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Read MoreWe all know that feeling of having done a full dust of our homes, only to turn around after what feels like minutes, and every surface is coated in a mocking layer of dust!
I’m sure you get the picture, and have experienced the same feelings of frustration!
Let’s tackle this together.
Every home gets dusty – not just yours. There’s a bunch of sources that dust can come from. A ton, actually. Having too many of these run riot can make your home feel like you’re surfing on an ocean of dust.
The causes to why your house is so dusty are likely:
Now we’ve covered the why part of the dust issue, let’s tackle the solutions.
We all know that prevention is better than cure, so let’s cover how to solve each of the sources.
DUST SOURCE | SOLUTION |
Pet hair and dandruff | A daily routine of grooming performed OUTSIDE of your living areas |
Human hair and dandruff | A good hygiene routine and regular cleaning of plug/sink holes and debris traps and filters |
Loose fibers – fabric, paper etc. | Regular sweeping/vacuuming and usage of tools such as lint rollers |
Soil particles and plant matter | Removal of shoes prior to entering the home and/or a feet wiping mat made of durable natural fiber at the door |
Trace amounts of metals and chemicals | Air filters and window screens |
Pollens and mold spores | Air filters, treated window screens, early elimination of mold forming within the home, using hypoallergenic materials |
Following these basic tips outlined will keep your winning the war on dust, and enjoying a better quality of air and living within your home.
Simply put, some people are allergic to the waste products and body parts of dust mites, and this allergy can give them miserable symptoms including: sneezing; coughing; post nasal drip; runny nose; itchy nose, mouth or throat; itchy skin; or inflamed, itchy and running eyes.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and feel that dust mites might be the cause, there are 2 common tests available from your doctor –
Skin Prick Test (SPT) OR Specific IgE Blood Test
Both of these tests can be performed by at your local doctor’s office, and both are minimally invasive. If you are absolutely needle – shy the SPT test does NOT require the drawing of blood or any injections, although the surface of your skin may be pricked or scratched slightly with a sterile needle. This is useful to know as the Specific IgE Blood Test will require a blood sample to be drawn. For this reason the SPT test is often used for children or needle – phobes.
Once you’ve been diagnosed with a dust mite allergy, here are some recommended symptom relievers to discuss with your physician –
For comprehensive and specialist allergy advice, do check out www.aafa.org
All of us, whether allergy sufferers or not, appreciate a fresh smelling environment and clean air. What are some simple ways to achieve this within the home?
We’ve mentioned plants before, but they’re doing double duty in this article as air purifiers. See below for a chart showing the leading air purifying plants from NASA’s Clean Air Study of 1989 (yes, that NASA!). Visit your local nursery or raid your friends’ gardens (ask first) to find these beauties.
I hope that this brief overview of dust, allergies and odor control within the home has been helpful to you. Although certainly not exhaustive, these tips and tricks were compiled with your health and happiness in mind.
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Thanks for reading, and have a great day!