Dust mites only die in the freezer

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.

Kill dust mites with cold? That works - but only when it is clearly below zero. Just putting textiles and soft toys in the refrigerator is not enough in the fight against arachnids.

The nose runny, the eyes itchy: Especially in the cold season, when the heating is running at full speed, people who are allergic to house dust mites suffer. The good news: Similar to head lice, cold is an effective remedy for unwelcome pets. The refrigerator is not sufficient for this, however.

Mites survive slight minus degrees

A current study by the American Dayton University shows the temperatures at which the mites die. The scientists led by the biologist Prof. Larry Arlian have frozen female mites for four to 48 hours at minus 4, minus 12 and minus 15 degrees Celsius.

The result shows that the refrigerator is insufficient to kill the mites. After 24 hours at minus four degrees, more than 60 percent of the test animals were still alive. A fifth of the survivors were still able to lay eggs after the trip to the freezer.

The scientists therefore recommend allergy sufferers to freeze smaller home textiles and soft toys at least at minus 12 degrees Celsius for 12 hours. A standard freezer reaches minus 12 to minus 15 degrees.

Off to the freezer!

After 24 hours at minus 15 degrees Celsius, more than half of the mites died within five days of thawing. No mite was able to reproduce after the cold shock. After 15 days all animals were dead.

Another strategy for those allergic to mite faeces: Avoid dust. The fewer textiles, curtains and dust catchers in your own four walls, the fewer unpleasant roommates. Special covers for mattresses, blankets and pillows also prevent mites from settling in the bed.

Every seventh is affected

In the case of a house dust mite allergy, the immune system is overly sensitive to substances in the excrement of the house dust mites. The tiny arachnids live in textiles and mattresses. Your excretions mix with our house dust and buzz around the rooms. The load increases, especially when it is heated.

According to estimates by the Allergy Information Service of the Helmholtz Zentrum München, around seven percent of Germans suffer from year-round house dust mite allergy. In children and adolescents, house dust mites are the second most common allergy trigger after grass.

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