Small greyish butterflies called mites can invade your interiors, but it is their larva that is responsible for the damage caused to your belongings. To create a cocoon and feed themselves, they attack textile fibres and leave holes in clothes, curtains, pillows, mattresses, cushions and carpets. How can you overcome these textile mites (not to be confused with food mites) in your rental? Which natural mite repellents should you choose?

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Step 1: Clean

The first step is to machine wash all textiles on a 60 ° hot cycle. For fragile clothes, slip them into a plastic bag and put them in the freezer for three days, then wash them on the desired program. In addition to running the washer, clean the interior and exterior of your closets. Start by vacuuming all the little nooks and crannies and then wash the surfaces with a sponge soaked in a white vinegar and soapy water mixture. Rinse and leave to dry while making sure to keep the room well ventilated.

 

Step 2: Treat the mites

There are special insecticides against mites sold in supermarkets in the form of lacquers, sprays and aerosols, or traps that use pheromones and neem-oil based perfume diffusers. However, it is possible to eradicate mites by using more natural and ecological repellents in your cabinets and drawers as long as they are renewed regularly.

• Fill a small cloth bag, even a sock would work, with sun-dried lemon peels. Orange peels with clove are also effective.
• You can also fill a bag/sock with pencil shavings, laurel leaves, mint or lavender.
• Another tip is to spray lavender, lemon, cedar, eucalyptus or thyme essential oils onto pebbles or cotton balls that you can place in cupboards.
• Finally, another all-natural method is to place pieces of Marseille soap or Aleppo soap among the textiles.

 

• bedroom
• textiles
• inexpensive
• smart ideas
• maintenance