where do allergens lurk in your home?

Back in the 1940s, the Shadow exerted his mystical powers because he could make himself invisible.  And today, it is the invisible particles in our homes that can set off allergies. Even if you know you're allergic to pollen, have closed up the house, and are running the air conditioning, you likely have hidden allergens lurking. (Anything that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen.)

Where? You may wonder. Here's a hint: look down.

What's In That Dust?

Researchers have found a number of substances in house dust, particularly the dust that settles on the floor. And, interestingly, the components of dust can be very different from home to home -- even comparing neighbors.

Dust mites are the microscopic creatures that are talked about the most. They are virtually everywhere, except in very, very dry environments, such as homes at high altitude in places like Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT. Even the most diligent housekeepers have dust mites -- they are simply a fact of life. And, they are pesky little critters. Even when they die, they disintegrate into small fragments that get stirred up in the air and can be more easily inhaled. 

Mold thrives in the same high humidity environments that dust mites like so much, so they often go hand-in-hand. Mold spores float easily through the air.

Did you know that dust has been found to also contain:

• pollen
• sand
• plant and insect parts
• lead and other heavy metals
• food particles
• fibers such as cotton, wool, and jute
• hair, animal fur and feathers
• dried pet saliva
• flakes of skin
• traces of motor oil and gasoline additives

You may think that since you're not painting or renovating, and you have no pets, those substances won't find their way into your home. But, surprisingly, they do.  These particles that are in the environment at large will hitch a ride on your shoes, come right in with you and make themselves at home in your flooring. Estimates are between two-thirds and three-quarters of indoor dust comes from outside the building or home.

In fact, one fascinating study examined the clothing of people before they went to work, and when they got home from an office at the end of the day. There was a significant increase in the amount of cat allergen on all people in the office --- even those who were never near a cat. ¹   And people who wore woolen sweaters increased their personal exposure to allergens by ten times more than if they wore another fabric!

Reducing the Risk in Your Home

There are a number of things you can do to decrease the amount of dust in your home, and the substances that make up the dust.  First, you need to remove the particles that are already there. For that, you need a high-quality vacuum. Look for a home vacuum with these features:

• HEPA filtration (high efficiency particulate air) filter -- this is the technology we use in the hospital to protect us from microscopic bacteria like tuberculosis
• Multiple-stage filtration -- two-stage is good, three-stage is better, and can capture more than 99% of particles
• Ability to clean multiple surfaces such as carpeting, hardwood floors, tile,  and vinyl
• Easy-to-use attachments so you can clean upholstery, lampshades, window treatments and nooks and crannies with the vacuum to reduce the need to dust

To learn the difference between cold and allergy symptoms, click here.