CA2255142A1 - Aqueous miticide containing benzyl benzoate - Google Patents

Abstract

Compositions and methods for killing dust mites are disclosed. The disclosed miticides are aqueous mixtures composed of benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites and a solvent having a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water. The amount of solvent is sufficient to maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture. Benzyl alcohol, which is itself a miticide, is an especially useful solvent. The miticide optionally contains at least one surfactant, which along with the solvent, helps maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture is applied to surfaces of household furnishings including bedding, carpeting, and upholstery, using conventional liquid application techniques. An important aspect of the present invention is that themiticide is a fully aqueous solution that, unlike available miticides, contains no solid particles for dispersing the benzyl benzoate.

Description

CA 022~142 1998-12-18 AQUEOUS MITICIDE CONTAINING BENZYL BENZOATE

Field of the Invention This invention relates to methods and compositions for killing dust mites.

Background of the Invention One of the most potent indoor allergens is house dust cont~min~te~ with dust mites. It is thought that dust mites may be an important factor in between 50 to 80 percent of all asthma cases, and contributes to countless cases of e~7~mS~, hay fever and other allergic reactions. Syl"ptonls of hypersensitivity to dust mites include snee7ing, itching, watery eyes, as well as he~cl~es, fatigue and depression.
Res~ilatol y ailments associated with dust mites result from contact with proteins in the digestive juices from the dust mite gut which are carried on the fecal pellets, and exposure to dust mites in the first, critical year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy.
There is no known cure for dust mite allergies, only prevention through the control of dust mite levels.
Beds are the primary habitat for dust mites. A typical mattress may harbor anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites. Nearly ten percent of a well-used pillow is colllposed of dead mites and their dlo~l.ings. Mites prefer warm, moist surro--n~ings such as the top surfaces of a mattress while the human occupant isasleep, and their major source of food is the dead skin shed from hnm~nc and their pets. Signific~nt numbers of mites can also be found in bedroom ca",~ling and household upholstery.
Cullclltly, at least two products are commercially available for control of dustmites. They contain benzyl benzoate and/or tannic acid as active ingredients.
Benzoic acid esters, such as benzyl bçn7O~te, are effective agents for killing house dust mites based on laboratory testing and field evaluations. Benzyl ben70~te does CA 022~142 1998-12-18 not pose a serious health risk when used in the amounts needed to kill mites because it is rapidly metabolized to hippuric acid, which is excreted in urine.
Although benzyl benzoate is an effective miticide, its use is not without problems. For cost and safety reasons, benzyl benzoate is diluted when used to 5 control dust mites. However, benzyl benzoate is insoluble in water, and is therefore ineffective as an aqueous spray. In commercial miticides, benzyl benzoate is adsorbed on solid particles to aid in its dispersion. The resulting dispersion is applied as either a moist powder or foam to carpets and be~rling. One drawback is that the moist powder tends to clump together, so that it is difficult to apply evenly. Another 10 drawback is that solid-stabilized benzyl benzoate miticides leave behind a powdery residue that is easily removed by vacu-lmin~, which reduces its effectiveness.
The present invention is directed to overcoming, or at least minimi7ing, one or more of the problems set forth above.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention, an aqueous mixture comprises benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites and a solvent having a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water. The amount of solvent is sufficient to ~ inl~ a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture. Useful solvents include aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, and glycol ethers. Benzyl alcohol, which is 20 itself a miticide, is an especially useful and plefc.lcd solvent in the invention.
Further according to the invention, an aqueous mixture compri~es benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites, a solvent that is at least partially soluble in both benzyl benzoate and water, and a surfactant. The amount of surfactant and solvent is sufficient to m~int~in a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate 25 in the aqueous mixture. Useful surfactants include lipophillic, hydrophobic, anionic, non-ionic, cationic and amphoteric compounds.
Still further according to the invention, a method of controlling dust mites comprises the step of applying to a surface an aqueous mixture of an effective amount of benzyl benzoate for killing dust mites, a solvent such as benzyl alcohol, and an CA 022~142 1998-12-18 optional surfactant. The aqueous mixture is applied to surfaces of household f~lrni~hings including bed~ing, c~elhlg, and upholstery, using conventional liquid application techniques.
An important aspect of the invention is that the miticide is a fully aqueous S solution that, unlike heretofore available miticides, colll~ins no solid particles for dispersing the benzyl ben70ate. As a result, the invention does not leave behindparticulate residue following application and is easy to apply with conventional deep cleaning equipment. In order to kill dust mites, existing miticides rely on dust mites ingesting the solid carrier particles. Because these particles are easily removed by 10 vacuuming, miticidal activity decreases sharply after the carpet is cleaned. In contrast, residual miticidal activity in the present invention is not significantly affected by vacuuming since the active ingredients in the miticide are adsorbed on the carpet fibers. Furthermore, since the aqueous mixture can be packaged as a liquid concentrate, it is easier to store, handle and apply than miticides adsorbed on bulky 15 solidparticles.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The disclosed miticide comprises an aqueous mixture of benzyl benzoate and a solvent. Because benzyl benzoate is insoluble in water, it is combined with sufficient solvent to m~int~in a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture.
20 The aqueous llli~ e can then be applied to surf~ces that may harbor dust mites--carpets, bedding, upholstery, and the like--using conventional techniques. Since the solvent obviates the need for a solid calTier, the disclosed miticide does not leave behind particulate residue following application.
