Does Borax Kill Dust Mites?

If you suffer from dust mite allergies, you’re probably always on the lookout for ways to reduce the little bugs that cause your allergies.

Dust mites like to burrow in your carpet, hang out on your bookshelf, and snuggle up in your clothes, so eliminating dust from any of these areas will help to reduce the dust mite problems in your home!

If you are wondering about the effectiveness of Borax, you are in the right place. Read on to learn how Borax works and how you can use it control dust mites.

What are the Differences Between Borax and Boric Acid?

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, boric acid is a natural pesticide that is commonly found in products. Boric acid is useful in fighting pests like spiders, insects, mold, and even weeds. Of course, it also kills dust mites!

So, how does boric acid Work? This substance kills bugs if they ingest it. It destroys their nervous and digestive systems. It can also hurt bugs by scratching them if they walk over it.

If humans come in contact with boric acid, it can irritate skin and if ingested, will cause nausea and other symptoms. So be careful when using boric acid around pets and children!

Borax, on the other hand, is the raw form of boric acid. This is the actual mineral that is mined from the ground. If it is refined and processed, it becomes boric acid.

Borax available from the store, and since it is much coarser than boric acid, it is not labeled as a pesticide at all. Generally, it is a laundry additive or an ingredient in land soap.

Does 20 Mule Team Borax Kill Dust Mites?

Check Price

20 Mule Team Borax is a laundry detergent booster that makes your laundry soap work harder. It’s a common multipurpose household cleaner, and it is often used to battle dust mites. Does it work?

Borax is lethal to bugs when ingested. Therefore, it can kill any insect that does not have piercing mouthparts. Basically, any bug that does not bite stick you (things ants and bed bugs) can be killed with borax.

Since dust mites don’t have piercing mouth parts, Borax can kill dust mites! While most products have relatively low amounts of Borax in their makeup, 20 Mule Team Borax has a higher concentration of Borax than other products, which makes it more effective at killing dust mites.

You can find 20 Mule Team Borax at most stores that carry laundry soaps, or you can buy it online.

Does Borax Kill Dust Mites in Laundry?

If you use Borax in your laundry, will it kill the bugs? While Borax doesn’t do much damage unless the dust mites ingest it, using Borax in your laundry can potentially help get rid of dust mites.

Washing clothes always helps to reduce dust mite allergens. Whatever the bugs secrete can be washed away with soap and water. If you use bleach and a bleach booster, you can also kill dust mites that are in your laundry.

If the dust mites in your laundry survive the wash, they may end up eating some of it once your laundry comes out of the washer and dryer.

If this seems like a bit of a stretch, that’s because it is. Borax won’t work its magic unless the bugs are eating it, so using Borax in your laundry likely won’t do as much as you hoped. It will, however, make your laundry cleaner, so it doesn’t hurt to use it anyway!

Does Borax Kill Dust Mites in Carpet?

Dust mites love to live in carpet. If you sprinkle Borax in your carpet, you can attack the little pests in one of their favorite hideouts. The dust mites will be sure to eat the Borax, and they will die.

Dead dust mites are still an allergen, since the proteins in dust mite bodies that cause an allergic reaction will be present even after the bug is dead. Because you this, you should steam clean your carpet to get rid of the dead dust mites after you have killed them with Borax.

It is also important to be careful when using Borax in places where it can come in contact with children or pets. Borax is toxic, and if it is ingested by children or pets, it can cause illness.

If you have kids or pets who might ingest the Borax, it may be best to skip the Borax carpet treatment. At the very least, you must be careful to keep children, cats, and dogs out of the area while the Borax is in the carpet.

Conclusion

Using Borax is a good way to control dust mites in your home. Using Borax won’t get rid of dust mites in either carpets or laundry, but it can help to reduce the number of live dust mites living in your house.

While nothing beats keeping things clean and as dust-free as possible, this is a great household cleaner that you can use to further reduce dust mites.

Borax products are cheap and easy to find, which makes them idea for getting rid of dust mites as well as other pests! The one drawback is that it is not safe for humans to ingest, so you will have to keep an eye on the kids and pets in your home when Borax is in your house.

Overall, Borax is a useful tool in fighting dust mites. Don’t expect it to work wonders, but do expect results.