Dehumidfier or Air Purifier for Dust Mites?

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

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 

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

Free Guide: 6 Steps to Reduce Dust Mites in Your Bed

Dehumidifiers and purifiers are powerful tools, but they work best when part of a total bedroom strategy. Download our free guide to see how to coordinate your air quality with your bedding for 24-hour relief.

Download the Free Guide →

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.

Stop Dust Mites Where They Live

While air machines clean the room, our medical-grade encasements secure your bed. Trap the allergens where they live so your air purifier and dehumidifier don't have to work overtime.

View the Dust Mite Protection System →