I created an account specifically for this thread.
To the poster who suggested cedar mulch—thank you! This seems to be the quickest and most effective fix. If you're traveling or need an immediate solution, I highly recommend removing the peat moss or other medium and stopping by a farm supply or hardware store to pick up some cedar mulch. Cedar is used as a natural bug repellent, so it makes sense that it works well against mites too.
We've been using an Airhead composting toilet for 10 years and have encountered mites on three or four occasions.
Here’s what I’ve tried over the years when mites have arrived:
1) Daily use of diatomaceous earth: I placed the D.E. in a baby-powder bottle and dusted the infected areas daily. Also poured two cups into the peat moss in the toilet. While this works, it's only a temporary fix, mites still returned after a week.
2) Soak the entire toilet in a bleach solution for 24 hrs: I did this in the bathtub twice, and it was effective both times. Fresh dehydrated peat moss and good to go for another year or two.
3) Clean the toilet twice daily with a vinegar solution for one week: Unfortunately, the mites returned days later after using this method.
4) Replacing the peat moss with cedar chips and cleaned the toilet with bleach solution. This worked immediately for me, and the mites did not return.
Your mileage may vary, but I hope these suggestions help someone dealing with a similar issue. I'll be sticking with cedar for the next year before deciding whether to move back to a different medium. Well, perhaps cedar is my new medium. We use our toilet in a van conversion and typically only replace the medium once a year based on our usage. I'll report back next year...
