Does Clorox Kill Dust Mites?

Dust mites are resilient mites that are found in the home. They are very small and prefer living in mattresses and carpets, upholstery and furniture. In some cases, they cause allergies. In this article, we examine the use of Clorox in fighting dust mites in your home.

Clorox is a company that sells bleach and other cleaning products.

What is Clorox made of?

Clorox is made up of five chemicals, all dissolved in water. The key ingredient in Clorox is sodium hypochlorite. The sodium hypochlorite is derived from salt and is responsible for carrying out the bleaching, stain removal, and disinfecting functions of the solution. The other four ingredients in the solution include:

• Sodium chloride (which is the actual salt). This is responsible for thickening the solution and giving it stability.
• Sodium carbonate (washing soda). This ingredient breaks down alcohol and greasy stains on clothes. This agent is alkaline in nature.
• Sodium hydroxide ( Iye). It is responsible for breaking down fatty, oily, and acidic stains.
• Sodium polyacrylate. This ingredient is a dispersant, meaning it prevents soil that has been loosened from depositing back during laundry.

Does Clorox kill dust mites?

For a company to make claims that their product kills dust mites, the product must be regulated by the EPA.  The EPA must then provide the product with a registration number.

Clorox is registered by the EPA as both a sanitizer and a disinfectant. It is effective in killing bacteria, viruses, and even fungi. However, the manufacturer makes no claims to Clorox’s effectiveness in killing dust mites. It does not have a registration number for such.

Bleach is, however, known to kill dust mites. During the laundry process, one has the choice of using either cold or warm temperatures. However, for those who suffer from dust mite allergies, hot temperatures are recommended in cleaning.

While this might be the case, the environmentally friendly option is lower temperatures. As such, incorporating bleach while washing clothes comes in handy in killing the dust mites. The moment you spray bleach on the dust mites, you are able to eliminate their eggs. That means they will not be back in your home.

Seeing that the active ingredient in bleach is the same as that in Clorox, it is safe to suggest that Clorox does kill dust mites. They work in the same way on both clothes and in eradicating the dust mites.

Precautions when using Clorox to kill dust mites

While Clorox can help kill dust mites, it is advisable to take certain precautions when incorporating its use because it can also be harmful. The precautions include:

1. Storing Clorox away from children’s reach

In case you have children in your home, store Clorox away from their reach. Ensure they are locked away, preferably in a high and safe place. It is also advisable to mark or label them correctly. Be sure to include the correct numbers for reaching the poison control center around your area in case of accidents.

2. Avoid mixing Clorox with other cleaning products

Keep other cleaning products away from Clorox, especially if they contain ammonia or other acidic products. That is because contact between these chemicals and those in Clorox could result in the production of very toxic gas that could end up fatal. Clorox should only be in contact with water.

3. Wearing gloves to avoid damaging your hands

It is advisable to put on some gloves whenever you are using Clorox in cleaning, disinfecting, or your laundry. These will keep your hands protected. You will be able to avoid the damage that would have occurred if you used bare hands. Bare hands, in this case, are susceptible to scaling or bleeding since Clorox can be rough on one’s skin.

This also applies if you’re highly allergic to chemicals. If that’s the case, these cleaning products are better alternatives.

4. Keeping windows open

You should ensure your windows are open, and the room in which you are using Clorox is well ventilated in order to stay safe from any gases produced.

How to use Clorox for dust mites

Clorox is a powerful agent that should be diluted in water before being used in laundry. It acts as a disinfectant and generally whitens your clothing. Whenever you are using it for laundry, make sure you use the correct time and set it at the correct temperature.

When the harmful dust mites come into contact with the Clorox, they are eliminated much faster. The Clorox acts as a bleach activator, allowing you to use a lower temperature to achieve the full effect of the bleaching agent.

Is there a better way of killing dust mites?

The answer is yes! There exist a number of ways to kill dust mites. They are, in fact, safer than Clorox. They include:

Essential oils

Essential oils are originally from plants and have been used by human beings for many years Dust mites are very resilient and can survive in temperatures of up to 54 degrees. However, the use of essential oils such as eucalyptus essential oil is effective in the killing of dust mites. Others like clove, rosemary, lavender, and tea tree also serve the purpose.

The process is simple. All it requires is for you to add a few drops of the essential oil to your detergent or the laundry washer you are using. Let the clothes soak for a few minutes, preferably 10-15 minutes, then proceed with the washing. Just always make sure you do not directly apply these essential oils to the clothes. Mix the oils with water to keep your clothes safe, although they generally do not stain your clothes.

Essential oils are therefore a safe and effective pick in the fight against dust mites

Natural dust mite sprays

With the resilience of dust mites, it is not easy to find the right dust mite sprays. However, natural dust mite sprays are a safe option, especially if the user suffers from dust mite allergies. You can even make your own dust mite repellant sprays by using the essential oils already mentioned.

The dust mites will be repulsed by their smell while you enjoy it. Just fill a spray bottle with water, add a few drops of the essential oils, then lightly spray the mixture on your bed and allow it to dry for a few minutes.