The aqueous benzyl benzoate mixture can be an emulsion: a colloidal 25 dispersion of benzyl benzoate in water and solvent. Or, it can be a true solution, in which the benzyl ben70~te, solvent, and water are uniformly dispersed at the molecular level. In either case, once benzyl ben~oate is uniformly dispersed in the aqueous mixture, the solvent helps ...~ a stable dispersion by preventing benzyl CA 022~142 1998-12-18 benzoate from coalescing prior to application. Ideally, the aqueous miticide mixtures are transparent.
Suitable solvents show a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water and are therefore at least partially soluble in both. Examples of useful solvents include S aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, glycol ethers, or combinations of aliphatic alcohols, aromatic alcohols and glycol ethers. Specific examples thus include ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol. Benzyl alcohol is especially useful because, like benzyl bçn70ate, it is effective in killing dust mites.
In aqueous miticides comprising benzyl ben70~te, benzyl alcohol, and water, 10 the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is typically in a range of about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight. Generally, the ratio depends on the total amount of benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol present in the aqueous mixture, and on the presence of any additional components, such as surfactants, deodorants, colorants, anti-allergenic compounds, and the like. Studies show that, in the absence of surf~ct~nt.c, a 2:1 15 weight ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate works well for most commercially viable, safe, and efficacious levels of benzyl alcohol and benzyl ben~o~te. For the purposes of this disclosure, a miticide is considered effective if it kills at least 80 percent of a given dust mite population following application.
Generally, aqueous miticides comprising from about 0.01% to about 5%
20 benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol solution by weight are effective in killing dust mites. Because the aqueous mixtures are effective over such a wide range of benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol concentrations, the aqueous miticides can be packaged as conce.ll~tes, which are diluted with water prior to application. Such conce--l~ales will normally contain from about 1.0% to about 2.5% benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol 25 solution. For example, research shows that a 2.5 wt. % aqueous mixture of a 2:1 weight ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate can kill about 95% of a dust mite population following application.
In addition to benzyl benzoate and solvent, the miticide may also contain one or more surfactants. Surf~ct~ntc help m~int~in a stable colloidal dispersion of benzyl 30 benzoate in the aqueous mixture. By adding the proper amount of surfactant and CA 022~142 1998-12-18 solvent, the benzyl benzoate forms a stable, ~ s~e.lt aqueous emulsion. If packaged as a concellLl~le, the clear benzyl benzoate emulsion will usually turncloudy or white when diluted with water.
Common surf~ct~nt~ can be anionic, non-ionic, cationic, lipophillic, 5 hydrophobic, or amphoteric substances commonly used in textile cleansers. Examples of anionic surf~ct~nt.~ include sulfonated aromatic and aliphatic hydrocall,ons,sulfonated alpha-olefins, sulfated fatty alcohols and fatty alcohol ethers, sulfonated fatty acid methyl esters, sulfonated maleic acid esters, and carboxymethylated fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers. Examples of non-ionic surfactants include fatty alcohol 10 ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, fatty acid ethoxylates, fatty acid alkylolamides, fatty acid alkylolamide ethoxylates, fany amine ethoxylates, and polyalkylene oxide block polymers. Cationic and amphoteric surfactants include ~lu~te. ~ y ammoniumcompounds such as fatty amine carboxylates and betaines such as alkylampha-propinates and alkyl imidazolines, respecti\~ely.
The amount of surfactant in the aqueous mixture depends on the concentration of benzyl benzoate and solvent. Surfactants usually comprise from about 1% to about 20% of the aqueous mixture, but their relatively high cost, their tendency to leave a solid residue and their possible toxicity all limit their use. A useful concenl,ated aqueous miticide cont~ining benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol collLah~s about 12 wt.
20 % of a surfactant. Studies show that less solvent is needed if a surfactant is used. For example, an aqueous miticide having a 1:1 weight ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate with a sllrf~ct~nt performs better than an aqueous miticide having a 2:1 weight ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate without a surfactant.
Since the disclosed miticide is an aqueous solution, it can be applied to 25 carpets, bedding, upholstery and the like by any method suitable ~or applying liquids.
One particularly advantageous method is to apply the miticide with a conventional deep cleaner or extraction cleaner. The deep cleaner evenly applies the aqueous miticide by spraying the aqueous mixture on carpeted areas so that the miticide can penetrate deep within the carpet pile. Preferably, the aqueous miticide is combined 30 with a conventional cleaning solution to dissolve dirt and other cont~min~nt.~, and CA 022~142 1998-12-18 dislodge m~t~ri~ that may either foster the growth of dust mites, such as human skin particles and animal dander, or cause an allergic reaction--dust mite fecal pellets and carcasses, for example.
After the aqueous miticide is sprayed on the carpet, about one half of the S aqueous mixture is removed by vac~ ming V~cmlming also removes materials that may cause allergic reactions including dust mite fecal pellets and carcasses, dissolved dirt and other cont~min~nt~. Human skin particles and animal dander that are later ingested by dust mites readily absorb miticide that remains in the carpet after vac~l--ming Thus, the aqueous miticide continues to kill dust mites long after the 10 initial application. Unlike n~iticides adsorbed on solid carriers, the residual aqueous miticide is adsorbed on carpet fibers and is therefore available to taint dust mite food that finds its way onto the carpet after miticide application.
In addition to carpets, the aqueous miticide can be applied to other surfaces including draperies, bedding and upholstery using adapters that are typically provided 15 with deep cleaners. Furthermore, the aqueous miticide can be applied to surfaces using conventional liquid spraying devices.

