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The dust level in homes can rise quickly, and people often wonder where it comes from. People know that part of the dust is dirt and pollen that drifts on the air, but there is far more inside dust than a little dirt. The actual composition varies from one household to the next, but these are some of the most common components. Skin Cells It’s said that as must as 70 or 80 percent of the dust in a home is actually shed skin cells, but this is a myth. It is true that a small part of the dust does come right from human skin, but most of it comes from other sources. External Forces In fact, about 60 percent of household dust comes in from outside the home. It is tracked in on shoes, worn in on clothing and drifts inside through open widows. If the windows of a home are left open regularly, then there will be a higher ratio of outdoor materials. Among that items that may be brought in from outside, homeowners can expect their dust to contain pollen, dirt and even arsenic. Lead and even DDT may be found in the dust in some regions. Dead Insects What happens to tiny insects that enter the home and perish there? It may be a disturbing thought, but the average home may have bugs like ants, carpet beetles, dust mites and spiders. When these small insects die in the carpets or other areas of the home, they will eventually decompose and turn into dust. Insect Droppings Those same insects that live in homes product waste over their lifetime. The microscopic waste starts out in the hidden areas, but it eventually is caught up in the air and moves about the area. While the feces from dust mites may start out in the carpet, it will eventually wind up in the dust on a bookshelf as air circulates through the home. Pets Pets are a major contributor to dust. They go out into the elements and then shake the dirt and pollutants off inside. They shed hair, skin cells and bits of dander. The more pets that live in a home, the higher the dust levels are going to be in that home. Yesterday’s Chemicals Homes are not static. They absorb things like a sponge, and they will release them again later. A carpet powder that’s put down to freshen the carpet will leave a residue behind. As people walk across the carpet, that residue is dislodged, becomes airborne and eventually adds to the dust. Aerosol sprays drift through the air, dry on surfaces and turn into dust. Kicked behind baseboards and settling into carpets, there are all kinds of chemicals that are used one day and turn up in the dust at a later time. Cleaning This one may surprise people, but cleaning can actually add to dust levels in some cases. Without a high quality filter, vacuum cleaning release an incredible amount of dust into the air. They pull it out of the carpets and upholstery, but microscopic levels will drift in the air and land on flat surfaces. Dust can be composed of nearly anything and everything that enters a home. Keeping it away can seem like a never-ending battle, but there are ways to minimize dust levels. Regular cleaning will make a big difference, and taking shoes off as soon as people enter a home will also reduce the levels. It’s also wise to vacuum regularly using a quality system, and dust with damp rags that will capture the small particles and prevent them from drifting to other areas. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Eileen Saw is a Singapore-based writer and mother of two. She writes on topics of parenting, family and home care, and also reviews the latest home appliances for families. She recommends the Neato robotic vacuums for a fuss-free solution to household dust.
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