Mites are home invaders and will remain inside the home if conditions favor them.
Fortunately, many ways to make them uncomfortable and eliminate them from your home. This article will explore some of these methods to get rid of mites.
Spraying insecticides on mites will kill them. Insecticides like chlorpyrifos, permethrin, diazinon, and bifenthrin are indoor-safe. The insecticides come in aerosol cans and spray bottles. Mites will die once insecticide falls on them.
How to Deal With Mites on My Window Sills?
You can deal with mites using insecticides, vacuum cleaners, and boric acid. Let’s individually explore the options above.
#1. Using Insecticides
This method is a sure way to eradicate mites because insecticides kill them.
Some insecticides are non-toxic; examples are bifenthrin, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and permethrin. Spray any of these insecticides on the mites, and they will die.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Insecticides are fast-acting solutions for mites. | Insecticides do not last long and need constant spraying. |
| Insecticides are cheap to procure. | Insecticides can stain surfaces. |
| Usage is straightforward. | Some insecticides cause irritation, rashes, and itches. |
#2. Use of Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaners can get rid of the mites on your window sill. When you see mites on your window sill, grab your vacuum cleaner, power it on, and point it at them.
Ensure you point the vacuum at any holes or crevices on the surrounding walls and floors.
This way, you can suck up the ones in hiding and any eggs laid by the mites. Their eggs are small, red balls.
It’s not advisable to squash the mites; doing so will leave red stains that are hard to clean off. Suck up the mites and close the cleaner bag before thrashing it.
#3. Use of Boric Acid
Some laundry detergents have boric acid. The chemical compound in boric can fend off and kill these mites on your window sill.
You can scatter powdered detergent across the window sill and any neighboring holes. The mites will avoid the detergent, but you can sweep up any that succumb to it.
In addition, you can use liquid detergent to repel these mites. If there’s any liquid detergent, grab a spray container and pour some of it inside. Add some water into the container and spray it on the mites.
How Do I Get Rid Of Little Bugs on My Window Sill?
You can use citronella oil, rosemary, mint, and vinegar to repel the little bugs on your window sill.
#1. Use of Citronella Oil, Rosemary, and Mint
Citronella oil use is one of the most common ways of repelling bugs. The oil can come as candles, sprays, oil burners, soaps, and lotions.
You can spray this oil on these bugs or even place a bar of citronella soap on the window sill.
Either way, you choose, the bugs will keep away. This oil, however, is poisonous to pets, so be careful when using it.
Rosemary and mint are plants whose pungent fragrances are toxic to pests. You can plant any of these in a vase and place it on the window sill to chase away bugs that appear there.
One good quality about these plants is that they smell pleasant to humans.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Plants are a long-lasting solution. | The plants will take time to grow and be effective. |
| Applying citronella oil is easy and practical. | Citronella oil can bring up skin allergies in people. |
| Citronella oil keeps a wide variety of bugs away. | The fragrances can be toxic to pets. |
#2. Using Vinegar
Vinegar is also a good bug repellant; its acetic acid chases bugs away and even kills some. It is effective on mosquitoes, ants, and even spiders.
Here are other ways to get rid of bugs on your windows. Mix vinegar and water, then pour the concoction inside a spray container. Spray the mixture onto any bugs you see to eliminate them.
- Spray your windows with peppermint oil.
- Clean the gutters surrounding your home.
- Line diatomaceous earth across greases, holes, and window cracks around your homes. This powder kills bugs that come across it.
- Clean your windows using bleach to remove mold.
- Seal any cracks, holes, and crevices that these bugs might be creeping through.
- Bathe your hairy pests; they can carry these bugs while playing on the lawn.
- Plants like Marigold, Chrysanthemum, and Geranium will also repel mites.
What Do Window Mites Look Like?
Adult window mites have an elliptical shape, eight legs, and a reddish-brown color. Their front legs are longer than the other six legs and can be mistaken for the bug’s antennae.
Window mites are pinhead-sized and crawl on their legs; they are closely related to spiders and ticks.
Clover mites is another name for window mites, and their food is mainly clover, plants, and lush lawns.
