3 Astonishing Ways Household Dust Affects Your Health

Household dust looks pretty harmless, right? True — but sometimes, looks can be deceiving. You already know dust accumulation is unsightly, but do you know how significantly it can impact your health? If you’ve been operating under the assumption that dust is nothing more than an aesthetically displeasing annoyance, our Dust Doctors team is here to clear the air — literally. Below, we’re discussing three of the most negative effects dust can have on your health, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Dust Mite Allergies

If you have dust anywhere in your home, you have dust mites — even if you cannot see them. Dust mites are tiny arachnids, which are closely related to spiders and ticks. But, unlike spiders and ticks, dust mites are invisible to the naked eye.

They subsist on dead human skin cells, which exist in large quantities in household dust, and because that food source is so readily available, they live in virtually every home in the world. Unfortunately, dust mites can trigger mild to severe allergy symptoms in sensitive individuals, which may include:

●        Nasal congestion or post-nasal drip

●        Facial pain or pressure, swelling under the eyes

●        Sneezing and runny nose

●        Itchy, watery, or red eyes

●        Itchy mouth or throat

●        Difficulty breathing

●        Chest pain, tightness, or wheezing

●        Shortness of breath

If you or your loved ones deal with seemingly unexplained indoor allergy symptoms, dust mites may be the culprit. Fortunately, annual duct cleaning can dramatically reduce the quantity of dust within your home, which significantly limits the number of dust mites within your living spaces.

Chemical Inhalation

How many toxic chemicals do you think are present in your household dust? Maybe 10? Possibly 20? The real answer may shock you. Researchers have found 45 unique toxic chemicals within the average household dust sample. Unfortunately, if you spend considerable time indoors, you expose yourself to those chemicals on a daily basis.

Worse, researchers have also learned that those volatile chemicals do not remain confined within dust particles. Rather, they routinely travel into occupants’ airways, causing respiratory irritation and frequently, more severe asthma-like allergy symptoms.

So how can you cut down on these chemicals inside your home? While weekly cleaning can make a world of difference, if your home’s ductwork contains substantial dust, even diligent cleaning won’t be enough. Because your HVAC system will continue to distribute dust-based chemicals into your ambient air, the only way to heighten your indoor air quality is through routine professional duct cleaning.

Skin Rashes

As we discussed, household dust contains hundreds of thousands of dust mites, which can trigger allergic skin reactions in sensitive individuals. But that rather innocent-looking dust likely also contains something much more harmful to your health: mold spores. For many people, simply touching mold can trigger allergic contact dermatitis, which appears as a red, inflamed skin rash that looks strikingly like eczema.

Volatile chemical compounds can also elicit skin reactions, as can the pollen, dander, and protein particles that comprise a large percentage of household dust. To mitigate mold-related health issues, you should schedule professional duct cleaning at least once per year. Depending on your and your family members’ degree of sensitivity, you may require biannual duct cleaning.

If you’re ready to experience the health benefits of clean ductwork, reach out to our team at Dust Doctors today! We know high-quality indoor air is paramount to you and your loved ones’ health, which is why we’ve spent decades developing our proprietary cleaning techniques and tools. You won’t find our systems or attention to detail anywhere else in the Twin Cities, so when you need assurance that your indoor air is as clean as possible, make Dust Doctors your first call.

To learn more about our duct cleaning services, feel free to give our team a call at 651-319-9777 or send us a message on our contact page, and we’ll be in touch with you promptly!