It is a very common practice in some households, but one that may not have the desired effect. Many of us have heard of dust mites, microscopic organisms that live inside our homes, thriving in warm, humid environments such as mattresses, bedding and carpets.
They are so small that it is impossible to detect them with the naked eye, but we can notice signs of their presence, such as waking up with a dry cough, itchy dry eyes or feeling congested every morning.
And one of the most common household tricks that is often used to get rid of them is to expose bed linen and pillows to the sun for a few minutes. We open the blinds wide and let the sunlight fall on these items, heating them up and, in theory, disinfecting their surface.
Bed linen in the sun to get rid of mites
The idea makes a lot of sense, as the sun and the heat it can generate is capable of destroying many microorganisms and can in fact help to reduce the population of dust mites in bed linen. But for it to be really effective, the sun must be strong and shine fully on the bed linen.
If all we do is air it out and let the light shine on the pillow a little, we will only kill a small number of mites that are living in the most superficial area of the clothes and especially the pillow, as the neuroscientist and clinical phytotherapist Julio César Luchmann explains on his Instagram account.
The scientist explains that when the pillow is exposed to the sun, the heat only reaches the outer layer, affecting the mites on the surface. However, the temperature inside the pillow does not reach high enough levels to eliminate the mites lodged deeper down, which will then come out again and reproduce.
For these microorganisms to be eliminated, the pillow would have to be exposed to a significantly higher temperature for a long period of time, something that the sun generally cannot provide, unless we are on a very hot summer’s day and we take it out onto the street or terrace for a long period of time, reaching more than 50-60 ºC. So how can we kill them effectively?
Dust mites live at an ideal temperature of between 15 and 21 °C, so if we want to kill those that have settled in the sheets, pillow and mattress, we have to wash the bedding in hot water at over 60 °C at least once a week, since According to the American Thoracic Society, washing clothes at 30°C or 40°C only kills between 6.2% and 6.5% of dust mites.
It is recommended to dry the sheets in a tumble dryer if possible, as this additional heat will eliminate any surviving dust mites. Drying outside is another good idea, as the sun’s ultraviolet rays will eliminate any dust mites, bacteria or allergens left behind after washing.
In addition, dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments. Bedrooms are particularly humid, as we exhale moisture while we sleep, which passes into the air and, if the doors and windows are closed, can become trapped. If we have a bathroom, the steam from the hot shower can again cause excess water in the air, creating a humid environment.
To avoid this, we can try to reduce the humidity by opening the windows during the coolest hours of the day or even invest in a dehumidifier which, as well as eliminating humidity, can also combat condensation, mould and unpleasant odours.
