We love a clean home, but no one really likes to do the cleaning. Personally, the household chore I hate the most is dusting. And it doesn’t help when you find out the composition of dust.
According to the American Lung Association, indoor air quality directly affects allergies and general health. People today spend 90% of their time indoors, so indoor air quality is important.
Household dust is predominantly dead skin cells, dust mite droppings and dust mite body fragments! The average person sheds about 1.5 grams of skin flakes every day, more than a quarter teaspoon. And dust mites—microscopic pests—feed on those skin cells.
Dust mites are everywhere that humans live, though not on your body. They are found in beds, couches and stuffed chairs. Roughly 4 out of 5 homes in the US have detectable levels of dust mites in at least one bed, says the American Lung Association. Dust mite body parts and droppings are one of the main indoor triggers for people with allergies, according to the Institute of Medicine. If you suffer from allergies, spending more time inside may increase the dust in your home AND worsen your symptoms.
What can you do? Regular cleaning is the only answer. Dust or mop your floors with a damp cloth. Vacuum floors, mattresses, stuffed furniture, and pillows regularly with a HEPA filter. Wash bedding weekly in hot water, preferably at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit. And remember to change the filter in your HVAC unit. With these tips, you can breathe easier indoors.
Special thanks to Payel Gupta, Ease Allergy, of Brooklyn, NY, for reviewing today's episode.
Further Reading
Dust & Indoor Air Quality Briefing | American Lung Association