What's Biting Me? Solutions for Invisible Bugs in Your Home

Something Is Biting Me But I Don't See Anything

Are you feeling paranoid and being driven mad by invisible biting bugs? Are you looking for immediate relief from the itching, scratching, discomfort, and rashes?

Sometimes we think the bugs will go away on their own, and sometimes we think we are simply imagining they're even there, but every night you feel things crawling on your legs, back, neck, hairline, face, and head. They bite you in your house, and when you're on the couch—there's no peace!

Solution for the Invisible Biting Bugs in Your Home

Many sufferers say they are like invisible fleas and look like lint or tiny white bugs when on the clothes and skin. Or maybe it's super tiny black bugs that itch like crazy. You might have tried some expensive products to get rid of these invisible mites. I've seen all the infestations: "invisible" fleas, bed bugs, and scabies.

The tough news is that you may be dealing with house mites or the scabies mite. Contrary to popular belief, scabies can strike households on any level—all it takes is sitting down on a piece of public furniture, and suddenly these bugs are hitching a ride back into your home.

The itching is terrible; it is just a burning, nonstop irritation. The reason these mites are so irritating is that the female will burrow or tunnel into the skin and lay eggs. It's probably the most irritating itching you can experience in your life.

Yes, it's gross—but the good news is there are ways to kill these bugs and finally have peace of mind. The methods below may help you kill an infestation, but it's always best to work with a doctor; children and toddlers require special care, and these methods may not be best for everyone.

So what is the best way to deal with invisible biting mites? We will talk about trying the following:

8 Ways to Help Eradicate Invisible Bugs

1. Permethrin Cream or Nix
2. Windex (Ammonia)
3. Listerine (Bactericidal)
4. Ivermectin
5. Heat to Kill the Bugs on Bedding and Clothes
6. Borax
7. Natural Remedies
8. Stay Healthy and Build Immunity

1. Permethrin Cream or Nix

Permethrin cream kills the scabies mite and lice. Essentially, this medication-insecticide works by paralyzing and killing the adult mite and its eggs. It is reportedly safe for pregnant women, children, and infants over two months of age, but absolutely check the product label and talk to your doctor before use. You can buy it over the counter.

To use this, simply apply it topically and leave it on for the designated amount of time. Do not overuse it and keep it away from pets—it's toxic to cats and aquatic life.

2. Windex

Windex is a general household cleaner, but it does effectively kill insects because it contains ammonia, which is deadly in high concentrations. If you are using Windex heavily, you may want to purchase a respirator from Home Depot. I certainly wear one whenever I am cleaning with chemicals. I also wear disposable non-latex gloves (like nitrile), but you can also buy reusable gloves just for cleaning.

To kill the bugs with ammonia, simply spray every surface—desk space, tables, bookshelves (use a soft, absorbent cloth just for dusting), your car, etc. If you can, get the ceilings and walls.

Caution: Never mix ammonia and bleach—this will produce toxic fumes.

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3. Listerine (Bactericidal)

Hot water can actually make the biting worse, so some people have reported using Listerine in a spray bottle on the skin when showering. I simply use Dr. Bronner's peppermint oil and let it sit on my skin for a bit, but you may give Listerine a try, too.

The essential oils in Listerine tend to have a numbing effect. Basically, you'll want to spray it on your skin (turn off the faucet to save water) and let it sit for as long as you can stand it (preferably 5+ minutes). Don't forget to spray your feet! You will want to replenish the Listerine regularly to make sure it's still at full strength.

What Are the Active Ingredients in Listerine?

Interestingly enough, Listerine contains the essential oils thymol, methanol, and eucalyptol and methyl salicylate. This combination of ingredients kills bacteria in saliva (per clinical trials) and is, therefore, bactericidal. It is an insect deterrent as well.

4. Ivermectin

Ivermectin is another antiparasitic used in veterinary medicine and can be prescribed orally (taken by mouth) by a doctor. You will definitely want to see a doctor before using this medication, as they will calculate the correct dosing by weight. It also treats other internal parasites besides external infestations. This is one of the most effective treatments for sarcoptic mites (scabies).

