Dehumidfier or Air Purifier for Dust Mites?

Comparison of a dehumidifier vs air purifier to determine which is better for reducing dust mites and alleviating allergy symptoms

Many people ask if they should use a dehumidifier or an air purifier for their dust mite allergies. Let's first talk about the differences between them and how they work:


Dehumidifier

Sleek white dehumidifier with humidity display, designed to reduce bedroom humidity and eliminate dust mites for allergy relief

What Is a Dehumidifier:

  • A dehumidifier is a machine that takes water out of the air, making the air drier.

How a Dehumidifier Reduces Dust Mites: 

  • Dust mites can't survive when the air is less than 50% humid. A dehumidifier makes the air drier, which can kill dust mites in about 5 days because they dry out.
  • Some dehumidifiers also have a filter that catches big dust particles, which means there will be fewer dust mites floating in the air.
  • Many people with a dust allergy will also have a mold allergy - a dehumidfier is extremely effective at eliminating mold from your home

View Our Recommended Dehumidifier


Air Purifier 

A dehumidifier and air purifier side-by-side showing dust mite reduction

What Is an Air Purifier:

  • An air purifier is a machine that can take tiny particles out of the air.

How an Air Purifier Reduces Dust Mites

  • Dust mites are too tiny to be caught by a regular filter. An air purifier has a special filter called a HEPA filter. This filter is really good at catching dust mites and their allergens, making the air cleaner than a dehumidifier can.
    • It can capture mold particles in the air but not kill the source
    • it can capture dust particles in the air but not kill the dust mites

Question: Should I buy a Dehumidifier or Air Purifier for Dust Mites?

Answer: Start with a Dehumidifier (Step 1).

Why: You must kill the source first. If you use an Air Purifier in a humid room, the mites will keep breeding faster than the machine can catch them. A dehumidifier lowers the humidity below 50%, which kills the colony.

However: Once they die, their dried bodies crumble and become airborne dust. This is why we recommend adding an Air Purifier later (Step 2) to clean up the "dust mite debris."

Shop our Recommended Dehumidifier with Dust Mite Filter

Question: Should I also buy an Air Purifier?

Answer: Yes if you can afford it

Why: A dehumidifier cannot capture ultra fine dust mite allergens such as dust mite faeces, which are 10 microns in size. These are the primary triggers for skin and breathing issues

Shop our Medical Grade HEPA Air Purifier.

1 comment

You can buy a dehumidifier with a HEPA filter then it does both jobs

John Terre •

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