Learn effective methods to eliminate dust mites from stuffed toys, ensuring a healthier environment for your children. Discover cleaning tips for allergy-free playtime and easier breathing.
When my children were young, I had my son and daughter allergy tested and both tests came back positive to an allergy to dust mites. Dust mite allergy is one of the most common allergies, and I’m sure most people don’t realise this could be the reason behind a lot of sinus or hay fever symptoms. The symptoms presented in each of my children were quite different. My daughter would always rub her eyes which then ended up causing eczema around that area. My son had dark circles under his eyes and a constant running nose, causing fluid in his ears which reduced his ability to hear properly. I was quite shocked when the doctor told me they were both allergic to dust mites as I have always kept the house clean and tidy.
Dust mites like to hide in the following:
- Soft teddies
- Doonas/Quilts
- Sheet
- Mattress
- Pillows
- Curtains
- Carpet
- Sheepskin / woollen underlays
- Furniture and Clothes
We all know kids love their teddies, so rather than a cranky child at night, clean dust mites off stuffed toys in the morning, so they can dry during the day and be ready again for them in the evening.
How I clean dust mites off stuffed toys
- I put the teddies and stuffed animals into a washing bag.
- Add 4-6 drops of tea tree essential oil in a hot wash cycle with my regular detergent.
- Reshape them if they have gotten squashed in the wash.
- Either hang them by the ears to dry or lay them flat to dry.
- Give them a little dry brush to get them looking fluffy again.
We have kept the teddies which are most special to them and gave the rest to charity. Not all charities will take used stuffed toys so if they are in good condition, you can always take them to a women’s shelter for the kids.
What do you do with the excess of kids stuffed animals at home?
If you’re like me, dusting isn’t your favourite cleaning task, but it’s important to keep our homes clean and healthy. One area that can accumulate dust and other allergens quickly is on stuffed toys, they are so small you won’t notice the dust mites on stuffed toys. Taking these steps can greatly reduce the amount of dust and dust mites in our homes, keeping us all healthy in the long run.
