Scabies is a highly contagious skin infestation caused by the tiny, eight-legged mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis. These microscopic parasites burrow into the outermost layer of human skin where they live and lay their eggs. Successful elimination requires a dual approach: medical treatment with prescription medication and thorough environmental disinfection of the home. Cleaning is focused on items recently in contact with the infested person to prevent mites from transferring back to the skin and causing reinfestation.
How Long Mites Survive Off the Body
The Sarcoptes scabiei mite cannot survive indefinitely without a human host. Mites typically die within 48 to 72 hours when separated from human skin due to the lack of necessary food and optimal temperature. While eggs may potentially survive longer, the primary concern for transmission remains the infectious mites shed onto clothing, bedding, and towels. Cleaning procedures utilize either high heat to kill mites immediately or isolation to exploit their limited survival time.
Cleaning and Treating Washable Items
Textiles like clothing, bedding, and towels are the most common vectors for the indirect spread of scabies. All washable items used by the infested person or household contacts during the three days before treatment must be disinfected using high heat, which kills mites and eggs on contact.
Washing should be done in hot water, at a temperature of at least 130°F (54°C), maintained for a minimum of 10 minutes. Following the hot wash cycle, items should be dried in a hot dryer cycle for at least 20 minutes. Items that cannot be machine-washed, such as dry-clean-only garments, should be taken to a professional cleaner for mite decontamination.
Managing Non-Washable Items and Surfaces
Items that cannot tolerate high heat require an isolation strategy. Non-washable items like shoes, stuffed animals, gloves, and small decorative pillows should be sealed inside a plastic bag. This sealed bag must be left undisturbed for a minimum of 72 hours.
For larger, non-washable soft surfaces, such as upholstered furniture, mattresses, and carpets, physical removal is the recommended technique. Thoroughly vacuuming these surfaces will remove any shed mites or eggs. Immediately dispose of the vacuum bag or thoroughly clean the canister outdoors to prevent re-contamination.
Car interiors, which are also soft-surfaced environments, should follow the same vacuuming protocol for seats and floor mats. Alternatively, the car can be sealed by keeping the doors and windows closed for at least 72 hours, effectively treating the space through isolation. Avoid using chemical sprays, foggers, or fumigants for standard scabies disinfection, as they are often ineffective against mites in fabrics and pose health risks.