Caution: Don't drink alcohol while on ivermectin and talk to your doctor before taking any other medications.

5. Use Heat to Kill the Bugs on Bedding and Clothes

Another thing that works for flea infestations and mite infestations is to kill them with heat. You have to reach a certain temperature, however, to really finish them off. I would take all of my bedding and throw it in the dryer and cook it for 20 minutes. This was an effective way of killing mites for me. You can also put your bedding in huge Hefty or trash bags and suffocate them.

Some companies offer a service where they will heat up your house to over 130 degrees and kill the mites—this can be expensive, however.

Caution: Please use extreme caution while drying out your bedding, etc. You can even throw a moist hand towel into the dryer to prevent burns and reduce fire risk. Dry bedding that gets too hot is a fire hazard.

How to "Quarantine" Infested Clothes

Whether you are dealing with mites, fleas, or bed bugs, follow this advice to prevent transference from clothing into your house:

1. Seal all dirty clothes in a plastic Hefty bag (to suffocate the bugs).
2. Use bleach (when appropriate) and detergent when washing; you can also use essential oils.
3. When washing clothes, place them immediately into the washing machine and don't drag them across the machine or house—mites can escape this way.
4. Get rid of the used trash bag and don't let it sit around the home, as mites will likely be inside this bag (as will eggs).
5. Consider drying your clothes longer than normal.

Tips for Protecting Your Mattress

• Mite-proof cover: I purchased a mite-proof mattress cover that was fairly inexpensive but works wonders. It breathes well, it's definitely waterproof (my cat peed on it), and it keeps my mattresses dust-mite free. Consider this.
• Wrapping the mattress: If you are dealing with an active infestation, you can wrap your mattress in plastic bags (cut them open with scissors and tape the seems), hose-vacuum the mattress, and flea bomb the house if you so desire.
• Inflatable bed: If you are dealing with a really bad infestation, you may need to get rid of your mattress and use a blow-up inflatable mattress that can be cleaned off with something like Windex every other day before the mites are completely gone.
• Wash your sheets daily: You may want to wash your sheets daily. This will prevent the mites from cycling and hatching. You can also spray your sheets with a peppermint-based essential oil blend.

6. Borax

Borax is great for removing mites from carpets, shoes, and can be used in laundry. Do not use borax in laundry if you have sensitive skin. Simply sprinkle your carpet with borax (it can be used in the car, too). After 24 hours, vacuum it up. I would not use it if you have pets that have access to your carpet.

You can also put borax in your shoes and let it sit for 24 hours, then vacuum it out or simply wash your shoes in cold water and let them dry outside in warm weather. Baking soda is also a great alternative for households with pets or children.

Outside of the body, a 5 percent solution of tea tree oil was more effective at killing the mites than traditional treatments.

— Healthline.com

7. Natural Remedies for Invisible Insects

There are some natural remedies you can try. When diluted properly in a carrier oil, citronella, peppermint, and tea tree essential oils will kill insects on the skin. One such study even states: "Outside of the body, a 5 percent solution of tea tree oil was more effective at killing the mites than traditional treatments." Make sure to follow any necessary safety precautions especially with children and pets. You may also want to consider the following:

1. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a unique, chalky-white powder made of fossilized aquatic organisms (diatoms) or phytoplankton. DE is great for killing bugs because it causes them to dry out—it absorbs the oils and fats from the insect's exoskeleton. DE is great for dust mites, too. You can sprinkle it on carpets, furniture, and bedding. Be sure to wear a dust mask.

2. MSM Cream

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural form of organic sulfur that can help protect the skin. It contains vitamins E and ginkgo. Note that it is for topical use only. You can mix MSM cream with tea tree oil or peppermint oil and use it on the skin to kill the invisible bugs.

