Homemade Dust Mites Spray and Powder

Homemade Dust Mites Spray and Powder Recipes with Essential Oils!

Learn how to make two homemade dust mites reducing recipes using essential oils and simple ingredients to help remove or repel dust mites from your carpets and bedding.

Having allergies year round is not enjoyable.  That’s me!  Having been tested for allergies I know dust mites are at the top of my allergen list. 

The thought that those microscopic insect like pests are living in my carpets, and bedding, etc. is enough to cause a reaction.  My first reaction is to get rid of as many of them as I can!

Not only do I want to get rid of them, but I want to get rid of them in as safe of a way possible.  This is where I turn to essential oils. 

The Ingredients Used in These Recipes

Finding out there are actual studies that show the dust mites ridding effectiveness of some naturally occurring molecules present in essential oils was wonderful news for me.  

The two most studied components that showed their effectiveness when used on dust mites were eugenol and geraniol. 

Studies have also shown the potential for cinnamaldehyde being very effective in repelling dust mites

Essential Oils

Clove Bud

Eugenol is found in in a high percentage in clove bud essential oil.  Eugenol was shown in a study done in 2003 to be effective at killing household dust mites. 

There have been studies done since, and clove bud continues to show its dust mites ridding effectiveness.

Plant Therapy Clove Bud Essential Oil. 100% Pure, 10 ml.

Palmarosa

Palmarosa is an essential oil that contains high amounts of geraniol.  The one I purchased showed more than 74% geraniol in it’s data sheet! 

A study done in 2008 showed that geraniol controlled dust mites more effectively than DEET.  

Cinnamon bark

Cinnamon bark essential oil was found to be effective at repelling dust mites in a study done in 2011.  This is possibly due to the large amount (usually over 50%) of cinnamaldehyde found in cinnamon bark EO.  The one I purchased showed more than 60% cinnamaldehyde!

Now that I have told you why I used the above essential oils in the recipes you may be wondering how I use them.

I use a couple of methods.  One is a spray that I spray on my carpets, and bed linens and upholstery.   

The other is in powder form that I sprinkle on the carpeted areas and vacuum thoroughly.

The powder I use once a month, along with a thorough vacuuming.  I vacuum once or twice weekly, but use the dust mites powder only once a month.

Between the times I use the dust mites powder I follow my regular carpet vacuuming with the dust mites spray to the carpets.

I use the spray on my bedding, including sheets and pillow cases, once a week between my normal weekly linen washing. 

This is usually done in the morning so I can spray the sheets then allow them to air out during the day.  

It is so nice climbing into bed with sheets that have a wonderful scent, but are not overpowering!

The Recipes

Dust Mites Carpet/Bedding Spray

INGREDIENTS

•  4 oz (120 ml) distilled water
•  2 tsp (10 ml) solubol dispersant* (Aromatics International sells a natural soluble dispersant that you can find here)
•  20 drops clove bud essential oil
•  20 drops palmarosa essential oil
•  20 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
•  4 oz (60 ml) plastic (PET) or glass spray bottle 

DIRECTIONS

•  Add the solubol* and essential oils to bottle.
•  Fill up rest of bottle with distilled water.
•  Place cap on securely and shake well to mix.

You can now lightly spray your bedding, carpets and upholstery as needed.  

Make sure area is totally dry and area well aeriated before re-introducing animals and young children to area.  

If you plan on using the spray only for your bedding and upholstery I would suggest making 1/2 recipe in a 2 ounce spray bottle instead.

*There are other dispersants that you can use if you are not able to purchase solubol.  I recommend some form of dispersant to mix the essential oils with the water to keep it skin friendly (you will sleep on those sheets you have sprayed).

Polysorbate 20 is another dispersant you can use in this spray.  I would add 2 teaspoons (just like the solubol) – you can adjust as needed. 

Note: Some are hesitant to use polysorbate as it has received a bad rap due to it’s trace amount of a by-product, 1,4-dioxane which is said to be carcinogenic.  It is FDA approved for use in food and cosmetics.  It is your decision to use, or not!

Dust Mites Carpet Powder

INGREDIENTS

•  2 cups (16.25 oz/460.80 gm) baking soda
•  8 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
•  8 drops clove bud essential oil
•  8 drops palmarosa essential oil
•  Shaker lid container

DIRECTIONS

•  Measure or weigh baking soda following amount above in recipe.
•  Mix baking soda and essential oils in large bowl.  Break up lumps** until no longer visible.
•  Pour or scoop into 16 oz shaker lid container.
•  Sprinkle lightly over carpet.
•  Using carpet brush*** scrub area lightly to ensure full coverage. (Optional)
•  Let remain on carpet for at least 30 – 60 minutes.
•  Vacuum carpet thoroughly.  (A vacuum with HEPA filter and disposable bags like this one is the best, but at minimum use a vacuum with a HEPA filter).

**I found that it is important to mix the essential oils into the baking soda thoroughly. This may take a little time, but it is important.  

You don’t want clumps of essential oils encased in baking soda scattered here and there on your carpet!

***You can skip if you want. Using a carpet brush helps to ensure full coverage of the powder.

I  use this dust mites powder mix on my carpet once a month.  

Vacuum area thoroughly until there is no longer any visible powder on the carpet.  Sometimes it takes a second vacuum sweep over the carpet!

Make sure area is thoroughly vacuumed and aeriated well before allowing pets and young children into the area.  

Caution When Using

Don’t mix these dust mites recipes, or use, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby.

Use caution around children and pets!  Don’t mix around children under the age of 10.  Keep children and animals away from area you are treating.  

Don’t use the spray in areas where there are children under age 10.  (In other words, don’t use in a child’s bedroom!)

Alternate Natural Dust Mites Carpet Powder

Perhaps you don’t want to use essential oils (possibly due to young children or pets in the home)?  You can use plain baking soda.  

Baking soda is said to help rid dust mites in the carpet and on mattresses.   One reason for its usefulness is that baking soda dries up the moisture that dust mites thrive on.  

It is generally thought that baking soda’s odor repels insects.  The thought is, if other insects such as ants or cockroaches are repelled by baking soda, then dust mites are also.

Easy to use.  You vacuum your carpet.  Then sprinkle baking soda as evenly as possible over area.  Leave on for three hours (or even over night).  Then vacuum thoroughly.

Baking soda can be sprinkled over a mattress and allowed to sit for at least 15 minutes, then vacuumed off.

Other Natural Ways To Rid Dust Mites 

•  Dust and vacuum (carpets, upholstered chairs, and hard floors) thoroughly and regularly.
•  Use a vacuum with a HEPA (and disposable bag, if possible).  Wear a mask when vacuuming and dusting if needed.
•  Steam clean your carpets if possible now and then (or consider replacing carpets with tile, or wood flooring).
•  Damp mop hard floors as often as possible.
•  Clean bedding in hot water at least once a week. 
•  Keep to minimum extra blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, and  other collectable, or decorative items.
•  Get rid of heavy drapes and other cloth coverings for windows  and furniture (roll down shades, or curtains you can wash are recommended).
•  Encase mattresses and pillowcases in dust mite resistant covers.
•  Keep house as dry and aired out as possible (dust mites love humidity!)

These are recipes I have found that help me in my quest to eliminate dust mites.  I would like to hear what you use to help dust mites related allergies!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not intend to diagnose or treat any disease. It is always recommended that you seek the advise of your private medical doctor.