Hi Hivers! I have been wanting to address this issue for some time now, but it has been delayed by other competing posts. It is, however, very important to talk about the #housedust, which subtly pollutes our houses, causes severe health problems, and damages our electronics. House dust is a mixture of the composite particles (living and nonliving) in our houses that are seemingly innocuous, subliminal, and often overlooked but can have a deleterious impact on our health and overall well-being.
What constitutes household dust?
The constituents of this invisible household enemy are enormous. They are a mixture of particles, including dust mites, dead skin cells, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, textile fiber, dirt, and particles that are tracked from outdoors, etc. Let me remind us again that these seemingly innocuous, invisible, overlooked, and microscopic invaders can pollute the quality of the air we breathe inside our house, resulting in some health-related issues.
Some Health Impacts of house dust
By now, I believe that you are itching to read more about these invaders. They are not just mere household messes. For instance, when you scratch off a dead skin cell from your body, you are simply feeding the dust mite, as the dead skin cells are the primary source of food for them. Conversely, dust mites produce allergens that can trigger symptoms like hay fever (sneezing, irritated eyes, cough, runny nose, etc.), asthma (coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing), and skin allergies (skin irritation, rashes, eczema, etc.). On the whole, when we inhale air that is infested by these particles, our airways are irritated, which can lead to asthma and other severe respiratory issues. This is even worse for individuals with existing health conditions.
More so, inhaling polluted indoor air with pet dander is capable of triggering allergic responses such as sternutation, cough, prickly eyes, etc. Pollen is capable of causing allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Mold spores can cause respiratory issues like asthma, while textile fiber causes severe skin irritation and respiratory issues, as highlighted in the preceding paragraphs.
Implications of House dust Beyond Health issues
Beyond the above-highlighted health problem, this dust can also destroy our household electronics by gathering on sensitive electronics mechanisms and impairing their functionality. Additionally, this house dust undermines the general aesthetics of the inner parts of our houses, causing beautiful surfaces to look dirty. A home free of dust not only supports a living environment with quality air to breathe, but it makes the house visually appealing and comfortable.
How to Reduce the Impact of House Dust
While it is unrealistic to eliminate house dust, there are numerous approaches we can adopt to reduce dust and its impact on our apartment. These approaches involve regular vacuum cleaning, brushing, dusting, and mopping and are indispensable for eliminating gathered dust. Building houses with better ventilation systems can also assist in reducing dust accumulation. Improving air circulation with air conditioners is an advisable approach to reducing these invisible invaders.
Mitigating sources of dust is critical. This comprises clutter reduction, eliminating dirty carpets from the bedrooms, if possible, and the utilization of dust covers for some furniture is recommended. Regulatory moisture levels are important as well, as humidity levels below 50% can be a breeding ground for dust mites.
To be sincere, we can control house dust by adopting proactive measures. If we do this, we can significantly improve the quality of the air we breathe, improve our quality of life, and sustain the overall aesthetic of our houses. #hive clean your houses regularly, use and employ appropriate ventilation methods, and some other preventive measures that can assist in creating a healthier, more comfortable living environment for you and your family.
Links for further reading:
- https://www.claytonandclayton.com/home-dusting-guide.php
- https://www.aha.ch/swiss-allergy-centre/allergies-intolerances/house-dust-mite-allergy
- https://beamcentralsystems.ie/blog/house-dust-mites-and-allergies
- https://www.orchidcs.com/10-tips-to-remove-dust-from-your-house-for-longer/
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