You can also blend the MSM cream with hand lotion and a powerful essential oil (try for a 1 part MSM: 10 parts hand lotion blend or higher; essential oils should also be diluted according to instructions). This can be used all over your body.

3, Ozone Generators: What Are They Used For?

Ozone can be used to kill mold, get rid of secondhand smoke, and kill bed bugs and other insects. You can buy ozone generators from various companies for under $100 and just switch them around each room. Make sure to air every room out, because you should not breathe in the ozone.

4. Carpet Cleaning With Enzyme Cleaners

Some people may choose to use an enzyme cleaner in a humidifier or in a carpet-cleaning machine (for home use or rented/commercial) to treat the carpets and control dust mites and other mites. You may consider using a good enzyme cleaner like Kleen Free. (Always read product directions.)

8. Additional Tips to Stay Healthy and Build Immunity

People who deal with immunosuppression are particularly susceptible to infestations. That's why it's super important to eat well, exercise, practice good hygiene, keep stress low, take vitamins, and get your sleep. You may even want to consider changing your diet.

Candida Diets

Some people adopt a candida diet, which means giving up sugar, alcohol, gluten-containing foods, high-starch vegetables, some fruit, dairy, and carb-rich vegetables. Basically avoid eating foods that are processed or high in sugar.

Candida diets target yeast overgrowth, but it is all too common for yeast infections to encourage bacterial infections, which also allow for parasites to easily affect our skin barriers.

Safety With Children and Pets

Always follow directions if you are treating or fogging your house. Pets are extremely sensitive to chemicals, as are children. Even natural essential oils like peppermint and citronella can be toxic to pets, so if you really have to, consider sending your kids or pets away for a short period of time.

Consider having your kids stay with family or only treat the house when the kids are at school. Air the house out well after. If you have pets, consider boarding them to keep them safe while you have to treat the house (or keep them in a spare room without carpeting). Also be sure they are on preventatives and free of parasites—you'll want to bathe them before bringing them back into the house.

Are You Dealing With Bird Mites?

You may also want to consider whether you're dealing with bird mites. This could be possible if you have birds in your household. Talk to your vet for animal-safe treatments. Bird mites generally don't cross over species. You can get exposed, however, from secondhand furniture, working in areas where animals are present, or working directly with animals.

You Are Not Imagining It

When you say that you feel like something is crawling on you and biting you, but you don't see anything, some people may treat you like your crazy. Sadly, you're not, and they are just unaware of the reality of the situation. People who deal with mites in the household and on the body experience a drop in their quality of life.

The good news, however, is with enough resources and diligence, you can get rid of the problem once and for all. Also know that you are not alone, and many people have dealt with this problem—and found solutions to overcome it!

This content is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for formal and individualized diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed medical professional. Do not stop or alter your current course of treatment. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

© 2019 Laynie H

Share your story and tips below:

JJ on September 02, 2020:

Agree also Sukaycooks!

I also agree with what someone said about us being home and the increase of rodent and parasite population in homes to irritate and attack us. It is the craziest thing ever. I’ve been to urgent care and told maybe it was dust particles irritating my skin, and then my primary and his collegue saying neither have ever seen this before. Even the dermatologist had never seen this but they all gave me a prescription for Permethrin, which was immediate relief BUT it doesn’t not kill what is below the surface. At this point I also like BB have them burrowed deep. The stinging pain last for a good 5-10 seconds and then I can sticky roll one off. But it’s when your body relaxes and blood pressure drops that is when they begin to come out, not all, some actually go into burrows or out of burrows during the day when I’m doing something. It’s such a sharp stinging pain for just a little lost invisible spec! The itch is insane too! The itch is caused by dead mites, their feces, and eggs or larve left in burrows. Our immune systems are working over time with this infestation!

