10 Responses

1. sareee

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   1

   I would suggest using hydrogen peroxide instead of rubbing alcohol, since sunlight breaks it down to pure water when it’s exposed. That’s why they sell it in those dark brown bottles. That way there would be no harsh chemical smell to your bed and it would be less likely to bleach the fabric.

   But yes, you should definitely regularly vacuum your matress. (So speaks a girl who sold Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door in college. The things I pulled out of people mattresses on a demo would make anyone shudder.)

2. redhotboxsoxfan

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   2

   Not to inhale, but until the fumes go away, it can catch on fire.

3. harish_usa

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   3

   Rubbing alocohol with sufficient concentration can kill dust mites. You could also use dettol. After u dry and vacuum, it will not be dangerous. In fact alcohol evaporates and leaves your mattress.

4. Bryan

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   4

   No, in fact after about 10 minutes the smell goes away. It is only toxic to drink but the smell really won’t have any affect on you unless it was a highly concentrated amount and even then the affects would be minimal like a headache. And it isn’t really that flammable I would way it is like 1000 less flammable than any arasol product, and it evaporates so quickly that unless you were trying to burn your house down you’ll be fine.

5. Bette

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   5

   there won’t be any traces left after it dries and what you are vacuuming up are the mites.

6. - Ryan - myspace/RyanReed

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   6

   One easy way to minimize dust mites is to actually leave the top cover of your bed OFF, while you are at work or out and about.

   Dust mites thrive in cool dark areas…like in nicely made beds….

7. versantly

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   7

   the dust mites are microscopic and will be around long after the alcohol dries. take care of the messes you can see.

8. Carole Q

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   8

   Rubbing alcohol evaporates & not dangerous.
   The only method I know that really works is from an UVC light. Feces and dried body parts is what float in the air to create allergies – - ‘watering’ them down just reduces temporary air travel.

   Can put plastic mattress & pillow covers prior to sheets & pillow cases to help keep dust mites from you. They feed on your dried-dead skin cells. Eliminate their food supply.

   The only full proof method I’m aware is the UVC light used by the website below. My son’s best friend does this in Sioux Falls, SD. There are other locations. They are not very expensive either.

9. paullucky

   July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

   9

   yes, alcohol is dangerous to inhale–just get yourself a new mattress

10. skaizun

    July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    10

    With normal cleaning of your sheets and linens, dust mites are not a threat to anyone, unless you have an extreme allergic reaction, which would be highly unusual (i.e., people forced to live in a sterile environment). Although alcohol will evaporate/dissipate quite quickly, and not be an overall threat, the water will remain in your mattress for quite a while, and could soak and ruin the mattress. Also, vacuuming the mattress is not only difficult, but can actually cause the mites to be spread across the room.

    Instead, wipe the exposed mattress with a CLEAN DRY CLOTH OR TOWEL (do NOT use paper towels), as if you were trying to get the critters into a single part of the mattress (i.e., from the edges to the center would be easiest). Using a brush, pick up and residue that was wiped, then dispose of the brushed gunk and the cloth/towel. Then, take ordinary baby powder, and sprinkle it THINLY on top of the entire mattress (you don’t have to make the entire mattress snow white! a 10% coverage is plenty). Then, take ANOTHER CLEAN DRY CLOTH OR TOWEL, and GENTLY wipe the powder across the entire mattress (if you’re sensitive to talc, you might want to wear a mask or just put a towel enough to partially block your nose and mouth, yet so you can continue breathing, of course!); personally, I use my clean hand to spread the powder. Wait a few seconds for the talc to settle (we’re not talking clouds of the stuff!), then put CLEAN sheets on top of it. The now-enclosed, talc-covered, mattress should choke any remaining mites, eventually (you won’t know one way or the other!).

    Again, it is highly unlikely that you might have a mite problem (pun intended!). But, if you genuinely believe that you have a problem (you can’t see dust mites or their feces, unless the mattress and linens haven’t been cleaned in years, in which case, they would appear as mold-like, discolored swatches on the mattress and linens), then you might want to consider buying a new mattress.