Health Risks of Dust in Your Home

When our second child was two years old, he developed a bad case of bronchitis, was put on a nebulizer and was labeled "pre-asthmatic." Immediately, my husband and I began to research what may have contributed to his illness; and, as it turns out, dust was a leading culprit in making our son sick. I am happy to report that he's now a healthy five-year-old who's asthma-free, but I believe that that's partially due to the measures we took to rid our home of excess dust.

Dust, though it looks like a fine powder or dirt, is partially comprised of dust mites-microscopic, eight-legged creatures that feed off of shed human skin cells and pet dander-as well as their castoff skin and feces. These mites tend to exist mostly on mattresses, bedding, upholstery, and carpet, as well as other objects like stuffed animals and drapes. Dust mite populations are also higher in more humid climates than dryer ones.

And since dust is partly made up of living organisms, there are health risks of dust mites you should be aware of. Some people are more sensitive to dust mites than others, but those who are allergic to them can develop life-long health problems ranging from mild to severe. Dust health risks include: nasal irritations such as sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip and congestion, sinus problems and inflammation, development and exacerbation of asthma, and skin irritations such as dermatitis and eczema.

The good news is that you can prevent excess dust in your home to reduce or eliminate the health risks caused by dust mites. If you are allergic to dust, the first thing you should consider is altering the environment inside your home. Wall-to-wall carpet is one of the leading causes of excess dust in the home, so rip it out if you can. Dust clings to carpet fibers, and every time you walk across the floor, the dust is kicked up and spreads. We were fortunate to have hardwood floors under our old carpet, so we took all of it out and now just have a few low-pile area rugs on our hardwood. This has significantly reduced the amount of dust in our home.

Other large items that should be changed or removed in your home are upholstered furniture (opt for leather, vinyl or wood instead) and drapes or heavy curtains (consider easy-to-clean blinds or shutters). Switching out our upholstered sofa for a leather one and using wooden blinds has reduced dust and made cleaning easier. Eliminate excess clutter that dust can cling to, especially piles of stuffed animals, dirty clothes and other objects with fibers. The less surfaces that exist in your home, the less the dust mites have to cling to and feed off of.

Make sure all air filters for furnaces, air conditioners and air purifiers are regularly cleaned and replaced, preferably with HEPA filters, which remove 99.97% of dust and other particles in the air. We have air purifiers in almost every room of our home equipped with HEPA filters, as well as a HEPA filter vacuum, which keeps dust contained instead of putting it back into the air.

But the best thing you can do to decrease the health risks of dust mites is to regularly clean your home, especially the places dust mites like to live. Wash your bedding in hot water and encase your mattress in an allergen-free cover. Vacuum drapes and upholstery and wash curtains in hot water. Carpet should be vacuumed every day in heavily trafficked areas, every other to once every three days in less-traveled areas of the home.

However, the best way to eliminate dust is by removing it from surfaces twice a week. Dust each room starting at the top and moving to the bottom to catch all of the dust. Feather dusters tend to just move the dust around; instead, try microfiber cloths since dust will cling to these. A clean cloth and dusting spray will also work to remove dust from surfaces.

The fastest way to dust a room is to use a disposable duster. These synthetic dusters are simple and quick to use, since you don't have to remove knickknacks and pictures, but can instead dust easily around them. These dusters can also be purchased in a starter kit with an expandable handle, so you can dust the tops of picture frames, ceiling fan blades, door moldings and other hard-to-reach areas with ease. I am only 5'4" and can dust any room in my home with one of these from top to bottom. While they're not a substitute for a thorough cleaning, they get the job done quickly and efficiently in a pinch, making it easy to keep up with dust between deep cleans.

Dust will always be in your home, but if you follow these home dusting tips, you can drastically eliminate the health risks of dust mites in your home, allowing you and the ones you love to lead healthier lives.

Sources:
BellaOnline.com
Eetd.lbl.gov
Ehso.com
GetRidOfThings.com
VaAllergy.com