Window mites thrive in fall and spring, like crawling up to your home’s walls to find cracks and openings.
Once they get in, these red bugs will crawl along the window sills, walls, furniture, and curtains. When squashed, these mites will leave red body pigments.
You can find them in the environment crawling on brick walls, beneath loose tree barks, foundation walls, and in sunny areas. These mites don’t bite and do not create structural damage.
Clover mites are difficult to eradicate due to their tiny size. They infest homes with large numbers since they can pass through the tiniest opening.
Will Vinegar Kill Mites on Windows?
You can easily make a vinegar concoction to tackle your mite problem, and it is non-toxic to pets and humans.
Vinegar is effective against window mites and is a good tool for controlling mite infestation. The acid content of vinegar is powerful enough for mites; spraying it on them will kill them.
Vinegar is a typical aqueous solution made up of acetic acid and water. You can chase away the mites and other bugs using white vinegar.
Vinegar and essential oils make a good pair; oil like lemon peel and orange skin oils will increase vinegar’s effectiveness.
Pros and cons of vinegar
Vinegar works against mites, but it also comes with its demerits.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Vinegar is cheap and easy to produce. | It is a temporary solution for mite infestation. |
| Generally safe for humans and pets to inhale. | Vinegar overuse can fill the house with a bitter, corrosive odor despite being safe. |
| Vinegar can serve as a cleaning agent. | The acidic content in vinegar can discolor wall paint when sprayed. |
How to Get Rid Of Mites in Bathroom?
Psocid mites are notorious for infesting the bathroom. With these methods below, you can control and get rid of them.
#1. Sanitize the Bathroom
This method is a good way to keep the mites away from the bathroom. Get a sponge and any bathroom detergent, and scrub off every inch of the bathroom to remove mold.
If your detergent isn’t effective, you can get the baking soda to help. Even little things like washing bathroom fabrics like curtains and rugs can prevent mold growth. A spotless bathroom won’t interest the mites.
#2. Dust Borax in the Bathroom
Borax is a chemical that effectively kills mold and eliminates the mite’s food supply. When properly utilized, borax is harmless; sprinkle the powder on areas with mold.
Also, you can trace the bathroom’s perimeter with borax. The powder is not dangerous to children and pets.
#3. Increase the Bathroom Heat
Psocid mites aren’t fond of heat since humidity helps them thrive. When the bathroom’s heat is high, the mites will find their way out of the bathroom in some hours.
Hot temperatures and little to no bathroom dampness will chase them away. You can install a bathroom heater and put on the heat.
Shut the windows and pull the curtains to contain the heat and increase effectiveness. Heat will also kill mold, which is the mite’s food source.
#4. Reduce Bathroom Humidity
Just like increasing the bathroom’s temperature kills the mites, low humidity will serve as well. The main goal is to eliminate the excess bathroom dampness to keep away mold and mites.
To regulate the humidity, install a bathroom dehumidifier, put it on, and allow ventilation. Other ways to reduce bathroom humidity include;
- Switch on the AC.
- Take quicker baths with cold water.
- Bring down the toilet lid when it’s not in use.
- Keep wet towels away from the bathroom.
- Have fans running for enough ventilation.
#5. Use a Vacuum Cleaner
A vacuum cleaner can suck up these mites in the bathroom. Some are so tiny that they are barely visible, but the vacuum cleaner will take care of them.
Use the vacuum on all corners of the bathroom to pick up these mites from your bathroom.
#6. Use of Pesticides and Other Products
There are various mite treatments available, as well as molt treatment products.
RMR-141 Disinfectant and Cleaner and Mold Armor Rapid Clean are mold treatments. You can spray these in your bathroom to eliminate the mite’s food.
Pyrid, 565 Plus, and Tri-Die are treatments for mites. Spray these products and keep the bathroom shut for about an hour to kill the mites.
Conclusion
Window mites are egg-shaped, reddish-brown in color, have eight legs, and are about pinhead-sized. You can use insecticides, vinegar, and boric acid on window mites.
Citronella oil, vinegar, and diatomaceous earth are some products that can eliminate bugs on the window sill.