I found a Heathy Skin Program and the author talks about treating from the inside out for 14 days or more depending on severity. By taking Ivermectin (oral) and permethrin (topical) while using sulfur lotion between and has had great success on scabies. Since these things have same reaction and as scabies I thought it’s worth a try. I can’t get my doctor to prescribe the oral medication so I ordered Ivermectin paste for horses, I’m not a doctor but will be following a Very strict treatment. I will post along the way of my progress and hope for the best expect the worse! Lol

I feel some days that I’m right at the tail end of this and then BAM I will have a major activity dayand night. I do believe these things burrow and lay eggs that hatch every 14 days which are the white specs and popping sounds I hear.

I am curious to hear about the pur03 and how that does for you BB. You are right, when you try a new treatment it seems to be giving results and then like everything else they just become immune to it. Everything I have tried short of permethrin won’t kill or get rid of them completely, even the topical won’t get into their burrows only when they come out.

Praying for us all that we find what works for each of us and keep posting. You’re not alone!! You’re not crazy. Medical professionals really need to expand their education to not just know the basics of lice and scabies.

MICHELLE BRASS on September 02, 2020:

sorry, another comment. maybe help get help. i live on top floor of apartment building. i suspect from all the debri i see now on the ledge, this is part of it. how i got infected is partly from using the window open without a screen with a fan. but found even with a screen, does not matter since these things are smaller than any screen. i also have kept pictures of all skin irritations, and noted whatever i used. when i first used tea tree oil, then aloe vera ... my face felt like it was going to explode. my eyebrows and hair line and eyelids. at the same time i did that i also used tiger balm and cbd balm on chest and arms/hands since they were sore from cleaning.... oh my goodness, i thought i was on fire. for maybe a minute or so... then i started seeing bubbles!!!! bubbles on my arms. myface, i had to wash cause it burned so bad. but after that burn, never burned again.. cause when i feel the itch i still put the tea tree oil and it might minor burn, very minor, hasn't ever caused same reaction.

i haven't had the bubbling reaction since either. but as soon as i feel like something is. biting, i put lotion that has tea tree or eucyluptus and after a minute or more, it starts to sting like burn like bite. and since i am putting lotion on, my skin is smooth .. right. but wtf. when i feel the bite burn, when i go to rub my skin, all of sudden there feels like a pebble. a rock that i rub off . ... when this first happened, there were a dozen or also, i would rub and it was like rubbing old skin off if that makes sense, like rubbing away a sticky residue from a sticker or tape. it was weird and it just happened when i did it. now it doesnt happen often, just barely every now and then. i have humidity thermometers. no central ac. tried doing ac, didnt even help. i pay attention to everything as i'm sure anyone who reads this does cause we want to know why and what and how what is involved in our discomfort. .... theres way too much lint on a pair of socks i wore once and washed. toooooo much debri and lint and pills on everything. i have never in my life ever seen this. not on others and i cleaned houses for old people and lived with dogs and in a basement and been homeless.

my experience with things have made me think, cause everyone is home is why higher exposure to the mites, some intolerances are heightened, that for me, new place and being at top where birds are constantly at, and theres some vegetation. management says succulants dont have any allergic consequences.. but theres other things cause one time i went up there, i was itchy as hell. so whatever, i dont care really what is making all this happen. i think anybody is really wanting is to make this stop.

just want this to stop. i want to stop focusing on and recognizing and acknowledging all the specs, the humidity, the temperature, the lint, the itchy things.

at wits end, thats why for the extra comment. i;ve spent the 1.5 months reading almost every research paper published on mites in the last couple years. i feel like i could be an entomologist and i absolutely, positively, entirely despise, hate and fear bugs. so its very disturbing to me to say the least to even discuss their exisitance. i have a traumatic response to them. when i see them and encounter. spiders use to be an issue. i rarely encounter them so that when it occurs, its not so bad. but every time i find the pebble on my skin or things that react from cleaning spray or wipe ... it freaks me out. i bought a brand new broom two months ago and it looks like its years old and used. same thing for a couple things. commonality is usually cotton, threads.. even polyester, guess what. the thread on it has the things that irritate me. face masks,,... even if i freeze them. doesn't help. they get defrosted and takes 30 minutes for them to start making my face itch. which i take is the ones on my face infestate the mask. or they were frozen and woke up. so wearing face masks are very hard for me. i take it off evry chance i get.