Examples The follow examples are int~n~lecl as illustrative and non-limiting, and rc~rese~,l specific embodiments of the present invention.

20 Examplc 1 An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 3.00 g of benzyl benzoate in. 10.10 g of ethyl alcohol at room ter.~c~ to form a clear, colorless solution. To this solution was added an additional 144.00 g of ethyl alcohol and 43.00 g of benzyl b~n7oate, resulting in an ethyl alcohol--benzyl benzoate premix comprising 77 wt. %
25 ethyl alcohol and 23 wt. % benzyl ben70ate. With stirring, 2.00 g of the ethyl alcohol--benzyl bçnzo~te premix were added to 20.00 g of a surfactant, ethoxylated linear alcohol (40%) ethylene oxide, available under the trade name AL~ONIC 810-40 Ethoxylate from Vista Chemical Corporation. To this solution was added, in turn and with stirring, 0.14 g of a surf~ct~nt primary alkane sulfonate available under the CA 022~142 1998-12-18 trade name BIO-TERGE PAS-85 from Stepan Company, 5.00 g of EB glycol ether, 30.00 g of distilled water, 1.04 g of BIO-TERGE, four aliquots 4.99 g, 5.60 g, 1.94 g, 1.10 g--of distilled water, 1.85 g of EB glycol ether, and 1.3 g of BIO-TERGE.
The resulting solution was clear and colorless. Table I lists the amounts of each component in the aqueous miticide.

