Kill mites in cars

How to Kill Mites Under Car Seats and Properly Treat Your Car

For nearly 12 years, bird mite and springtail clients have told me that these tenacious pests are extremely difficult to get out of cars. That's because micro tiny critters can hide in places that are almost impossible to treat with traditional sprays. Follow this ten-step guide to make your driving life feel normal again.

Use an extra strong black light to search for clusters or nests at night.

Under a black light, mites may appear as ultra tiny white specks about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. You may discover random moving specks or large groups of specks. Although mites have a tendency to congregate, they don't always move out as a team to search for hosts. You may hit the mother load, or you may only encounter a few. Pay special attention to areas around the driver's seat, as parasites tend to hide near hosts.

Vacuum carpets and seats thoroughly

All mite jobs should begin with a thorough vacuuming of the space you'll be treating. Car vacuums that plug into cigarette lighter outlets are convenient, but you'll generally get more suction power with a hand held vacuum that's charged indoors or connected to an extension cord, and you'll be less likely to lose suction power along the way.

Use a puffer to blow diatomaceous earth under car seats

This tool helps project diatomaceous earth across hidden horizontal spaces that that are hard to reach. You can use it to spread pesticide powders under dressers, beds, couches and car seats.

Try a bulb duster to get diatomaceous earth into tiny crevices

This tool helps apply powdered pesticides into fine cracks and crevices. In general, it gives you more focused control than a puffer, but it won't project the powder as far as a good puffer.

Spray carpets and seats directly, then wipe down dash boards.

In addition to spraying seats and carpets, you can also use this product to wipe down dash boards and steering wheels.

Fog out your vehicle thoroughly, then return to air out the vehicle for three hours.

It's best to perform this procedure at night so that you'll have ample time to air out the vehicle before you have to use it again. Fill the chamber with Dr. Ben's Evictor, put the machine on an extension cord, and use the pointed nozzle to fill your vehicle with fog. Shut doors and windows, and let the fog stay in your vehicle for a few hours. Come back to open windows and air out the vehicle for a few hours before driving again.

Apply plastic seat covers--SO VERY IMPORTANT!

Mites can burrow under the surface of fabrics and get down into the stuffing of seats and cushions! That means typical spray and fog agendas still may not reach deeply hidden parasites. To keep mites from coming out at you, it's best to use disposable plastic seat covers that can be changed frequently. This pack of 100 disposable seat covers can help make the time spent in your vehicle feel normal again.

Use an essential oil diffuser for maintenance.

A good diffuser can be used to fill bedrooms and cars with smells that mites hate. The portable design makes it perfect for use in vehicles, but beware. Essential oil fumes can be quite powerful in small, enclosed places. After a night of diffusing, you should air out your car for a few hours.

If you're on a tight budget, this $16 kit provides a brilliant and inexpensive way to sample many of the the most powerful oils used against skin conditions involving bacteria, fungus and parasites. The kit contains pure and undiluted Lavendar, Tea Tree, Rosemary, Peppermint, Frankincense, Eucalyptus, Lemon and Orange.

HOT TIP: Use an insect growth regulator from time to time

Growth regulators don't "kill" mites on contact. They render mites incapable of breeding. This is so very important, considering that mites can reproduce at alarming speeds. Even if your aggressive pest control agenda wipes out hundreds or thousands of parasites, it takes only a few hidden mites to re-infest the vehicle. Some insect growth regulators are designed to be added to traditional pesticide sprays, while others are designed to be used on their own. Read package directions carefully.