| Exposure to dust inside homes can have
adverse health outcomes, such as respiratory problems, asthma,
allergic reactions, and lead
poisoning (if the dust contains lead). Dust comes from two
sources. First, dirt and dust can be carried in from outside on shoes or
blown in through windows and doors. Second, there are indoor sources of
dust, particularly dust mites.
While it is impossible to have a dust-free home, it is possible to live
in a home that minimizes dust that is carried in from the outside and
to avoid conditions that can promote allergens in dust. Because nearly
two-thirds of the dust in our homes is tracked in from outdoors, one key
strategy is to build and maintain homes that help occupants track off
dust before it is carried inside. Simple steps such as using a mat at
the entryway of a home, building steps or using grates to scrape dirt
off shoes, and encouraging residents to remove shoes inside will all make
a difference. Another important strategy is to build and furnish homes
with materials that make it easier to remove dust through cleaning and
more difficult for dust mites and mold
spores to thrive.
Dust is more easily removed from smooth and cleanable surfaces (smooth
flooring such as wood, tile, linoleum, and vinyl) through vacuuming and
mopping. It is best to use a powerful vacuum equipped with a high efficiency
or HEPA filter. Carpets and the sponge-like pads often installed under
carpet can trap moisture once they become wet (due to a plumbing or water
leak, flood, or condensation), providing a fertile setting for mold and
dust mites. Carpets are generally more difficult to vacuum effectively
than hard surfaces. Short- and closed-loop-pile carpets (such as commercial
grade carpet) are typically easier to clean than loose-pile carpets where
dust and dirt falls through to the underlying material. Other actions
that can help reduce dust mites are:
- Reduce the humidity in your home. Dust mites will not thrive below
60% relative humidity.
- Wash sheets in soapy water at 130°F every one or two weeks to
kill dust mites. Take blankets to the dry cleaner, hang them outdoors
once a year, or wash them frequently.
- Cover conventional mattresses and pillows with dust mite covers (micro-porous
material to prevent infestation).
- Run a bathroom and kitchen fan that exhausts to the outside after
showering/bathing and while cooking to reduce moisture.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with high filtration features (high efficiency
or HEPA filter).
- Wash soft toys and stuffed animals regularly in hot water, followed
by thorough drying. The heat will kill off the mites.
- Shampoo, steam clean, or beat non-washable rugs and carpets once
a year. This removes large particles missed by the vacuum cleaner.
- Use effective filters
in the heating system.
American Lung Association - Health House - www.healthhouse.org
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America - www.aafa.org
Asthma Regional Council - (Healthy Housing Building Guidance and READ
THIS series) - www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org
Building Science Corp. - (A US Department of Energy, Building America
Consortia) - www.buildingscience.com
www.housedustmite.org
National Academy of Science, Institute of Medicine report Clearing
the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures 2000 - books.nap.edu/books/0309064961/html/index.html
US Centers for Disease Control (search under asthma) - www.cdc.gov
US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Healthy Homes
and Lead Hazard Control - www.hud.gov/lead
US Environmental Protection Agency http://epa.gov/asthma/dustmites.html
or general information at www.epa.gov/iaq
(Asthma and Environmental Conditions)
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