By Richard Williams, founder of iDustMite. Former NHS worker, guest speaker at the Allergy UK Show in 2025 and 2026, over 1,000 dust mite consultations, and a lifelong allergy sufferer.
The short answer: you can't remove every dust mite from a home, but you can cut your exposure where it matters most, your bed, in one afternoon. Seal your mattress, pillows and duvet in zipped dust mite protectors, wash your bedding at 60°C every week and keep bedroom humidity under 50%.
Can you get rid of dust mites completely?
No. Dust mites live in almost every UK home, wherever there is warmth, moisture and the skin flakes they feed on. Anyone promising a completely mite-free house is selling you something.
The good news is that you don't need to remove every mite to feel better. Your symptoms are caused by the allergen in their droppings, and that allergen is concentrated in a few places, mainly your bed. Cut your contact with it there and most people's itching, sneezing and blocked noses ease off.
There is one catch that explains why so many remedies fail. The allergen is a protein, not a living thing, so it keeps causing symptoms after the mite that made it has died. Killing mites is not enough on its own. You have to wash the allergen away or seal it where it can't reach you.
If you have already tried sprays, hoovering and hot washes and still wake up blocked and itchy, this is usually why.
Why your bed matters most
You spend around a third of your life in bed, breathing close to your pillow and shedding skin into your mattress. Your body heat keeps it warm and you breathe out moisture all night. For a dust mite, that is food, warmth and water in one place, and a mattress is the one thing in the bedroom you can't put in the washing machine.
Our own allergy quiz backs this up. When we asked 50 people when their symptoms are worst:
- 34% said on waking in the morning
- 20% said at night in bed
- 12% said straight after making the bed
That is two out of three people whose worst moments happen in or around the bed. If your symptoms are worse at home in bed and ease off when you are away, dust mites are a likely cause.
How to get rid of dust mites in your bed: 6 steps
Do these in order. Step 1 makes the biggest difference, and the rest stop the problem coming back.
Step 1: Seal your mattress, pillows and duvet
Encase your mattress, pillows and duvet. A good protector creates a barrier so dust mites and their allergens can't get in or out. Mites trapped inside starve, and new mites can't get in.
Do all three on the same day if you can. Sealing only the mattress still leaves your pillow, the thing closest to your nose and eyes, full of allergen. If you need to spread the cost, start with the mattress, then pillows, then duvet.
You don't need a new mattress first. Once it is sealed, the allergen already inside is locked away from you.
The diagram below shows how encasements and hot washing work together to get rid of dust mites in your bed.
- Mattress: mites are trapped between the mattress and the protector and die.
- Protector: mites on the outside can't live in it, so they move to your sheets.
- Your sheets: mites struggle to survive there because of weekly washing.
- Hot wash: a 60°C wash removes the mites and their allergen.
Step 2: Wash your bedding at 60°C every week
Wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers weekly at 60°C. That temperature kills dust mites and washes away the allergen they leave behind. Cooler washes rinse some allergen out but do not reliably kill the mites.
Wash your protectors themselves once a month at 60°C and let them air dry. Don't tumble dry them.
Step 3: Keep humidity under 50%
Dust mites don't drink. They absorb water from the air, so dry air is one of the most effective ways to stop them breeding. Aim for 40 to 45% relative humidity, all day and all night.
Consistency matters more than bursts. Imagine having no water for 23 hours a day and one hour of water. You would be uncomfortable, but you would survive. Dust mites are the same, so a dehumidifier that only runs now and then won't do much.
- Choose a dehumidifier with a humidity sensor and set it to about 40%.
- Run it overnight in the bedroom on its quiet mode.
- Don't dry laundry indoors, and ventilate the bathroom after showers.
Step 4: Vacuum with a HEPA filter, slowly
Vacuum carpets, rugs and the top of your mattress (with the protector on) once a week. Use a vacuum with a sealed HEPA filter and move slowly, so the fine dust gets trapped instead of blown back into the room. A vacuum without HEPA filtration can push allergen into the air you breathe.
Empty the vacuum outside, or into a sealed bag. For the rest of the room, clean from the top down once a week: damp dust first, then vacuum.
