How to Get Rid of Dust Mites in Your Pillows

By Maya Ellis 8 min read

To get rid of dust mites in your pillows, wash everything you can in hot water that reaches at least 130°F (54.4°C), which is the temperature the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Mayo Clinic say kills dust mites. If a pillow can be machine washed, run it on a hot cycle and dry it fully. If it cannot, the AAFA suggests replacing it about every two years and using an allergen-blocking cover in the meantime.

Key takeaways

Controlling dust mites requires a 3-part routine: washing bedding at 130°F (54.4°C), keeping bedroom humidity below 50%, and using zippered protectors:

Heat is what kills dust mites. AAFA and Mayo Clinic recommend washing bedding in water at 130°F (54.4°C) or hotter.
The dryer helps too. Mayo Clinic says 15 minutes in a dryer above 130°F will kill mites on items you cannot wash hot.
Dust mites do not bite. The AAFA confirms the allergy comes from their droppings and body parts, not bites.
Prevention is a routine: allergen-proof covers, indoor humidity below 50%, weekly hot washes, and replacing pillows roughly every two years.
A fully washable pillow is one practical way to keep up with the weekly hot-wash routine these experts recommend.

What kills dust mites in pillows?

Heat kills dust mites. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and Mayo Clinic both recommend washing bedding in hot water that reaches at least 130°F (54.4°C). At that temperature, the mites cannot survive. Mayo Clinic advises washing sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and bedcovers weekly in water this hot to kill mites and rinse away the allergens they leave behind.

One caution: many home water heaters are set around 120°F to prevent scalding, so your tap may not reach 130°F on its own. That is why the dryer step below matters, and why some people raise their wash temperature only for bedding loads. If a pillow has a care label that allows machine washing, a hot cycle plus a thorough dry is the most direct way to handle the mites living inside it.

How do you get rid of dust mites in pillows, step by step?

The goal is simple: apply enough heat to kill the mites, then remove the allergens. Here is a routine built around what the AAFA and Mayo Clinic recommend at 130°F (54.4°C). Always check your pillow's care label first, since solid memory foam and some down pillows are not made to be machine washed.

Check the care label. Confirm the pillow is washable and at what temperature. If it says spot clean only, skip to prevention and consider replacing it.
Wash hot. Run a hot cycle at 130°F (54.4°C) or higher when the label allows it. Wash pillowcases and sheets in the same way, weekly.
Dry thoroughly. A damp pillow can grow mold, so dry it completely. Mayo Clinic also notes that 15 minutes in a dryer above 130°F kills mites on items you cannot wash hot.
Use a cover. Put the clean pillow back inside an allergen-proof encasement to keep new mites from settling in.
Repeat on a schedule. Wash bedding weekly and reassess the pillow itself every couple of years.

What temperature kills dust mites?

Dust mites are killed at 130°F (54.4°C). Both the AAFA and Mayo Clinic name this figure for washing bedding, and Mayo Clinic states it again for the dryer. Warm or cold washes may clean the fabric and remove some allergens, but they will not reliably kill the mites, which is why the heat threshold is the part worth getting right.

Method	What experts recommend	Source
Hot water wash	At least 130°F (54.4°C), weekly	AAFA, Mayo Clinic
Dryer	15+ minutes above 130°F for items you can't wash hot	Mayo Clinic
Indoor humidity	Keep relative humidity below 50%	AAFA, Mayo Clinic
Replace pillows	About every 2 years	AAFA

Does the dryer kill dust mites?

Yes. Mayo Clinic says that if bedding cannot be washed in hot water, putting it in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130°F (54.4°C) will kill the mites.

This is useful for pillows and items where a hot wash is not practical, or as a finishing step after washing. Drying fully is also good hygiene on its own, since a pillow that stays damp can grow mold and mildew.

Because heat is doing the work, a pillow you can put through a hot wash and a full dry cycle fits this routine neatly. The Pillowash Crisp Pillow is built to be fully washable, so it can go through the same hot-and-dry cycle experts recommend for the rest of your bedding rather than being set aside as a spot-clean-only item.

Do dust mites bite?

No. The AAFA is clear that dust mites have 0 stingers and do not bite, sting, or burrow into your skin, and they do not spread disease.

They are not parasites. What people react to is allergic, not a bite: the immune system responds to proteins in dust mite droppings and decaying body parts. So if you wake up itchy or congested, it is most likely an allergic reaction to those allergens rather than anything biting you in the night.

This distinction matters for cleaning, because dead mites and their waste can still trigger symptoms even after the live mites are gone. That is why the routine is two parts: kill the mites with heat, then wash the allergens away.

How do you prevent dust mites in pillows?

Prevention is a routine, not a single fix. The AAFA and Mayo Clinic recommend 5 practical habits that, together, keep mite populations and their allergens low. None of these cures an allergy, but experts say they reduce your exposure to the things that set symptoms off.

Use allergen-proof encasements. Mayo Clinic recommends keeping pillows and mattresses in dustproof, tightly woven covers that block mites from getting in and out.
Keep humidity below 50%. Dust mites thrive in humidity above 50% and temperatures around 70°F, per the AAFA. A dehumidifier or air conditioning can help.
Wash bedding weekly in hot water. The 130°F wash described above is the core habit.
Replace pillows about every two years. The AAFA notes pillows collect dead skin cells, mites, and debris over time, and suggests replacing them roughly every two years.
Reduce dust-trapping fabrics. The AAFA suggests washable rugs and easy-to-clean surfaces over heavy carpet and fabric where mites settle.

If your pillow is one you cannot wash, you are left relying on covers and replacement alone. A washable design simply makes the weekly heat routine easier to actually keep up with.

How does a washable pillow fit the routine?

A washable pillow does not kill dust mites by itself, and no pillow should claim to.

What it does is let you follow the routine experts already recommend. With the Pillowash Crisp Pillow, the core washes inside its inner cover and the outer cover washes separately, so the whole pillow can run through a hot wash and a full dry rather than sitting in the spot-clean-only pile. We keep our everyday wash temperatures gentle to protect the materials over time, while still letting you run the hot cycle when you want a deeper clean. The point is hygiene you can repeat, not a health claim.

Frequently asked questions

Can dust mites live in memory foam pillows?

Dust mites feed on dead skin cells and live wherever those collect, including in and on memory foam. The challenge with solid memory foam is that most types are not machine washable, so you cannot apply the 130°F hot wash AAFA and Mayo Clinic recommend. An allergen-proof cover and regular replacement become more important in that case.

How often should I wash my pillow to control dust mites?

Wash pillowcases and sheets weekly in hot water at 130°F, as AAFA and Mayo Clinic advise. The pillow itself can be washed less often if it is washable, but the weekly bedding routine does most of the work. The AAFA also suggests replacing pillows about every two years as allergens build up.

Will an allergen-proof cover get rid of dust mites?

A cover does not kill mites, but Mayo Clinic recommends tightly woven, dustproof encasements because they block mites from getting in or out and reduce your exposure to allergens. Think of covers as part of the routine alongside hot washing and humidity control, not a standalone solution.

Should I see a doctor about dust mite allergies?

Yes, if you have ongoing symptoms. Cleaning steps reduce exposure but are not a substitute for medical care. If you have signs of allergy or asthma, such as sneezing, congestion, or trouble breathing, talk with a doctor or allergist for diagnosis and treatment options.

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have allergy or asthma symptoms, please consult a doctor or allergist.