it difficult for them to survive. You have to steam clean or properly wash items to completely kill dust mites. There are a lot of misconceptions about what baking soda can and can’t do against these pests. The truth is that dust mites don’t like baking soda, so using it makes the environment harder for them to live in. The dry baking soda helps absorb moisture and odors from beds, carpets, and furniture.

1. Baking Soda Saves Couches, Carpets, and Mattresses

Use baking soda to save your couch, carpet, and mattress from dust mites (and stains). The baking soda isn’t necessarily what kills dust mites. Instead, it helps create an environment where these moisture-loving insects can’t thrive.

After steam cleaning your couch, it’s time for a complete baking soda treatment. This is going to be a two-part process. The first part involves sprinkling dry baking soda all over the couch cushions and the body of the couch. Let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes before vacuuming it up.

The second stage involves a baking soda paste to treat any tough stains. Mix a little bit of water with 1 cup of baking soda. When the dry powder becomes a paste, apply it to couch stains. Gently brush the paste into the stain, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Use a damp cloth to wipe away the paste, allowing things to air dry.

2. Baking Soda Needs Time to Work

Baking soda needs time to work its magic. The longer you let it sit, the more moisture it can absorb. And the dryer things are, the less likely it is dust mites will come around. When you’re pressed for time 15 minutes is sufficient. However, it’s best to let the baking soda sit for at least 30 minutes. Some even suggest allowing it to sit for a full 24 hours to have the best effect. Along with absorbing the moisture, the baking soda will also soak up unwanted odors.

3. Sprinkle Generously

Don’t hold back when sprinkling your baking soda, be generous. A light layer of baking soda is all you need to deter dust mites. But you’ll need to cover the entire infected area, not just a part of it. For instance, let’s say you’re treating your bed. Treat the entire mattress, being sure to get baking soda on the sides and bottom too. If you have carpet, treat all of the carpet in your house. If you’re treating the couch, use baking soda on all of the cushions, and the entire couch body.

4. Vacuum up the Baking Soda

Grab your vacuum. After sprinkling the baking soda and letting it sit for 30 minutes, it’s time to clean up. Vacuum up all of the baking soda, and consider doing another treatment if necessary.

Why not just wipe away the powder? When you’re battling dust mites, the vacuum adds another measure of defense by sucking up excess moisture. The dryer the environment, the harder it’ll be for dust mites to live.

5. Baking Soda Expires

Not sure if your box of baking soda is too old to use? Then test its freshness to check the potency. Add 2 teaspoons of vinegar to ½ teaspoon of baking soda. If the baking soda bubbles up, it’s effective. If there’s no reaction, it’s old and should be replaced.

6. Boost Baking Soda With Essential Oils

Add essential oils like rosemary, lemon, lavender, clove, mint, eucalyptus, and clove to your baking soda. Many of these essential oils, like lemon or eucalyptus, help sanitize and deter pests. Simply add 15 to 20 drops of oil to ½ cup of water. Spray the mixture onto bedding, furniture, drapes, and carpets (after treating with baking soda). You can also add essential oils directly to the baking soda to make things smell great. You’ll only need a couple of drops when adding directly to the baking soda.

7. Fix Your Humidity Levels

Let’s say you’ve used the baking soda on your bedding, carpet, and furniture. The next step to controlling dust mites is to control the humidity levels in your home. Dust mites like living in damp environments where they can absorb water and moisture through the air. According to the American Lung Association, you should aim for less than 50% humidity level throughout the home. Dehumidifiers can help in your clean mission.

8. Get a Mattress Protector

Prevent dust mites in the first place by using a mattress protector and keeping things clean. Eliminate any areas of clutter, regularly wash stuffed animals and steam clean furniture. Finally, when dusting use a damp rag. The dampness helps prevent dust from becoming airborne and spreading around.

9. Washing Kills Dust Mites

Baking soda makes it difficult for dust mites to live, but it doesn’t always kill them. What does kill dust mites? Washing things regularly. Regularly washing and drying bedding is the best way to kill dust mites. The heat from the washer kills the insects and helps disinfect bedding. Putting bedding in the dryer for 15 minutes can also kill dust mites.

10. Freezing Items Kills Dust Mites

If it’s something you don’t think baking soda will work for, consider freezing it. Freezing items can effectively kill dust mites for good. First, put the item in a sealable plastic bag. Then leave it in the freezer for at least 24 hours. This is the best solution for items that can’t get wet, like non-washable stuffed animals.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Geo-grafika/Shutterstock.com