Table 1.
Component Amount, gWeightPercent BenzylBenzoate 0.46 0.62 Ethyl Alcohol 1.54 2.05 ALFONIC 810-40 Ethoxylate 20.00 26.68 BIO-TERGE PAS-85 2.48 3.31 EB 6.85 9.14 Distilled Water 43.63 58.20 Total 74.96 100.00 Example 2 An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 3.10 g of benzyl benzoate in. 11.00 g of isopropyl alcohol at room tel..pel~l~e to form a clear, colorless10 solution. To this solution was added an additional 143.10 g of isopropyl alcohol and 42.90 g of benzyl b~n7- ~te resulting in an isopropyl alcohol--benzyl benzoate premix comprising 77 wt. % isopropyl alcohol and 23 wt. % benzyl ben~o~te. With stirring, 1.02 g of the isopropyl alcohol--benzyl benzoate premix were added to 10.00 g of a surfactant, ethoxylated linear alcohol (40%) ethylene oxide, available under the trade name ALFONIC 810-40 Ethoxylate from Vista Chemical Col~.oldLion. To this solution was added, in turn and with stirring, 0.52 g of a surfactant, primary alkane sulfonate available under the trade name BlO-TERGE PAS-85 from Stepan Company, and 2.52 g of EB glycol ether. Next, 29.00 g of distilled water was added in about 3 g aliquots, resulting in a clear solution. Table 2 lists the amounts of each 20 colllpollen~ in the aqueous miticide.

CA 022~142 1998-12-18 Table 2.
Component Amount, g Weight Percent Benzyl Benzoate 0.23 0.53 Isopropyl Alcohol 0.79 1.83 ALFONIC 810-40 Ethoxylate 10.00 23.22 BIO-TERGE PAS-85 0.52 1.21 EB 2.52 5.85 Water 29.00 67.36 Total 43.06 100.00 Example 3 An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 3.01 g of benzyl benzoate in. 1.51 g of a sllrf~ct~nt polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monolaurate, available under S the trade name GLYCOSPERSE L-20 from Lonza, Inc., resulting in a clear, pale yellow solution. To this solution was added, with stirring, 1.50 g of another surfactant, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol, available under the trade name CHEMALTDA-9 from Chemax, Inc., 30.00 g of isopropyl alcohol, and 32.40 g of distilled water, resulting in a hazy solution. The hazy solution immediately cleared upon adding 17.10 g of isopropyl alcohol. Finally, an additional 14.43 g of distilled water and 0.15 g of fragrance were added to the solution, resulting in a clear, colorless solution. Table 3 lists the amounts of each component in the aqueous miticide.

Table 3.
Component Amount, g WeightPercent Benzyl Benzoate 3.01 3.01 Isopropyl Alcohol 47.10 47.05 GLYCOSPERSE L-20 1.51 1.51 CHEMAL TDA-9 1.50 1.50 Fragrance 0.15 0.15 Water 46.83 46.78 Total 99.95 100.00 CA 022~142 1998-12-18 Ex~mple 4 An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 3.02 g of benzyl bel.70ate in 1.04 g of a surfactant, polyoxyethylene 20 so,l,iL~l monolaurate, available under the trade name GLYCOSPERSE L-20 from Lonza, Inc., resulting in a clear, pale yellow 5 solution. To this solution was added, with stirring, 3.00 g of another surfactant, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol, available under the trade name CHEMAL TDA-9 from Chemax, Inc., 10.10 g of ethyl alcohol, and 7.33 g of distilled water, resulting in a hazy solution. The hazy solution immediately cleared upon adding 22.60 g of ethyl alcohol. Finally, an additional 2.03 g of GLYCOSPERSAL L-20 and 19.98 g of 10 distilled water were added to the solution, resulting in a hazy, pale yellow solution.
Table 4 lists the amounts of each component in the aqueous miticide.

