How Long Can Scabies Live In A Mattress? Easy Solutions 2023

While we spend over one-third of our lives sitting or lying around on our mattresses, the truth is that we pay little to no attention to their maintenance and cleaning. So you might be surprised when you learn how long can scabies live in a mattress. 

Note that scabies is mites that breed on the skin as you sleep, thus exposing you to various allergies and infections. While this is alarming, we are here to help you out. Most people are concerned about how long can scabies live in a mattress, and this article will answer your questions.

What is scabies?

According to the CDC, Scabies is an infestation of the skin by the human itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis). These scabies mites burrow into the upper skin layer of humans to live and lay eggs. 

Scabies can be found worldwide, from the USA to Bangladesh, with the largest amount being found in Asian countries. This infestation is most common in urban or crowded areas where human skin-to-skin contact is the highest.

DIfferences between scabies and bedbugs

We have explained to you what scabies are, but there are still some people who confuse them with bedbugs. However, the two aren’t the same since scabies and bedbugs are different types of insects.

Bedbugs, or Cimex lectularius, are small parasitic insects that feed on humans and other mammals’ blood. Here are a few physical characteristics that you can check out to differentiate them from scabies:

• Flat and oval body
• Has six legs
• Is about 5 to 7 mm
• Babies are white, and adults are brown.

Bedbugs don’t infest human skin; instead, they infest dark places such as mattresses or other furniture. These things move through items that are moved. Overall, they don’t spread diseases.

Scabies, or scabies mites, also known as Sarcoptes scabiei, are insect-like organisms. These things have some similarities to ticks and anthropods. These things are known to infect humans. The worms infest the upper layer and eat human skin. Females are known to lay multiple eggs each day. Scabies have these characteristics:

• Eight legs
• Wingless
• No eyes
• Invisible to the naked eye

Longevity of scabies lives in mattress

Before you learn how long can scabies live in a mattress, you need to learn how long can scabies be in a human body. Typically, scabies mites will live on a person for one to two months.

In some cases, scabies will not last more than two to three days on your mattress. However, they will lay their eggs and multiply on them with skin contact. Scabies can live roughly two to three days on your mattress, but they can live up to two months on the human skin.

Removing scabies live in a mattress

Now that your question on how long can scabies live in a mattress has been answered, it is time to know how you can kill scabies. Some of the methods you can use are:

The vinegar and baking soda method

The vinegar and baking soda methods are regarded as an all-natural, tried, and tested method of cleaning any mattress. As baking soda acts as the natural deodorizer, vinegar takes the position of a natural sanitizer that can effectively kill scabies, mites, and bacteria.

The step to follow entail:

• You will need to sprinkle some baking soda on your mattress and ensure you completely cover it.
• Then, spray the vinegar over the baking soda using a spray bottle. Allow it to bubble for some minutes.
• When this is done, spread some damp towels on the mattress, then leave it for roughly two to four hours.

As you have followed the steps above, remove the towels and allow the mattress to air dry. With this, scrape off the dried baking soda with a brush or cloth.

The essential oils and baking soda method

Following research, eucalyptus, lavender, or peppermint essential oils can efficiently and safely kill off dust mites. Combining the oils with baking soda will kill off bacteria and those foil odors from the mattress. The method to follow is:

• Embark on mixing eight to twelve drops of your best essential oil inside a half cup of baking soda to form a paste
• Then, run the paste on the mattress in a circular motion and allow it to sit for a minimum of one hour.

When all of these are done, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all the residue. When the mattress is clean, allow it dry in the fresh air.

Spraying with permethrin

Understand that Permethrin spray is rather effective and works exactly like magic to disinfect your mattresses and surfaces when you do not want to wash them. This spray protects your house against scabies infestation and skin infestation.

You should read up on the instructions label attached to the spray to correctly use it. If you want to remove those that can scabies live in a mattress.

Vapor cleaning

A fantastic way to get rid of scabies mites from the mattress is by steam cleaning. Note that steam assists in disinfecting your mattress and taking off the dirt, insects, dead skin, and dust mites from the mattress.

Either steam clean the mattress on your own or leave it to professionals. Nevertheless, the DIY method of steam cleaning your mattress include:

• Take off all the coverings, pillows, and blankets from the bed.
• Clean up the surface using a stiff brush or vacuum to remove every dust particle.
• The next thing to do is to sprinkle one to two cups of baking soda on the mattress and ensure you cover it completely. You can use a siever as it makes it simpler to sprinkle.
• Leave it for roughly one to two hours.
• You can adjust your iron on steam mode and run it over the mattress and its sides for those who do not have a steamer.  

Finally, allow it to air dry thoroughly as moisture will result in the accumulation of bacteria. You can indeed open the windows to speed up this drying process.

Using a plastic cover

When you place a plastic cover on the mattress, it will benefit you and the mattress. On the one hand, it prevents the build-up of dirt, scabies, mites, and bodily fluids on the mattress.

Additionally, it will help in protection against the skin to skin contact and exposure to scabies mites. Since scabies mites feed on dead skin to survive, having to prevent human contact will decrease their lifespan.