i wear glasses

initially, they use to bother me around the rims. then i found the black specs. since then, i make sure to clean them before with alcohol, so mildly at times i will get a itch but identify they need to be cleaned.

gawd. too many details a bout things thgat nobody cares about except me, my face itches, feels irritation and i want to be put in a coma.

another thing is the weird bruises and small marks that look like cuts but heal within 2 days,,, and the small dots that look like bites at first but go away...

let me tell you when i went to urgent care cause i had a bed bug. and a scabe , since i insisted to be tested for them, i had to get blood drawn.... OMFG ... where they poked me with needle, they put the cotton/bandaid ... well. wouldn't you believe that mother fucker hole was like open, like bigger for a few days. WTF , when does that happen. it got bigger and lasted for at least 4 days. i think it was a week before it looked like it was healed. normal for me is immediate after getting blood drawn so if you can imagine my distress. this also happened after pysically finding a bedbug on my leg, flicking it off. smashing it, seeing blood smear on floor and that bite become a sore and having another, not bed bug on it... and having a different bug maybe just a younger version living on it. cause that bite wound would not go away... still hasnt . it now just looks like a roseasa mark bruise. but its pretty big,

MICHELLE BRASS on September 02, 2020:

I don't have the resources to do alot of these things. Doctor referred me to dermotologist but the next appointment is in december. I know i am not crazy. first doctor tried to say i had that parasite disorder. which i think is not a thing anyway and cause its a specialization to know the microentomology. doctors only spend little time learning about it in school and unless this is a specialty and when they are general practice, i'm sure they forget. I can't remember everything i learned in school. had to take accounting and i dont know about balancing a ledger or the accounting thing that has debits and credits and i never understood it but it was required for my bachelors in business. so. i understand and dont blame them.

i hate being accused that i'm imagining this or that its just a dermotology and skin reaction. i am not a person who is sensitive by skin or allergic... except dander, so it made sense when i had a first problem with bedbugs two years ago when i was living in a hotel/hostel like place. i was itchy like i get when i am around cats. i have been like that with cats since i can remember about 5 years old. i get hives and itchy and start sneezing if i would be in anyones house after an hour that had a cat. its always been a thing.

what i don't understand is why it all came on like WWIII , nuclear war on me all at once... overnight. and nothing really helped but slowly things have.

what do i do with the things i have in plastic bags? i can't afford more. i realize that some, while moving gotten holes and made sense why they were bothering me and when i rebagged them, they stopped bothering ... so i try not to move stuff. i do look and sound like i have a mental issue so its really unnerving not knowing what to do and make this better. i do nothing all day but deal with it. making lotions, reading on internet, cleaning, ... i've gone through every single treatment possible 3 times but on the daily using essential oils and cleaners. i've tried them all!! but i'm physically and MONETARILY exchausted. so now what. ????

sukaycooks on September 02, 2020:

I have suffered from this problem on and off for more than 20 years. My situation may not match yours, but if it does, read on as I only wish I would have known all this before.

I began getting "bitten" by invisible bugs beginning in 1997. I had been deathly ill and had no energy to clean or do anything. I got fired from jobs again and again. I had no energy. People thought I was depressed, and I kept saying I'm sick, but doctors couldn't find anything wrong with me. Meantime, I barely had the energy to sit up. I was 37 years old and felt as if I were 98 on my last dying day.

So, I'm home getting "bitten." Red marks are on me after I feel the bite and then it usually would disappear quickly. However, the ones on my butt would create welts. I would look and look on my sheets for these bugs but could never see anything. Wherever I was in my house, I was getting bitten. I'd move from one room to the next, bring my blanket to the floor in this room and that and lie down. But whereever I went I got bitten. I couldn't sleep.

Pest control companies would come and spray, but it did nothing to alleviate the problem. Meanwhile, my house was a wreck with debris all over the floor.

