Dust mites in your mattress
You can't see them, you can't hear them, but you're probably sharing your bed with millions of them. Dust mites. These microscopic arachnids are the permanent residents of almost every mattress in the Netherlands. In themselves they wouldn't hurt a fly, but their droppings are a disaster for your health. Do you often wake up with a blocked nose, sneezing fits or itchy eyes? Chances are you're allergic to dust mites in your mattress.
Want to know how to deal with these unwanted guests? In this article we explain why they love your bed so much and give you a definitive step-by-step plan for cleaning dust mites out of your mattress.
Why your bed is a paradise for mites
Dust mites need three things to survive: warmth, moisture and food. Your mattress offers all of this in abundance.
- Food: A person sheds millions of skin flakes every night. This is the main course for the mite.
- Moisture: We sweat and breathe in bed, which creates the ideal humidity.
- Shelter: The thick layers of foam and textile offer a safe, dark place to lay eggs.
Because your mattress can never go in the washing machine, the population builds up year after year. A mattress that's never cleaned can literally become heavier after a few years due to the build-up of mites and their droppings.
How do you recognise the problem?
Because the critters are only 0.3 millimetres in size, you can't see them with the naked eye. You mainly notice their presence in your own body.
- Morning symptoms: Sneezing and a runny nose right after getting up.
- Tight chest: Wheezing or asthma-like symptoms in the bedroom.
- Skin: Eczema or unexplained itching.
- Eyes: Red, watery or swollen eyelids.
Sound familiar? Then it's time for action. Just washing your sheets isn't enough anymore; you need to tackle the source.
Cleaning dust mites out of your mattress: the only method that works
Many people think vacuuming is enough. Unfortunately not: vacuuming does remove the skin flakes (the food), but the live mites cling to the fibres with their little legs. To get rid of dust mites in your mattress, you need to bring out the big guns.
Here's the winning strategy: Kill & Remove.
Step 1: Kill with heat (Steam Cleaner)
Dust mites don't survive temperatures above 60 degrees. Washing isn't an option, so steam is your best weapon. Use a powerful steam cleaner, such as the Achaté Steam Cleaner PRO (Product of the Year 2025).
- The dry, hot steam penetrates deep into the ticking and instantly kills all mites, bacteria and eggs.
- Because this device works with 'dry steam', your mattress doesn't get soaked, which prevents mould.
Step 2: Remove allergens (Vacuum cleaner)
Now that the mites are dead, you're not done yet. The dead mites and their leftover droppings still cause allergic reactions. You now need to vacuum these away. Use a vacuum cleaner with high suction power and a special upholstery attachment, such as the Achaté Stick Vacuum PRO.
- Slowly vacuum the mattress strip by strip.
- The powerful motor pulls the fine dust and allergens out of the deep fibres.
Step 3: Prevent with bedding
Wash your bedding (pillowcases, duvet cover and mattress protector) weekly at a minimum of 60 degrees. Mites survive lower temperatures.
Prevention: keep the population low
You'll never wipe them out completely, but you can make life hard for the mites.
- Airing: Don't make your bed straight away in the morning. Fold back the duvet and open the window wide. Mites hate dry, fresh air and sunlight.
- Low humidity: Try to keep the humidity in the bedroom below 50%.
- No plants or carpet: Furnish your bedroom with 'smooth' surfaces. Carpet and fabric curtains are extra hotels for mites.
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