How to Save Your Clothes from a Mite Infestation

At my worst, I was infested with thousands of mites. Tiny holes formed all over my body, filled with some yellowish-white larvae substance. My clothes were just as bad, making the infestation even worse. Honestly, sleeping naked was the only way to keep the crawling sensation down. But since mites are nocturnal, I wasn’t getting much sleep anyway.

Through trial and error, I realized certain fabrics were less hospitable to mites. Synthetic materials worked best, while looser clothing was preferable—anything snug against my skin trapped too much heat, and mites would swarm to those areas. I don’t think I wore a bra or underwear for six months because they made things unbearable.

The Best Laundry Method for Mite Removal

Nothing I tried worked until I started soaking my clothes in very hot water for 1-3 hours with:

• ½ to 1 cup each baking soda & regular table salt (depending on load size).

This method kills both mites and their eggs and cleared 95% of my clothes—even pillows and shoes. The easiest way I found to do it was filling 5-gallon buckets in the bathroom from the showerhead. (Cranking up the water heater helped get the water as hot as possible.) After soaking, I’d just transfer everything to the washing machine and wash as usual with detergent.

I know a lot of people swear by borax, but let me tell you—it destroyed my washing machine. Even when we pre-melted it, the residue built up into a rock-hard, cement-like substance. We had to buy a new washer, so I personally wouldn’t recommend it.

Final Steps to Stay Mite-Free

• Dry everything on high heat—no exceptions.

• Seal dryer lint in a plastic bag before throwing it away 

• Store clean clothes in plastic bags to prevent re-infestation.

  • I loved the oversized Ziploc storage bags from Amazon.

  • Clear garbage bags work too—you’ll thank yourself when trying to find a specific shirt.

• Melt the baking soda & salt in hot water first to avoid fabric stains.

• Expect slight shrinkage on some fabrics—but nothing was ruined.

A few things had to go—fuzzy sweaters and a couple of sleep pants I just couldn’t clear. Every time I wore them, I’d feel mites crawling near the waistband. No thanks.

If this method isn’t working for you, your water might not be hot enough—try heating large pots on the stove. And if you’re dealing with Morgellons, I’ve noticed people in my mite groups have less luck with the baking soda/salt method. If you find something that works better, please let me know—I’d love to add it to my blog.