The fight against dust – hopeless yet manageable

Exposure to dust can trigger allergies and asthma.

Even those people who clean every day and hate dust with a passion will never be able to banish dust  completely.

The good news? Regular cleaning and other measures will help to keep these allergy triggers and indoor air pollutants under control.

According to experts, dust accumulates constantly on books, clothes, knickknacks and other surfaces and has nothing to do with being dirty or housekeeping.

The average American home collects 40 pounds of dust each year.

Dust is made up of different components:

• Microscopic dust mites and their waste
• Breakdown of fibers from fabrics and furniture
• Human and animal dander (skin flakes) and hair

Dust and dust mites can trigger asthma attacks and allergies, and most people don’t like to see a layer of dust on their household surfaces.

Experts say there are many ways to keep the dust problem under control:

1. Reduce clutter as much as possible – especially in bedroom where we spend about one-third of our lives asleep. They suggest a bedroom with an uncarpeted floor, minimal furniture, only the current season’s clothes in the closets and no pennants or posters on the walls.
2. Use a low-VOC paint that can be cleaned with water on the walls.
3. Clean the air with an air purifier. While HEPA filters are the most important filters when it comes to dust, airborne chemicals and odors can also be allergy triggers, and they can only be removed by a granular activated carbon filter. A combination carbon +HEPA air purifier will provide the cleanest air in the bedroom.
4. Vacuum regularly. The vacuum cleaner should have a HEPA filter built in.
5. Encase mattresses and pillows in allergy proof covers (but watch out for chemicals)
6. For cooling off in the summer, air conditioning works better than fans, which simply move dust around. Make sure the air filters in the air conditioning unit are changed. For HVAC systems, the air filters should be changed every 3-6 months.

Source: National Post

Air purifiers for the home and office

Along with the other tips mentioned above, an air purifier provides the most reliable and effective relief when it comes to indoor air pollution.

Dust is only part of the problem – airborne chemicals, odors, fumes, mold, bacteria and viruses are common indoor air contaminants that also affect a person’s health and well-being.

AllerAir has developed portable and powerful air purifiers for general purpose air cleaning as well as addressing specific air quality concerns (including allergy and asthma, mold, tobacco smoke and MCS).

For more information and a personalized recommendation, contact AllerAir.