Photo by: Christopher Barson
If you’ve ever heard the term “dust bunnies” before, you may have this idea that dust is a harmless little particle that hops onto your furniture as you sleep; leaving little blankets of fuzz on your television and dining room table. Along with that comes the misconception that the only necessary time to dust around your home is when company is coming over, or you’re expecting an important guest. However dust, if not properly and regularly dealt with, can actually affect your overall health and well-being.
Dust can often trigger allergy symptoms that you may not be able to pinpoint the cause to. Dust mites have been found to be one of the leading causes to triggering such allergies. Feeding off of humidity in the environments they reside, they are most commonly found in pillowcases, carpets and padded furniture of homes that are laden with dust. But don’t be scared, these mites do not bite, sting or attack humans! Usually existing in the most dusty of environments, neglecting to wipe down the surfaces of your home regularly may be an invite to accumulating dust and allergy symptoms, as these mites have also been found to trigger asthma-like symptoms. The American Lung Association reports that people with asthma are at much higher risk of further breathing complications and even asthma attacks when chronically exposed to extremely dusty environmental conditions.
Such allergy symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Sneezing
- Itchy, watering or puffy eyes
- Tightness of chest, congestion
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Coughing
- Sinus pressure
As you can see, although dusting your home on a regular basis may seem like a hassle, preventing any irritation or discomfort from breathing in dust-laden air is never a bad decision. But how can you ensure that you’re dusting the right way, if that way even exists?
To get the best results from your dusting, we recommend dusting systematically, whether by height of your furniture or location in the room you are wiping down. This ensures that you polish off all of the furniture within the vicinity to the best of your ability. Don’t forget to dust the high to reach places as well, often some of the most common places that are prone to high dust accumulation. Vacuuming cloth furniture is also a great way to avoid embedded dust particles in your favorite sofas or chairs. Lastly, make sure you vacuum your floors as your final step in dusting your home; this helps to clear any of the dust particles that have been moved from the surrounding furniture and air and have begun settling into the carpet.
Mini Maids specializes in many services, dusting being one of them! We’ve spent four decades perfecting our service for the communities of Alachua county and we personally guarantee your satisfaction. Give us a call for more information.
