Is Dust Bad For You?

By Brooke Strickland

Dusting your house is time consuming and boring, but very necessary to keep your home free of allergens.  A single dust mite can produce up to 20 waste droppings each day.[1]  These microscopic little guys are the cause of asthma and allergies for people of all ages.  How do you know if you’re suffering from a dust mite allergy? The following could be symptoms:

• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Runny nose and sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Asthma, difficulty breathing
• Postnasal drip
• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Swollen, blue colored skin under your eyes

If you think you might have a dust mite allergy, visit your doctor.  He or she can do blood and skin tests to see if you are in fact allergic. 

How do you stay on top of the dust mite population in your home?  We’ve compiled a few tips below.

• Make sure to wash your bedding and pillows in very hot water to kill the dust mites in the fabrics
• It’s ok to not make your bed sometimes:  leaving your sheets open and free to breathe in the air can help reduce moisture/humidity and thus reduce the number of dust mites
• Clean your floors: use a damp mop on your floors to get the dirt and dust up and if you have carpet, vacuum daily if possible
• Use a furnace air filter and clean and replace the filters regularly
• Reduce the temperature in your home: homes above 70 degrees are the perfect living space for dust mites

[1] “Dust Mites: Everything You Might Not Want To Know.” http://www.ehso.com/ehshome/dustmites.php

Accessed January 24, 2012.