Replacing the mattress

Suppose you have tried all the outlined methods and were unsuccessful in killing off the stubborn scabies mites. In that case, I will recommend replacing the mattress as quickly as possible as I did.

You should do so because the scabies mites may have spread across all mattress areas and will not die off quickly. In no time, they can multiply and infect everybody that comes in contact with them. If you have someone with health conditions get the best mattress for hypermobility or similar.

Other coverings & furniture

Since scabies mites can practically contaminate most parts of the home, you will have to clean other surfaces in the home as well. Aside from your mattress, you can think of cleaning other furniture and upholstery like your carpets, car seats, chairs, couches, and rugs.

It is also vital to clean and wash other textiles like pillows, bedding, clothing, and blankets. If you did not use a specific object for more than seven days before treating scabies, cleaning all of this will not be necessary.

5 steps to removing scabies live in a mattress

We also have five easy steps that you can follow to get rid of skin infestation caused by scabies mites. While you may have a spotless home, you can always experience scabies infestation. The truth is, anybody can get scabies. Bear in mind that an infestation does not reflect your hygiene.

Sadly, scabies can spread to your mattress quickly. So getting rid of the adult female mite and bed bugs is among the most common scabies-related issues people face. Removing these human mites is the top priority with how long we spend on our beds.

Aside from cleaning the mattress, which will not be enough to end such severe infestation, you will need to treat this skin condition and clean the home from the tip to the bottom to eliminate such scabies outbreaks entirely. The steps you can follow are:

1. Talk to your doctor

To recover from these scabies infestations, you will have to start treating this skin condition. You will have to see your primary care doctor get the necessary care.

Note that a physician will be capable of visually identifying the skin rash. They will take a sample using the skin scraping method in other cases. Here, they will scrape underneath the infected region.

Once the pimple-like rash is diagnosed as scabies, the doctor will most likely prescribe a scabicide lotion or a cream that will kill scabies mites and ease the severe itching. It is not recommended to treat scabies without consulting a physician.

This is because there are no approved over-the-counter or even natural remedies to treat scabies on your own. If you must treat scabies, you will need the help of a medical expert for appropriate treatment.

2. Clean the clutter

You can start tackling the bigger task when you begin medical treatment. This task is ridding your home of these bed bugs and mites. Firstly, clean out all the clutter and identify separate items that can be infested. You need to learn to store a mattress topper and others properly.

Remember that scabies mites can live anywhere, including vast stacks of papers, your couch cushions, and even piles of dirty laundry. Ensure you check underneath your bed and other cluttered areas to remove items that house these mites.

3. Machine wash and dry your bedding and cloth

A method I can suggest to you is using hot water as I have done it before. Note that hot water without chemical additives can disinfect and prevent scabies. Since the mites will live only 48-72 hours without skin-to-skin contact or human contact, catching scabies from linen or clothes is rare but possible.

The best chance I got to prevent scabies reinfestation was to wash everything, even those in my closet, as these mites burrow into everything. If you need to exterminate them entirely, you will have to wash your linens and clothing at a very high temperature of 130-140°F.

Then follow it with drying the items on intense heat. Ensure you wear rubber gloves when tackling your laundry, before and even after washing. There are other steps you need to follow to wash and dry a waterproof mattress cover and others.

4. Clean the surfaces

Immediately after decluttering and washing your linens, you can move straight to disinfecting the home’s surfaces. You will need to careful as you clean your memory foam mattress and cover. First, you will have to vacuum all the floors, including beds and furniture under the couches.

Then, discard the vacuum bag used in a sealed garbage bag. Make sure you use gloved hands. Then, make use of hot soapy water to clean every other surface. For those with a steam cleaner, you can use them to disinfect the furniture and mattress. Ensure you set the temperature to a minimum of 130°F.

5. Use a disinfectant spray on everything

While hot water is a fantastic disinfectant, note that there are items you cannot scrub or throw inside the wash, such as electronics and furniture. For such items, a disinfectant spray will kill the mites.

Use the disinfectant spray for your mattress, door handles, couches, mop handles, remote controls, vacuum, kitchen cabinet handles, and other items that regularly contact the human body.

How to stop from getting scabies again? What happens after treatment of scabies?

After your scabies treatment is finished, you will notice that the marks on your skin begin to fade after about one to two weeks. Yet this isn’t certain since there are cases where the marks last for months. You might also feel like itching your skin for several weeks after the treatment. There are multiple cases where the patients needed a second round of treatment, but one round is usually enough.

To prevent the reinfestation of scabies, you will need to be careful. Keep your house and furniture clean at all times, even though it will be a chore. Wearing and disinfecting gloves while deep cleaning prevents scabies from living in a mattress. 

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Conclusion

On a general note, scabies can live up to forty-eight hours on your mattress even before scabies infestation diagnosed by the doctor is confirmed. You no longer need to ask how long can scabies live in a mattress as we have provided you with the answers and how to treat your mattress.