If your home is infested with dust mites, you probably tried everything to get rid of these microscopic creatures. But have you ever considered vinegar for killing dust mites? You should know that vinegar is the most favored way for environmentally conscious people because vinegar has acidic properties, which help cut down hard water deposits and other stains without causing any danger to you or your family.
Vinegar is often used for household cleaning purposes, but you can even use it for keeping pest control. The acidity of the vinegar is lethal for pests such as dust mites.
Vinegar products common in households include apple cider vinegar and white vinegar, which has acidity ranging between 4-10 percent. If you have anything above 10 acidity levels, know that it could be dangerous to work with.
What Is Vinegar Made Of?
Contents
Vinegar is a transparent solution of trace compounds and acetic acid that might include a little flavoring. You need to know that a vinegar product contains 5-8 percent of acetic acid, and it is produced by fermentation of sugars or ethanol by acetic acid bacteria.
However, white distilled vinegar is considered best for household use, whilst apple cider vinegar is most often used as a dietary supplement.
Does Vinegar Kill Dust Mites?
Everybody knows that completely eradicating dust mites is quite impossible, but you can significantly reduce the allergen particles to prevent the chances of spreading out allergies. Vinegar has proven to steer clear the infestation of dust mites and other small creatures.
Another great thing about using vinegar is that it will destroy the protein present inside the bodies of dust mites.
As you already know that protein is the main substance that triggers allergic symptoms in sensitive people. The acetic acid present in vinegar assists in breaking down the protein, just like during the cooking process of denaturation.
Does White Vinegar Kill Dust Mites?
Regular white vinegar is most often used in households for cooking, cleaning, and many other purposes.
Yes, you can use white vinegar for dealing with dust mites, but it won’t kill them. Instead, it will destroy the protein present in dust mites’ feces. The leading cause of spreading out allergies is due to the protein present in dust mites feces.
Even if you manage to kill or remove dust mites from your bedding, mattresses, or any other fabric, the protein still can trigger allergic symptoms in sensitive people and spread out allergen particles in the air.
If you use white vinegar, it will break down the dust mites’ feces and make it easier to wipe it down from the fabric by washing machine.
Benefits Of Using Vinegar
Aside from its household uses, vinegar also has other benefits that you can enjoy. Some of the benefits are as follows.
- Vinegar is popular for its antimicrobial properties that remove food-borne bacteria like listeria and salmonella.
- A recent study has shown that vinegar can kill bacteria better than Clorox and Lysol products.
- You can create a polish solution by mixing vinegar with baking soda or salt.
- You can kill soap scum, mold, and mildew using vinegar.
- You can make a scouring cleaner when vinegar is combined with baking soda and dish soap.
How To Use Vinegar To Kill Dust Mites
Killing the dust mites won’t be as simple as buying a chemical from a store, but you can destroy the allergy causing protein by using vinegar. If you opted for vinegar as a cleaning agent, you should follow the below steps to get the best results.
Steps To Follow
- First, get a distilled white vinegar, a spray bottle, and some sponges or clean cloths.
- After that, you need to pour the vinegar into the bottle and add some water to dilute the solution. However, it is recommended to use undiluted vinegar to get the best results.
- Now spray the solution over the dust mites infected area and leave it for a couple of minutes to settle down.
- After that, rinse the fabric or cloth thoroughly or use the sponges to wipe down the dust mites feces.
How To Keep Safe When Using Vinegar
When you are using vinegar for killing dust mites, there are several things that you have to keep in mind to ensure you are on the safe side.
You can’t mix vinegar with bleach because this mixture will produce chlorine gas, which is lethal for humans and pets. In some cases, you can even end up in hospital.
You should also remember that using a mixture of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide can irritate the skin. However, it won’t be as lethal as the mixture of vinegar and bleach. So, it would be better to prevent yourself from making these mixtures.
You should keep your children and pets away from vinegar and other cleaning products to prevent the chances of causing harm to children.
Also Read: Does Baking Soda Kill Dust Mites?
Alternative Natural Methods To Kill Dust Mites
Dust mites are the most annoying creatures that cause respiratory problems in sensitive people. If your home is infested with dust mites, you are probably looking for some powerful alternative for killing these microscopic creatures.
Well, you should know that completely wiping out the dust mites is quite challenging, but you can still get rid of most allergen particles spread out by these creatures. If you find vinegar overwhelming or underrated, you use other natural alternatives to get the best results.
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Essential Oils
Essential oils are harmful to these creatures. All you have to do is use the best essential oil for dust mites, dilute with vinegar or water, and spray it over the mattress. After that, let it settle down and vacuum it thoroughly to remove most of the allergen particles.
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Washing
Washing is among the top natural ways to get rid of dust mites, and most people use it to reduce the effectiveness of dust mites. You can kill most dust mites while washing in 130 F hot water and drying it to remove the dust mites’ feces.
Final Words
Vinegar is among the popular ways of dealing with dust mites, allowing you to effectively reduce the effectiveness of dust mites.