Step 5: Deal with toppers, cushions and soft toys
- Mattress toppers: these sit on top of your protector, so they need sealing or replacing too.
- Cushions and throws: keep fewer on the bed, and wash the ones you keep at 60°C.
- Soft toys: wash them at 60°C, or put them in a sealed bag in the freezer for at least 24 hours and then wash them to remove the allergen.
Step 6: Replace old pillows and duvets
84% of people who took our allergy quiz were sleeping on bedding that was more than a year old or that they didn't know the age of. Old pillows and duvets build up years of allergen. Either replace them with ones you can wash at 60°C, or seal them inside protectors so the allergen stays put.
How to get rid of dust mites in a mattress
Your mattress is the hardest part of the bed to deal with, because you can't wash it. Inside, it gives dust mites everything they need: warmth from your body, moisture from your breath and sweat, and the skin you shed every night.
Here is what each common method actually does.
| Method | Kills mites? | Deals with the allergen? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary vacuuming | No | Surface only, and can blow allergen into the air | Avoid on its own |
| HEPA vacuuming | No | Surface only | Light maintenance |
| Steam cleaning | Yes, on contact | Partly, on the surface | Useful only if dried fast |
| Sprays | Partly | No | Maintenance between washes |
| Sunlight and airing | Partly | No | Free, occasional |
| Zipped encasement | Starves them | Seals it in | The permanent fix |
Vacuuming only reaches the top layer. Most of the allergen sits deeper in the fibres where suction can't get to it. Use a sealed HEPA vacuum on the surface only and treat it as light upkeep.
Steam is hot enough to kill mites it touches, but it pushes moisture into the mattress. If the mattress stays damp, you have made the warm, humid conditions mites love, and you risk mould. Steam the surface only, run a dehumidifier or fan straight afterwards, and make sure the mattress is completely dry before you make the bed.
Sunlight heats and dries the surface, which mites dislike. It is free and worth doing on a dry, sunny day, though UK weather makes it an occasional extra rather than a plan.
Sealing it is the only step that keeps working every night. A zipped mattress protector stops your skin flakes getting in to feed the mites inside, and stops their allergen getting out to reach you. The colony inside dies off and you stop breathing in what it leaves behind.
If you sleep on a topper, it needs the same treatment. Read whether to encase, replace or bin your mattress topper.
Free 6-Step Dust Mite Plan + Checklist
Quick, proven methods to breathe easier and sleep better.
Includes a printable weekly checklist to keep you on track.
Get My Free Guide + ChecklistGetting rid of dust mites in the rest of the house
After the bed, dust mites collect wherever there is soft fabric and dust.
Carpets. Hard floors are best because there are fewer fibres for mites to live in. If you can't replace your carpets, HEPA vacuum them weekly and steam clean monthly, drying the room well afterwards. Our guide to steam cleaners vs shampooers for dust mites compares the two.
Sofa. Leather, faux leather or sofas with washable covers are easiest. For fabric sofas, vacuum weekly with a HEPA vacuum and wash any removable covers at 60°C.
Car. Fabric car seats collect skin flakes and stay humid, especially in winter. Here is how to get rid of dust mites in car seats.
Curtains. Swap heavy curtains for blinds, or wash curtains regularly.
Air. A HEPA air purifier catches allergen particles floating in the bedroom air. Run it continuously in the bedroom, sized for the room, on a quiet night mode. See our HEPA air purifier.
What kills dust mites, and what doesn't
- Heat: works. A 60°C wash kills dust mites and removes their allergen.
- Steam: works, if you dry it fast. It kills mites on contact but leaves moisture behind.
- Freezing: kills mites, not the allergen. It works for pillows and soft toys, but the allergen stays, so wash the item afterwards or put a protector on top.
- Sprays on their own: not enough. They kill the mites they touch but don't reach deep inside a mattress or remove the allergen. Use them as maintenance, not as the fix.
- Sunlight: helps a little. It dries and warms the surface but doesn't reach inside.
Watch Richard explain which dust mite treatments actually work and which are a waste of money:
If you need to act tonight, read our guide on how to kill dust mites instantly.
