11 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Dust Mites In Your Couch

Can Dust Mites Live In a Couch?

After buying your favorite couch, all you would want is to enjoy comfortable, relaxing moments on it with family or even friends. However, a couch can be subjected to so many things including dirt and dust mite infestation.

Dust mites find couches very warm and comfortable for them to leave in there. And they can be a nuisance especially if they are many. Plus, if your couch is not regularly cleaned, the happier the mites become since they feed on dead skins found in dust.

Although dust mites do not bite human beings, they cause allergies. You will, therefore, want to be cautious and protect your family and friends from allergies by getting rid of them as soon as you notice they have infested your couch.

There are many ways to deal with dust mite infestation in your couch or any other furniture in your home. If you have no idea how to get rid of them, read on to find out more.

How Do I Get Rid of Dust Mites In My Couch?

Here are 11 ways to get rid of dust mites on a couch:

1. Regularly Dust your Couch

Just like cleanliness is next to godliness so does it scare away dust mites. You see, dust mites feed on dead skins found in dust and there is no way they would survive on your couch if it is dust-free.

Make sure you remove dust from every corner of your couch. Use a clean damp cloth to avoid spreading the dust to the floor, carpet, or other furniture in the house.

Getting rid of dust at least once every week is very important as this will not only prevent it from accumulating but also make your couch clean for dust mites to infest it.

2. Regularly Wash Couch Cushion Covers and Pillows In Hot Water

The best way to eliminate dead skins that dust mites feed on in your couch is by washing your upholstery with hot water. However, you will first need to confirm if your couch’s fabric is heat resistant because if it’s not, there are other ways you can clean it.

Consider washing your couch cushion covers, pillow covers, and throw blankets at least once a week and your couch will be free from dust mites.

If the tag on the fabric says it is suitable for machine washing, then set your washer between 50 to 60 degrees Celsius and this will be enough to eliminate all the dead skins lingering in your couch’s fabric

3. Vacuum your Couch with HEPA Vacuum Cleaner

A HEPA vacuum cleaner is effective at removing every form of dirt in your couch including the tiny microbes that a normal vacuum wouldn’t.

Vacuuming helps get rid of the dust on your couch compared to normal dusting. It is, therefore, advisable to vacuum your couch at least once every month while normal dusting every week.

You will also want to make sure you vacuum the carpet and other households that might be the possible hiding place for dust mites so that after cleaning the couch they won’t be attracted to it.

4. Steam Cleaning your Couch

Steaming a couch is the best and safest way to clean couch upholstery. Plus, it’s the best choice if your couch fabric is not suitable for machine washing, or if it has non-removable cushion covers that may not it in the washer.

A steam cleaner has high temperatures that would otherwise make it impossible for dust mites to survive on your couch. To make this a success, steam clean your couch at least once every month and if it is not machine washable, you might have to do it weekly.

5. Air Dry the Cushion Covers and Pillows Out In the Sun

After machine-washing your cushion covers, it would be safe to air dry them out in the sun rather than in the drier. This is because some fabrics do not have high heat resistance which might ruin their aesthetic.

On a normal sunny day, it should take about 2 hours for covers to dry but if you are not in a hurry, let them dry in the sun for about 6 hours. You see, dust mites thrive in damp conditions and you can imagine what would happen if you don’t let your cushion dry completely.

You can also apply the sun drying method after steam cleaning. As a matter of fact, steam cleaning and air drying couch upholstery out in the sun is the most guaranteed way of preventing them from being ruined.

6. Invest In a Leather Couch

Unlike microfiber and polyester couches, leather couches are not only low maintenance but also mite resistant. Plus, leather hardly attracts dust which is the main cause of dust mites.

7. What If it’s Not the Couch But the Carpet or Rug In your Living Room?

While you might be concentrating on your couch to get rid of as many dust mites as you can, the problem might be your carpet or rug.

You see, carpets and rugs also harbor as much dust just like a couch or at times even more. It is important to thoroughly clean your carpets together with the couch when you are cleaning. In fact, it’s important to also air-dry the carpet to help get rid of the dust mites.

8. Use Dust Mite Protector Cover

Just like we use slipcovers to protect our sofas from dirt, especially with kids and pets around, a dust mite protector cover also comes in handy if your couch is subject to dust mite infestation.

9. Train your Pets to Stay Out of Couch

In as much as pets find the couch perfect for relaxing, they highly attract dust mites. You see, pets such as cats and dogs shed a good amount of dander every day which turns out to be the best food for dust mites.

Therefore, if your pet could avoid the couch, then the dust mites would not be able to survive either due to lack of food.

10. Sort Professional Couch Cleaning Services

If dust mites have highly infested your couch and vacuuming, steaming, and dusting have all been in vain, you will need to seek professional cleaning services. They may be expensive but they deliver.

11. Spray Tea Tree Oil On your Couch

Cleaning a couch is quite overwhelming especially if you have to do it on a weekly basis. Spraying tea tree oil on your couch is one way of getting rid of dust mites although not permanently. You will still need to clean your couch thoroughly to get rid of all the dust mites.

What Naturally Kills Dust Mites?

There are natural ways of preventing insects such as dust mites from spreading further on your couch. Plus, this method also ensures that they are permanently gotten rid of.

Sprinkle a generous amount of diatomaceous earth powder on your couch, be sure to sprinkle it into the crevices, at the back, and sides. Let it sit for about 8 minutes then vacuum the excess. Remember the longer you let it sit the better. You can even choose to let it sit overnight and vacuum at dawn.

What Do Dust Mites Hate?

Dust mites cannot survive in an environment with strong scents of essential oils like lavender, rosemary, peppermint, or clove. Therefore, if you want to quickly get rid of dust mites, then make your essential oil with your favorite scent then mix with water and spray around the house, in the couch, carpet, and other furniture.

Can You Feel Dust Mites Crawling?

It’s quite impossible to feel dust mites crawling because these are tiny microorganisms that can hardly be seen. However, they cause allergies and the common signs of dust mite allergies are:

• Itchy skin
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Postnasal drip

What Spray Kills Dust Mites?

The use of sprays in eliminating dust mites is tireless and saves time a great deal. Here are the best dust mite sprays that will help get rid of them instantly:

• The Ecology works DustmiteX Spray from the Ecology Works Store
• Bed Bug and Dust Mite Killer Natural Spray Treatment from the Natural Armor Store
• Bed Bug and Mite Killer Spray by Premo Guard.