Table 4.
Component Amount, gWeight Percent Benzyl Benzoate 3.02 4.37 Ethyl Alcohol 32.70 47.33 GLYCOSPERSE L-20 3.07 4.44 CHEMAL TDA-9 3.00 4.34 Water 27.31 39.52 Total 69.10 100.00 Example S
An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 1.50 g of benzyl benzoate in. 3.06 g of a surfactant, polyoxyethylene 20 sorbitan monolaurate, available under the trade name GLYCOSPERSE L-20 from Lonza, Inc., resulting in a clear, pale yellow solution. To this solution was added, with stirring, 1.02 g of another surfactant, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol, available under the trade name CHEMALTDA-9 from Chemax, Inc., 20.10 g of isopropyl alcohol, and 29.70 g of distilled 20 water, resulting in a hazy solution. The hazy solution immediately cleared upon adding 0.50 g of isopropyl alcohol. Next, altç n~ting aliquots of distilled water--0.48 g, 0.26 g, 10.19 g, 19.78 g--and isoprop.yl alcohol--0.50 g, 5.90 g, 10.50 g, 0.60 g CA 022~142 1998-12-18 were added, with stirring, result in a clear, colorless solution. Table 5 lists the arnounts of each component in the aqueous miticide.

Table 5.
Component Amount, gWeight Percent Benzyl Benzoate 1.50 1.44 Isopropyl Alcohol 38.10 36.60 GLYCOSPERSE L-20 3.06 2.94 CHEMAL TDA-9 1.02 0.98 Water 60.41 58.04 Total 104.09 100.00 Example 6 An aqueous miticide was made by first dissolving 3.05 g of benzyl benzoate in. 5.86 g of a surfactant, polyoxyethylene 20 so,bilail monolaurate, available under the trade name GLYCOSPERSE L-20 from Lonza, Inc., resulting in a clear, pale yellow solution. To this solution was added, with Sti~ g~ 1.99 g of another surfactant, ethoxylated aliphatic alcohol, available under the trade name CHEMALTDA-9 from Chemax, Inc., 80.00 g of isopropyl alcohol, 0.30 g offragrance, and 108.93 g of distilled water, resulting in a clear, pale yellow solution. Table 6 lists the amounts of each component in the aqueous miticide.

Table 6.
Component Amount, gWeightPercent Benzyl Benzoate 3.05 1.52 Isopropyl Alcohol 80.00 39.97 GLYCOSPERSE L-20 5.86 2.93 CHEMAL TDA-9 1.99 0.99 Fragrance 0.30 0.15 Water 108.93 54.44 Total 200.13 100.00 CA 022~142 1998-12-18 Example 7 Dust mite kill rate for benzyl alcohol was determined. Benzyl alcohol was diluted 1:10 with acetone. Two hundred fifty ~11 of the benzyl alcohol--acetone solution was applied to a 5 cm diameter filter paper disk. The acetone was evaporated S off, leaving 25 ~ul of benzyl alcohol on an area of 19.63 cm2. Dust mites were placed in contact with the disk, resulting in a 100 % kill rate.

Example 8 Dust mite kill rate for an aqueous benzyl alcohol mixture was determined.
Ten ml of benzyl alcohol was dissolved in 1000 ml of BISSEL CARPET CARE
10 detcrgellt, which contains surfactants and about 85 wt. % water. The clear solution was diluted 1:10 with distilled water, and 250 ,ul of the resulting mixture was applied to a 5 cm diameter filter paper disk. The filter paper was allowed to dry at room temperature, leaving behind about 0.25 ~1 of benzyl alcohol on an area of 19.63 cm2.
Dust mites were placed in contact with the disk, resulting in about an 80 % kill rate of 15 the dust mites.

Example 9 Dust mite kill rate for an aqueous benzyl alcohol mixture was deterrnined.
Ten ml of benzyl alcohol was dissolved in 1000 ml of BISSEL CARPET CARE
ALLERGEN CONTROL, which contains surfactants and about 80 wt. % water. The 20 clear solution was diluted 1:10 with distilled water, and 250 111 of the resulting mixture was applied to a 5 cm diameter filter paper disk. The filter paper was allowed to dry at room te~ dlllre, leaving behind about 0.25 ,ul of benzyl alcohol on an area of 19.63 cm2. Dust mites were placed in contact with the disk, resulting in about an 80 % kill rate of the dust mites.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrativeand not restrictive. Many reasonable variations and modifications are possible and will be a~arellt to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be deterrnined not with reference to the CA 02255l42 l998- l2- l8 above description, but should instead be detennin~d with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims (43)

1. An aqueous mixture comprising:
benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites; and a solvent having a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water;
wherein the aqueous mixture comprises an amount of solvent sufficient to maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture.