How to choose a dust mite cover that actually works
Many cheap covers are just fitted sheets with a zip. A cover only works if mites and their allergen can't pass through any part of it. Check for:
- A 5 micron barrier or smaller. A dust mite is around 250 microns and its allergen particles 10 to 40 microns, so a 5 micron barrier stops both.
- Zipped on all six sides. A cover that only goes over the top leaves the underside open. The zip itself needs to be dust mite proof.
- Washable at 60°C, so you can kill mites and wash off allergen without damaging the barrier.
- Independent testing and OEKO-TEX certification, so you know the barrier claim is real and the fabric is safe for sensitive skin.
- Soft and quiet. If it crinkles or feels like plastic, you won't keep it on.
iDustMite mattress and pillow protectors have a 5 micron membrane bonded inside soft eucalyptus silk. It is breathable, so moisture can escape, and it is quiet under your sheet. Our duvet protector is made without a membrane, so it stays light like a normal duvet cover.
Not sure if covers are worth it? Read do dust mite covers actually work and cheap vs expensive dust mite covers.
How long until you notice a difference?
The barrier works from night one. Most people start noticing less congestion and irritation within one to two weeks, with a clearer improvement by the end of the first month.
Keep washing your bedding at 60°C every week and keep the humidity down while that happens. The protectors stop new allergen reaching you, and the weekly wash clears what is already in your sheets.
Frequently asked questions
Can you ever completely get rid of dust mites?
No. Dust mites live in almost every home. The aim is to cut your exposure to their allergen, mainly in your bed, which is enough for most people's symptoms to ease.
Does hoovering the mattress get rid of them?
Not on its own. Vacuuming only reaches the surface, and a vacuum without a HEPA filter can blow allergen into the air. Seal the mattress in a zipped protector and vacuum the top with a HEPA vacuum as light upkeep.
What temperature kills dust mites?
Wash at 60°C. That kills dust mites and washes away their allergen. Cooler washes rinse some allergen out but do not reliably kill the mites.
Does freezing a pillow work?
Freezing kills dust mites but does not remove the allergen they leave behind. Wash the pillow afterwards if it can take it, or put a dust mite protector on it.
Do sprays work on their own?
No. Sprays kill the mites they touch but don't reach deep inside a mattress or pillow and don't remove the allergen. They are useful between washes, not as the main fix.
Do I need a new mattress?
No. Sealing your mattress in a zipped protector locks the allergen inside away from you, so your existing mattress is fine to keep using.
How often should I wash bedding?
Wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers every week at 60°C. Wash dust mite protectors once a month at 60°C and air dry them.
How do I know if I have dust mites in my bed?
You can't see them, so look at your symptoms. If you wake up sneezing, blocked or itchy, feel worse after making the bed, and feel better when you sleep away from home, dust mites in your bed are a likely cause. Take our free 1-minute quiz to check.
The fastest way to cut dust mites in your bed is to seal mattress, pillows and duvet in one go.
Chosen by NHS doctors and nurses for their own beds.
Shop Dust Mite ProtectorsOr start with the mattress protector.
Not sure what you need? Call Richard on 020 3048 2522 and he'll tell you exactly what's right for your bed.
Full Dust Mite Allergy Symptoms
Dust mite allergy can affect your skin, breathing, eyes, sleep and energy. If you recognise several of these, the steps above will help reduce exposure.
Dust Mite Allergy - Skin
- Itchy skin, red patches or hives
- Scratch marks from night-time itching
- Itchy scalp
Dust Mite Allergy Nose / Throat / Chest
- Runny or blocked nose, post-nasal drip
- Cough, wheeze or asthma flare-ups
- Facial pressure or sinus issues
Dust Mite Allergy Eyes
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Dry, flaky skin around the eyes
- Crusting on waking
Dust Mite Allergy Effects on Sleep and Mental Health
- Poor sleep, waking congested
- Daytime tiredness or “foggy” head
Dust Mite Allergy Effects on Children
- Frequent nose rubbing
- Loud breathing
- Rashes in places they can’t easily scratch
- Faster breathing during flare-ups
