Washing in hot water, which killed 100% of all dust mites, was compared with washing laundry in warm water—at 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius)—which killed only about 6.5% of dust mites.

However, lead researcher Jung-Won Park (who is associated with Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea) also found that doing laundry in warm water (86 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 30 to 40 degrees Celsius) and then rinsing the laundry in cold water for two three-minute periods also is effective at killing dust mites, dander, and pollen.

Park presented his results (titled “Optimal Conditions for Mechanical Laundry in the Removal of House Dust Mites, Dog and Pollen Allergens”) at a Sunday, May 20, 2007 meeting of the American Thoracic Society in San Francisco, California.

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