If you have someone in your home who has scabies, you will have to deal with a scabies infestation, which is a nuisance. Therefore, it is very important to know how long scabies can live in a mattress and, above all, how to get rid of it.
Scabies is a contagious disease caused by mites that causes an intensely itchy, acne-like rash and is transmitted by close skin contact, as well as through the sharing of towels and bedding.
The good news is that you can get rid of scabies from your mattress. We’ll show you how to treat them and give you advice from the experts. However, if you’ve decided to buy a new mattress after reading this article, here are some recommendations: Best mattress By 2024 for all budgets.
What is scabies?
Scabies is a contagious skin disease caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes scabiei burrowing into the outer layer of skin and laying eggs. The eggs hatch and the mites migrate to the skin’s surface where they develop into adult mites. They can also infest bedding and mattresses.
Dr Ross Perry, General Practitioner and Medical Director Cosmetics Dermatologyexplains that “scabies is an extremely unpleasant itchy, bumpy rash caused by the saliva, eggs and excrement of parasitic mites.”
“We’re currently seeing a surge in cases of scabies. Scabies spreads from skin to skin and is highly contagious. It’s particularly prevalent in young adults who sleep with multiple people.”
“It can actually take up to eight weeks for a scabies rash to appear on the body,” Dr. Perry continues, “during that time it can spread with alarming speed, especially on bedding, towels, clothing and other items that are often shared between partners. The rash can affect the entire body except the head and neck, and mainly appears around the fingers, armpits, groin, lower back and buttocks.”
Scabies is not a serious disease, but it must be treated with prescription medications (usually creams or lotions) that kill the mites. Mattresses, bedding, towels, and clothing should all be treated as well.
How to detect scabies in your mattress
It’s virtually impossible to find scabies on or in your mattress – the mites are so tiny they can’t be seen with the naked eye – but there are some signs and symptoms to look out for:
For example, you may notice raised lines or “marks” on your mattress that are easy to overlook but are caused by mites that live in the mattress material. Scabies mites also leave excrement that look like tiny black dots on your bedding.
Key symptoms:
1. Raised lines on your mattress
2. Small black spots appear on your mattress
3. Severe itching of the skin
However, these droppings are not the most reliable sign as they are difficult to distinguish from other litter. Bedbugs in mattressesor Mattress moldEventually the main signs of infection will show up in you, but you may not see those symptoms for up to eight weeks.
The most common telltale sign that your mattress is infested with scabies is severe itching of the skin, especially at night. This itching is not just unpleasant, but it can also disrupt your sleep. This can make you feel tired, weak, and unrested the next day.
Another key symptom is a skin rash, which appears as small, pimple-like red bumps and occurs where the mite burrowed into the mattress, meaning it can appear anywhere on the body, but is most likely to appear on the wrists, ankles, armpits, and between the fingers.
If you share a bed with your partner and they are also experiencing severe itchy skin, they are very likely infected with scabies, even if they have not yet developed symptoms. You should avoid close contact with other people while you are treating the infection.
How long does scabies last on a mattress?
Scabies mites require a human host to survive, but can live on a mattress without a host for up to 72 hours, so if a person with scabies sleeps on that mattress, the mites will remain active and can reinfest anyone who sleeps on the mattress again unless proper treatment and cleaning of the area is done.
The lifespan of scabies mites on non-human hosts also depends on temperature and humidity levels. Generally, the hotter the room, the shorter the mite’s lifespan. However, high humidity can be advantageous for scabies mites, so if you can reduce the humidity in the room, you may be able to shorten the mite’s survival time.
How to get rid of scabies on a mattress
To remove scabies from your mattress and prevent it from coming back, first treat yourself so the mites don’t reinfest your mattress while you sleep. For any remaining scabies mites, you’ll need to decontaminate your mattress and bedding. Here’s how…
1. Isolate your mattress
Once you know you have scabies, it’s important to quarantine your mattress to prevent mites from escaping and infecting other areas of your home. This also helps kill the mites by cutting off their food source.
Patrick McClure, Health Expert and Co-Founder WINIT Clinicadvises: “Because scabies mites can hide away from humans for up to 72 hours, I keep my mattress sealed in a plastic cover for at least a week. This ensures all mites are killed.”
If possible, move the mattress to another room.
2. Wash all bedding and linens
Remove all bedding, including sheets, pillowcases, blankets, pajamas and other bedding, and wash them in hot water (at least 140ºF/60ºC, hotter if possible).
McClure also recommends using a dryer, suggesting “drying at the highest temperature possible to finally kill any mites that have already hatched.” This is the quickest and easiest way to kill mites, as they cannot tolerate high temperatures.
If you have items that can’t be washed in the washing machine, follow the same steps as when removing dust mites from a mattress and place them in a sealed plastic bag for at least 72 hours to allow the dust mites to die.
You might also want to wash your duvet and pillows – check out this guide for more tips. How to Spring Clean Your Pillows and Bed Sheets – Get Rid of Dust Mites, Bed Bugs, and Odors.
3. Vacuum your mattress thoroughly
surely Vacuum your mattress regularlyThis is the best way to deal with mites, allergens and bacteria that may build up on surfaces, and it kills live scabies mites and their eggs.
Be sure to thoroughly clean the entire surface, including the top, bottom, and sides of the mattress, paying particular attention to any crevices or creases that may harbor dust mites.
After vacuuming your mattress, immediately empty the contents of the bin into a plastic bag. Seal the bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash can. It’s also a good idea to clean out the inside of your vacuum bin to prevent pests from coming back.
4. Use products that kill scabies
Permethrin spray is an insecticide used to kill scabies mites. It’s strong, so follow the directions exactly and spray a test patch before tackling the entire mattress.
Do not use permethrin. Memory foam mattress This can destroy the foam’s structure and make it less supportive. Also, memory foam traps moisture, so sprays can trap excess moisture and lead to mold and mildew growth.
Avoid the affected room until the air has cleared. If you have used permethrin spray, do not use the mattress for 12 hours after application.
5. Steam clean your mattress
As we have already mentioned, scabies mites hate heat. Steam cleaning of mattresses It is the most effective way to quickly kill live dust mites and their eggs. Not all mattresses can be steam cleaned. Memory foam mattresses, in particular, are sensitive to heat. Heat can break down the foam, causing the mattress to lose its shape and support.
You should also avoid steam cleaning your mattress if it’s made from delicate materials like cashmere or wool, as the high temperatures will cause them to shrink or tear. Whatever your mattress is made from, check the manufacturer’s instructions to see if it’s safe to steam clean.
How to protect your mattress from scabies
If you want to keep scabies, dust mites, bedbugs and other dirt, dust, debris and liquids away from your mattress, consider getting a mattress cover or this year’s best mattress protectorThese covers completely cover the top, bottom and sides of your mattress, creating a sturdy barrier to keep bugs out. Here are our top three picks:
