A single bed can host up to a million dust mites, and while it may seem off-putting to think about, it’s important to know how to deal with them.
Keeping your bedroom clean is essential, but there’s also a simple, cost-effective method to further reduce their presence.
A TikTok creator, @anna_louisa_at_home, has shared a one-ingredient trick that has garnered over 1.8 million views, offering an easy way to tackle dust mites.
In her viral video, she reveals how adding just a few drops of eucalyptus oil to your laundry can help eliminate these unwanted guests.
Priced at around £3 a bottle, eucalyptus oil is an affordable solution for those aiming to maintain a clean and healthy home.
Experts from Comodo Living have endorsed this hack, emphasising its effectiveness and multiple uses in any cleaning routine.
“Eucalyptus oil contains natural ingredients which have insecticidal and acaricidal properties which means it’s an easy way to reduce the chances of dust mites in your bed in a natural way,” explained Comodo Living’s, Alex Francis.
Research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology supports this claim, showing that 80 percent of dust mites can be killed after being immersed in eucalyptus oil for just 30 to 60 minutes.
For an even more intensive approach, Alex suggests incorporating Anna’s method into a regular laundry routine or diluting eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle to apply directly to the mattress, headboard, duvet, and pillows.
Not only will this help reduce dust mites, but it will also leave your bedding smelling fresh and inviting in a double-action solution.
Another effective solution for combating dust mites is to use high-temperature washing and drying techniques.
Washing your bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers, in hot water (at least 60°C or 140°F) can help kill dust mites and remove allergens.
Following this, drying your items on high heat for at least 15 minutes further ensures that any remaining mites are eliminated.
