3 Health Effects of Dust In Your Kelowna Home
The All About Details Cleaning Team is Kelowna’s cleaning experts. We’ve been through thousands of homes throughout the Okanagan Valley, cleaning areas that are commonly missed.
Dust, dirt and grime begin to collect and fester in those areas that are often overlooked. Although dust may seem like a minuscule issue, it actually contains all sorts of compounds, some of which are even considered to be toxic. Dust can contain anything and everything from skin cells, pet dander, rodent waste, paint particles, pollen, bacteria, viruses, plant and insect parts, heavy metals or even cigarette smoke and flame retardants.
In an effort to clean out those dust mites, we have a compiled a list of the 3 health effects of dust in your Kelowna home.
Dust Mite Allergy
Many people are allergic to dust mites. Symptoms of a dust mite allergy include red, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny, itchy, stuffy nose. Severe symptoms include nasal congestion, wheezing or difficulty sleeping. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, it’s important to reduce your exposure to dust and the amount of dust in your home.
Homeowners typically dust places that are visible, including bedroom and living room furniture, picture frames and entertainment. However, it’s the dust that forms in forgotten areas and corners of your home that can lead to a dust mite allergy. Our Kelowna cleaning company recommends cleaning and dusting behind appliances, under rugs, around light fixtures and changing air filters often to help alleviate allergies.
Asthma Trigger: Dust in Your Kelowna Home
Dust mites can trigger an asthma attack. If you or someone in your family suffers from asthma, then regular dusting is essential for alleviating asthma attacks. If you have asthma, chances are dust will make the symptoms worse. It’s important to delegate dusting to other family members or hiring a professional cleaning company as you are especially vulnerable during cleaning.
The All About Details Cleaning Team recommends creating a cleaning schedule or system. List out all the areas in your home that need to be cleaned and pre-plan who will clean those areas and when the cleaning will occur. Setting up a schedule that reoccurs will help ensure that your home is much cleaner – especially in those areas that we often forget about.
Dust From Household Items Interferes with Brain Development
Common household items including furniture, carpet padding and textiles can contain PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers), which are flame retardant compounds used to reduce flammability. When dust containing PBDEs accumulates, it can lead to a toxic disruption of developing hormone systems and the brain.
Reduce your exposure to this form of dust by using an air cleaner with a HEPA filter; removing carpet; buying furniture that can be easily wiped cleaned; using pillow and mattress covers; washing bedding in hot water and cleaning all your surfaces regularly with a mop or vacuum.
Regular dusting and being vigilant will significantly reduce the health risks of the dust in your home so that you and your family can breathe easier!