Skip to main content
For years, doctors have recommended that people with allergies wash their bed linens weekly in hot water to remove household allergens such as dust mites.
Unfortunately, "hot" water means water that is 140°F or higher. In most cases, this temperature cannot be achieved at home with residential water heaters. Most home hot water runs at around 102 to 105°F — nowhere near what's needed to kill dust mites and neutralize their allergens.
The good news is the marketplace listened and developed products you can use to effectively remove allergens from your sheets and other bedding at any water temperature.
De-Mite Laundry Additive
Allerpet, Inc. is the maker of De-Mite Laundry Additive for eliminating dust mites from washable fabrics. De-Mite lets you achieve the same results as washing at 140°F — in warm or cold water.
De-Mite is not a detergent and contains no soap. It is a mixture of benzyl benzoate, tea tree oil, methyl salicylate, and surfactants. These ingredients have been proven to reduce dust mite allergens when washed at temperatures as low as 85°F.
To use De-Mite, add about 2 tablespoons to your regular laundry detergent. Then wash and dry as you normally would.
Because tea tree oil and methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen) are both strong aromatics, De-Mite has a distinctive aroma that lingers briefly after the fabric is dried — a slight medicinal smell. I like the smell.
Allersearch Allergen Wash
Allergen Wash is made by the Allersearch Laboratories division of Alkaline Corporation. It is a super surfactant laundry detergent with Acaril™ (benzyl alcohol) added. The super-surfactant properties enable the removal of allergen particles from all types of fabrics, regardless of water temperature.
Allersearch Allergen Wash is effective at removing particles of dust mites and their feces, as well as animal allergens, molds, pollens, and dirt. You use Allergen Wash in place of your normal detergent — not alongside it.
Like De-Mite, Allergen Wash contains aromatic ingredients. However, when the fabric is dried, there is only a very slight lingering aroma.
Which one is right for you?
If you are only concerned about dust mites, dust mite feces, and dust mite allergens — and you like your current laundry detergent — then De-Mite will meet your needs. It is specifically targeted at reducing dust mite allergens and is highly effective at doing so. It will not remove pollens, molds, or animal allergens.
Allersearch Allergen Wash works across a broader range of allergens. It is the only anti-allergen wash that removes animal allergens as well as pollens, molds, and dust mite allergens — all in one product.
The simple rule: if dust mites are your only concern, use De-Mite. If you are allergic to multiple allergens, including pet dander, mold, or pollen, Allergen Wash is the better choice.
Wishing you the best of health,
Cheryl
Want the complete picture? Everything on this page is part of our free Practical Guide to Allergy-Free Living — 35 years of allergy expertise covering dust mites, pet dander, air quality, laundry, and more. Start at the beginning or jump to the section that matters most to you.