March 18, 2017 by admin
Is dust little more than a minor annoyance as it dulls the look of our homes’ every surface, or is there something more sinister at play? Montpellier Maids looks at what dust consists of and why you’ll want to keep on top of your house cleaning!
Studies have shown that a single home can accumulate up to 40lbs of dust a year. And this might make you spit out your G&T in disgust but a large proportion of that dust is made up of shed skin cells, the dust mites that feed upon them and their faeces. Other common components of household dust include pet hair, mould spores, rodent waste, soil particles, pollen, plant and insect parts, fabric fibres to name but a few. And if you’re a smoker, you may be surprised to hear that a single puff of a cigarette can create 400 million dust particles.
Whilst some elements of dust are wholly harmless, and it’s even considered that “dirt” can help boost immunity, some particles can lead to various ailments and illnesses especially in children, the elderly or those with already weakened immune systems. Allergies, asthma, runny noses, sinus problems, eczema and bronchial infections are the most common effects of dust in the home.
Dust mites, or more accurately their faecal waste, have been known to exacerbate the symptoms of eczema. They can even turn a mild form of the condition into the more persistent chronic dermatitis. Dust mites have even been linked to nasal polyps, which although harmless can be immensely painful and uncomfortable. Of course we all know that dust mites can wreak havoc in asthmatics, but did you know that in some cases they can actually cause the condition?
So How Can We Control It?
For best results, experts recommend burning your carpets and soft furnishings, replacing all sofas with wicker and trading in your bed for a string hammock. Or something extreme like that.
However, here are some less excessive measures for reducing the amount of dust in your home using:
- Damp mop your hard floors once a day
- Dust and vacuum once or twice a week to remove the build-up of allergens. Using a damp cloth will help to pick up and contain as much of the dust as possible
- Ensure you remember to vacuum mattresses and soft furnishings once a week
- Take loose covers and soft furnishings, such as large curtains, to the dry cleaners at least once a year
- Use a vacuum cleaner with an HEPA filter
- Dusting and vacuuming stirs up dust so if you suffer badly, wear a mask. If possible, have someone in without allergies to do the cleaning
- Consider wet-vacuuming where possible. This can help remove allergens from carpeting because the jets of warm soapy water actually wash through the carpet fibres. Steam cleaning carpets is another effective method
https://homemaidbetter.com/ also have some helpful guidance on how to manage dust in the home.
If you have any other tips for controlling dust, send us an email at [email protected]. We’ll add the best ones. We’d love to hear from you!
