You dust, sweep, hoover, and wipe down, but as hard as you try to stay dust-free, it still sneaks in. With so much of our time spent indoors, we constantly face poor indoor air quality. Experts recommend great ventilation, and if you don’t have an HVAC system to filter your indoor air, you should open your windows regularly. It improves the quality of your indoor air. However, it also provides dust with another entry point.
What is Dust?
According to a report from the Economic Times, a third of dust is created in your home. What it is made up of all depends on your home and habits. Scientists don’t have an exact formula. If you live in an older home, with pets and everyone smokes, your dust will be made up of different contaminants than someone in a newer home with no pets or smokers. The one thing dust does have in common is human detritus. Our skin cells slough off and contributes to dust, as do those from your pet. Dust can include dust mites, food debris, and even decomposing insects. Not to mention fibres from materials within your home and the grime you track into your home on your shoes and clothing.
What Dangers Come With Dust?
Since dust accumulates in your home no matter how hard you work to clear it out, it circulates in the air. You inhale that dust, and with all the man made chemicals that make their way into it, it’s hazardous to your health. It is of particular concern for people with allergies and respiratory issues.
If a third of dust is created indoors, two-thirds come from outside. It enters through doorways, windows, and vents. It comes in on your clothing, footwear and pet fur and feet. This dust may be made up of tiny soil particles or large pollens. Lead, however, is another risk, especially if you live in the city, near a mine, or another industrial area. This can result in lead poisoning, which can lead to a wide range of health issues, including permanent disabilities.
One of the most common ways dust forms in your home is shedding from outside clothing. When you enter your home, you should remove your shoes and immediately remove your jacket. According to a study from the University of Arizona, 96% of shoe soles have traces of faeces. The study tracked a group of people wearing brand new shoes for two weeks. The rate of transfer from shoe to the floor? Up to 99%. This was just a study looking at the faecal matter, but add in the other toxins you come into contact with. For example, as you cross lawns, you run into chemicals, as you would in public restrooms. All of these are tracked into your home on your shoes.
Ways Dust Is Forming In Your Home
Mould is a big contributor to dust, and by using air purifiers you can help tackle some of that. They don’t kill mould before it grows, and they can’t prevent it, but they do kill the mould that hits the air. When you clean you kick up dust and mould, and your air purifier takes care of it. Food debris is also a big contributor to dust.
A long, hot shower contributes to mould growth, as do your shower sponges, toothbrushes, and any other product that comes into contact with you. You should always wash or replace these items regularly and dry them after use. Grooming is another dust contributor, with aerosols putting particulates into the air.
Dead skill cells shouldn’t come as a surprise. The area where most of these slough off is your bed. So, change your sheets at least once a week to manage dust. Your area rugs are also a major factor. They catch everything. Hoover them at least once a week, take them out back and air them, beat them with a stick, and have them professionally cleaned annually.
Your beloved pet isn’t helping your dust situation. There isn’t a lot you can do about it, aside from regular bathing, brushing, and hoovering. Air purifiers will also help manage the pet hair and danger that does escape. You can manage it by sweeping, mopping, dusting or hoovering daily.
How Dust Affects Your Health
The biggest health issue as a result of dust is respiratory. If you have a respiratory issue you will have a more difficult time. Typically, dust causes eye irritation, hay fever, sneezing, coughing, and asthma attacks. Young children, the elderly, and those with existing respiratory or heart conditions are at the greatest risk.
Ways To Cut Down On Dust In Your House
You can start by leaving your shoes and jackets at the door. Next, you can make a cleaning rota to ensure you are changing sheets weekly, hoovering regularly, and staying on top of dusting. Don’t forget to wipe down the tops of cupboards with a damp cloth. Once you wash down your counters and cupboards you should revisit to dry surfaces.
At least once a month, you should move furniture and appliances for a deeper hoover clean. You can also use your vacuum to clean your furniture, especially where your pets spend time. Don’t forget your blinds and curtains, and your walls! You can easily tackle dust with a wipe, hoover, or damp cloth. Certain wall types are at greater risk of mould growth, and accumulating dust can contribute to that.
Dust your light fixtures and lampshades and get in behind your radiators. As dust collects behind these it is distributed throughout the air once on.
Clutter is another major issue for dust. The more clutter you have, the more surface area available for the dust to cling to. Clearing out old furniture and unused items is a good way to stay on top of the issue.
How Cheapest Load of Rubbish Can Help
If you are looking to get your home in tip-top shape to reduce the risk of dust and mould growth, then it’s time to deal with the clutter and call a professional rubbish removal service. Once you have a full-scale clear-out, you can use a handy company like Cheapest Load of Rubbish for rubbish removal in Sydney.
