5 Tips to help limit dust In our homes
Dust is a main contributor to indoor allergens and millions of people suffer year-round from symptoms caused by them. Indoor allergens don't just come from mold, dust, pets and pollen- they also come from common household cleaning products which leave behind emissions and residue from chemicals that can stick around for years. These can also trigger other symptoms like migraines, fatigue, irritated eyes and skin and chronic illness.
Your dust is much more than just dirt or skin particles. Studies show that there are 45 chemicals commonly found in U.S. indoor dust. These include paint particles, particles of heavy metals including lead and aluminum, VOC’s, adhesives, bacteria, viruses and more. These chemicals are associated with health hazards such as cancer, endocrine/hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity and more…the list goes on.
As we spend 90% of our time indoors, limiting dust is an important (but easy!) way we can make the air in our home sanctuaries better for our health. These simple practices make a huge difference in the appearance, feel, and smell of your home. But more importantly, they can help make your home safer and less toxic!
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Remove dust regularly by vacuuming with a HEPA equipped vacuum and dusting surfaces with microfiber cloths. Vacuums with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter are less likely to push allergens back into the room. They have small-particle filters that can capture more than 99.97 percent of particles that are at least 0.3 microns in size and prevent them from being returned into the air. When purchasing a HEPA equipped vacuum, look for the official approval seal from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The AAFA does rigorous testing to ensure that each product limits your exposure to allergens and particles!
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Stick to a cleaning schedule and use an EPA Safer Choice certified and plant-based all purpose cleaner once a week to remove toxins like Sensitive Home's Fragrance Free All Purpose Cleaner. Making swaps to less toxic cleaning products, cosmetics, cookware, and furnishings will make the dust less toxic. Yes- even your furniture can give off volatile fumes that stick around in your house!
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Wash things on a regular basis! Keep up on washing your sheets and pillowcases to reduce dust mites. If you have carpets, be sure to shampoo them often with a natural cleaner for a deep clean. This also includes washing hands and your children's hands frequently. Small children often put dust-covered fingers and hands in their mouths.
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Use an air purifier to help keep your indoor air cleaner. Keeping plants around the house is also a great natural way to help with this and they have many other benefits for your mood and health. We love The Sill that delivers plants and planters directly to your doorstep.
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Minimize clutter! The more clutter, the more places for dust to gather and hide. Don’t forget to dust your blinds and replace pillows and mattresses as they get old.
