Using a the Athena AT1 handheld steamer is an effective method for killing dust mites in your home. To begin, fill the steamer with distilled water and allow it to heat up according to the instruction manual. Once ready, direct the steam nozzle towards areas where dust mites are commonly found, such as upholstered furniture, bedding, and carpets as well as the external surfaces of your mattress, pillow and quilt encasements. Move the steamer slowly over the surfaces, ensuring that the steam penetrates deeply into the fabric. The high temperature of the steam is over 100°C, is lethal to dust mites, effectively killing them on contact.

It's important to steam clean your encasements regularly, ideally every week when you wash your sheets, slip on mattress protector and decorative linen as this helps to reduce the dust mite population significantly. After steaming, allow the surfaces to dry completely to prevent any mold growth. For best results, combine steaming with regular vacuuming and washing of linens to create a comprehensive dust mite management routine. This method not only helps to eliminate dust mites but also leaves your home feeling fresh and sanitised.

To effectively eliminate bed bugs using a handheld steam cleaner, start by ensuring the device reaches its full operating temprature as Steam at this temprature is lethal to bed bugs at all life stages. Begin by thoroughly vacuuming the infested areas using a water filtration vacuum cleaner to ensure the live bed bugs or eggs do not get trapped in the filter. Ensure to vacuum mattresses, bedding, and furniture, to remove any visible bugs and eggs. Once vacuumed, use the steam cleaner to treat all affected surfaces. Focus on seams, folds, and crevices in mattresses and upholstered furniture, as these are common hiding spots for bed bugs followed by along the skirting boards in each effective area, for a thorough result the steam mop attachment can be used to steam the cracks and crevices in your hard floors or soft finishings like carpet. Move the steam nozzle slowly over the surfaces, allowing the heat to penetrate and kill the bugs on contact.

After steaming, it’s important to let the treated areas dry completely. To prevent reinfestation, wash all bedding and clothing in hot water and dry them on high heat weekly. Encase your mattress, pillows and quilt with Bed Bug encaements and be sure to place our detectors/traps under each bed leg to monitor the situation. As steam can only kill the bed bug on impact. Our Dreamstate powder should be used to kill anything that has not been killed with the steamer.  Regularly inspect the leg detectors/traps and maintain cleanliness in your living space to ensure that bed bugs do not return. By combining steam cleaning along with the other measures we have on offer, you can effectively control and eliminate bed bug infestations in the shortest possible time frame.