Pesticides

• No pesticides are currently available in the United States that are designed to kill dust mites. However, the chemicals benzyl benzoate and tannic acid are effective mite killers, and using them in specific areas of your home like beds or bedrooms may reduce dust mite populations.
  
  

Alternatives

• Eucalyptus oil will kill dust mites. Add two teaspoons of the oil to your laundry when you wash your bedding, and it will kill any dust mites hiding in your sheets. Washing pillows and any stuffed animals on beds with eucalyptus oil will help keep dust mites away, according to "Health and Wellness," by Gordon Edlin and Eric Golanty (2009).
  
  

Considerations

• Covering your mattress with a mite-proof pad, removing carpets and padded furniture from your bedroom, and frequently washing your bedding can help reduce exposure to dust mites and help ease allergy symptoms. Keeping the humidity level down in your home can also help, according to the Ohio State University Extension.