After having no energy and horrible headaches for nearly a year, I was finally diagnosed with a brain tumor. When I was in the hospital and then moved to stay with my father because the doctors said for five weeks I needed to live with someone, my mom and sister cleaned up my home.

When I moved back into my home, I was not getting bitten.I went back to work, but didn't have time or the energy to clean and dust. My home was organized but not clean. Within time, the bites came back. I didn't connect it to a clean or dirty home. My friend told me to clean. When I cleaned, the dustmites got agitated and "bit" me. But after mopping and dusting and vacuuming, it helped. And then over time I wouldn't dust and clean (although my home was neat and organized), and the bites would come back. But once the place was clean, the mites went away.

Now, I'm in a brand newly built home and about 6 weeks ago, the mite bites were back. Even though this new home is tidy and floors are swept and mopped nearly daily, there is a storage room upstairs that I've never dusted. And I have never dusted things inside cabinets. I spent the last four weeks removing everything from the cabinets, dusting them with a clean damp rag (not dry or you'll just transfer the mites). While I was cleaning, I was agitating the mites and got "bitten" every couple of minutes. Meanwhile, my roommate and my friend who was helping me clean never felt any bites. Yet I would feel bites and pull up my shirt and show them immediately after feeling the bite. They could clearly see again and again that I was getting bitten.

My doctor's physician assistant said she has heard of this and has read about it. She said some people are allergic and feel the stings and other people aren't sensitive to it. The mites don't have teeth, but they have scaly bodies. I suppose that I am sensitive to those scales. It really can feel as bad as a bee sting. I have done tons of online research that has been written by doctors (Ph.Ds) describing the mites and resulting problems. One scientist said Diatamaceous Earth does not "cut" bugs and that the creator of DE made that up and it spread. The scientist said that the claim is impossible. I understand that it is helping some people here, but I tried it 20 years ago and it did nothing to help with the problem.

I'm now in about fifth week of cleaning everything thoroughly: taking every book, album, CD, dish, etc. off the shelf, wiping it down thoroughly and wiping out the inside and outside of every cabinet. It has done wonders with eliminating the stings. The mites get agitated while I clean and will sting me, but after it's all clean, the bites stop.

I have just a few more cabinets and drawers to clean. I have learned my lesson. I am cleaning daily now (dust with a damp cloth, sweep, vacuum, and mop). Monthly I will clean the light fixtures and fans. (I recently got up on the sink in the bathroom to clean the light fixture which I had not cleaned in the five years since I've been here. After I tackle my bedroom drawers, I will clean and dust my closet using a damp cloth.

I have learned that although I don't wheeze or have any noticeable breathing problems, I am sensitive to dust mites. I'm glad I don't need an ozone machine or any other type of product (and I've tried many of them). I just need to clean.

BB on September 02, 2020:

So I put the pur03 hemp oil on my feet again last night after my bath. PU. I put on a thick pair of socks after application and the smell was not strong and over powering. I put a dab on a few other parts of body and I was able to tolerate the scent. I wish I could apply this everywhere to see what it does, but the scent!

My 1st observation, my feet are much much better with a drastic decrease in activitiy. To early to say if this is killing anything/everything, but I will continue to apply this for awhile to see if it takes care of the mites burrowed deep. (I assume burrowed deep due to the long sharp pains at times) five to 10 second long stabbing pain at times. IDK.

As with most everything, you think you find a cure and turns out not to be... so dont rush out to buy this yet.... Too soon to tell.

My head has had no activity last night and I am hopeful the TSal is killing the mites in this area. Again too soon to tell... but hopeful.

My dog had another lime dip bath last week and he seems to be much better. I think once the dog is free, my cure will come fast.

Best of luck to all.

BB

BB on August 31, 2020:

Agreed Sukaycooks!

Nuff Said.

Unfortunately, the blistex medicated balm is not a cure for me. It does seem to heal wounds fairly quick though.