How to Kill Ear Mites From Feather Pillows

If your pet enjoys a down pillow or bed as its resting spot, parasites may be lurking among the feathers. Ear mites live in the ear canal of cats, rabbits, ferrets and sometimes dogs. As your pet lays against its (or your) feather pillow, its ear mites occasionally travel out of its ear canal and into the interior of the feather pillow. Ear mites are relatively easy to get rid of, but the trick is to keep them from coming back once they're gone.

Freezer
Fabric steamer
Plastic bag

Instructions

- 1
  Wash and dry the feather pillow by itself, using the hottest settings available.
- 2
  Steam the feather pillow to kill any surviving ear mites in the upper layers of the pillow. Ear mites cannot survive temperatures hotter than 130 degrees. Most commercial fabric steamers emit steam at temperatures between 140 and 203 degrees Fahrenheit. Read the steamer's label to make sure it produces steam at a high enough temperature.
- 3
  Place the steamed pillow in a plastic bag.
- 4
  Place the feather pillow in the freezer. Dust mites cannot survive temperatures colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezing the steam-moistened pillow kills the tiny mites on the interior of the pillow that the steam may not have reached. Combining steaming and freezing is a most effective approach.
- 5
  Repeat Steps 1 through 4 every two weeks until a veterinarian verifies that your pets' ear mites are gone.

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