Mystery Solved: Where Does Dust Come From?
Most humans can probably relate to being stuck in the vicious cycle of keeping the house squeaky clean. We’ve all been there: You clean your home, get rid of all the dust, only to wake up the next morning… to more dust.
You know that dust particles exist even when you don’t necessarily see them floating in the air, but have you ever wondered where they come from? In this article, we’ll uncover the mystery of where all the dust in your home comes from and the most effective ways for controlling your dust situation.
What is Dust Made of?
Before we discuss where dust comes from, first things first: What is it actually made of?
One of the most common myths about dust is that it’s mostly skin. Although it’s true that it’s a contributing component, most of your dead skin cells end up in the shower.
Basically, dust is a combination of particles such as sloughed-off dead skin cells, clothing and carpet fibers, soil particles, dust mites, pet hair/fur, pollen, soot, and even microscopic bits of plastic. It’s a potpourri of many sorts of things — it’s almost impossible to enumerate all of them.
Where Does Dust Come From?
Dust has many sources. These particles come from both indoors and outdoors. However, according to BBC Science Focus, two-thirds of house dust comes from outside.
Airborne particles enter through your windows, vents, and doors, while dirt gets tracked in from the soles of your shoes. Let’s look at each source in greater detail.
Soil, Pollen, and Other Outdoor Particles
If you or your housemates spend a considerable amount of time outside, you’ll most likely have a dust problem. Soil and pollen — the latter of which is a common allergen — can enter your house on your footwear, clothing, and even your hair.
So, when you move around the house without cleaning off first, you’re unknowingly spreading these outdoor particles. They will float freely in the air and settle onto your furniture and surfaces. The same thing happens when you keep your windows or doors open.
Dead Skin Cells
Yes, you've read it right. You are one of the sources of dust in your home — but this is normal. While most of your dead skin cells go down the drain when you take a bath, some of them may float around in the air and act as magnets for dust mites. This can be one of the reasons why you find dust accumulating around your bed and under it even if you try to keep your bedroom door closed.
Dust Mites
We’ve already mentioned dust mites, but what are they, exactly? Dust mites are microscopic pests that grow best in humid environments. They can be found just about anywhere, including your carpets, bedding, and curtains. That’s why you need to clean these things on a regular basis.
They love feeding on dead skin cells and pet dander. So, if dust is made up of human skin and pet hair or dander, it can be deduced that the more dust is present in your home, the more dust mites you also have.
Pet Dander and Hair
Just as humans shed dead skin cells, pets also shed microscopic flecks of skin and hair. If you have cats, dogs, or other furry pets, don’t be surprised if you have a dust issue. Even if you don’t have a pet, pet dander can still penetrate your home when you spend time outdoors or when people with pets come over to your house.
As we mentioned earlier, dust is a hodgepodge of various tiny and even microscopic particles. The sources of dust that we discussed in this section are just some of the most common ones.
4 Effective Dust Control Tips for Your Home
Even if you're not allergic to dust, you likely want to get rid of these particles anyway. Not only is it unsightly but when you’re constantly exposed to dust, your respiratory health is at risk.
If you want to improve the air quality in your home and get rid of dust effectively, here are some tried and tested dust control tips.
1. Clean Your House at the Right Frequency
The most straightforward approach to get rid of dust is by cleaning your house every day. Don't wait for dust to accumulate. Remember, prevention is better than cure.
For efficient cleaning, make sure that you do it in an orderly fashion. This means you should clean your home from top to bottom. When you vacuum it first and later on dust your light fixtures or ceiling fan, the dust will settle on the floor and you’ll need to vacuum it again.
Don’t forget to check out our blog on how often you should clean your home.
2. Change Your Bedding Weekly
You might think that this is a bit of an extreme measure, but keep in mind that one of the sources of dust is sloughed-off dead skin cells. If you want to prevent dust mites, keep your bed clean and change your sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis.
3. Replace Your Heating and Cooling System’s Filter
Your heating and cooling system can help to prevent the accumulation of dust by filtering the air. Therefore, you can control your dust situation by replacing your standard filter with a higher-efficiency one.
Some filters capture 80% to 95% of dust particles that are five microns or larger. However, if there’s someone in your home with a dust allergy, we recommend that you use filters that capture over 99% of particles that are as small as 0.3 microns. This means even bacteria, viruses, and fumes can be prevented from entering.
4. Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are super effective at reducing dust indoors. When the air purifier circulates the air in a room, it also pulls in and traps the microscopic particles floating freely through the air before they have the chance to settle on surfaces. Ultimately, this appliance makes indoor air more pleasant and safe to breathe.
The San’s air purifier is the most efficient on the market since it uses a three-stage filtration system that consists of a pre-filter, a HEPA 13 filter, and an activated carbon filter. Plus, it uses UV-C light sterilization that neutralizes viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens once they’ve been trapped inside the filter.
The amount of dust in your home depends on various factors such as your location, how many people are staying or visiting your home, your lifestyle, the number of pets that you have, and how often and thoroughly you clean.
There’s no magic tool that can instantly get rid of all the dust in your home. However, understanding where these particles come from and following the tips shared in this article will certainly improve your dust problem.
Ready to breathe easier? Shop with Sans today.