2. The aqueous mixture of claim 1 wherein the aqueous mixture is transparent.

3. The aqueous mixture of claim 1 wherein the solvent is effective in killing dust mites.

4. The aqueous mixture of claim 1 wherein the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, an aromatic alcohol, or a glycol ether, alone or in combination.

5. The aqueous mixture of claim 4 wherein the solvent is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol, alone or in combination.

6. The aqueous mixture of claim 4 wherein the solvent is benzyl alcohol.

7. The aqueous mixture of claim 6 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is in a range of about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight.

8. The aqueous mixture of claim 7 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is about 2:1.

9. The aqueous mixture of claim 6 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

10. The aqueous mixture of claim 9 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 1.0% to about 5.0% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

11. An aqueous mixture comprising:
benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites;
a solvent having a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water; and a surfactant;
wherein the aqueous mixture comprises an amount of solvent and surfactant that is sufficient to maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture.

12. The aqueous mixture of claim 11 wherein the aqueous mixture is transparent.

13. The aqueous mixture of claim 11 wherein the solvent is effective in killing dust mites.

14. The aqueous mixture of claim 11 wherein the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, an aromatic alcohol, or a glycol ether, alone or in combination.

15. The aqueous mixture of claim 14 wherein the solvent is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol, alone or in combination.

16. The aqueous mixture of claim 14 wherein the solvent is benzyl alcohol.

17. The aqueous mixture of claim 16 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is in a range of about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight.

18. The aqueous mixture of claim 17 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is about 1:1.

19. The aqueous mixture of claim 16 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

20. The aqueous mixture of claim 19 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 1.0% to about 5.0% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

21. The aqueous mixture of claim 11 wherein the surfactant is a lipophillic surfactant, a hydrophobic surfactant, as anionic, non-ionic, cationic or an amphoteric surfactant, alone or in combination.

22. The aqueous mixture of claim 11 wherein the surfactant comprises from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the aqueous mixture.

23. The aqueous mixture of claim 22 wherein the surfactant comprises about 12% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

24. A method for killing dust mites comprising the step of applying an aqueous mixture to a surface;
wherein the aqueous mixture comprises:
benzyl benzoate in an amount effective for killing dust mites; and a solvent having a high affinity for benzyl benzoate and for water;

wherein the aqueous mixture includes an amount of solvent sufficient to maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the solvent is an aliphatic alcohol, an aromatic alcohol, or a glycol ether, alone or in combination.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the solvent is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol, alone or in combination.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the solvent is benzyl alcohol.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is in a range of about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is about 2:1.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% of the aqueous mixture byweight.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol comprise from about 1.0% to about 5.0% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the aqueous mixture further comprises a surfactant;
wherein the aqueous mixture comprises an amount of solvent and surfactant that is sufficient to maintain a stable dispersion of benzyl benzoate in the aqueous mixture.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the solvent is benzyl alcohol.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is in a range of about 5:1 to about 1:5 by weight.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the ratio of benzyl alcohol to benzyl benzoate is about 1:1.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 0.01% to about 5% of the aqueous mixture byweight.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the benzyl benzoate and the benzyl alcohol together comprise from about 1.0% to about 5.0% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the surfactant is a lipophillic surfactant, a hydrophobic surfactant, an anionic, non-ionic, cationic or an amphoteric surfactant, alone or in combination.

39. The method of claim 32 wherein the surfactant comprises from about 1 % to about 20% of the aqueous mixture by weight.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the surfactant comprises about 12%
of the aqueous mixture by weight.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the surface is a carpet surface.

42. The method of claim 24 wherein the surface is a bedding surface.

43. The method of claim 24 wherein the surface is an upholstered surface.