The composition of house dust includes not only bacteria, plant pollen, but also fungi, mold spores, as well as toxins and heavy metals that pose a threat to health. In an interview with Prime, the founder of the premium cleaning franchise, Elena Gershenzon, said that the “dust cocktail” can be the most diverse – particles of our dead epidermis, pet hair, insect particles, plant spores, bacteria, sand, fragments of furniture materials and household items.
According to experts, the most powerful dust collectors in apartments and houses are carpets, tapestries, upholstered furniture, mattresses, curtains and soft toys. The main sources of dust entering the home are windows, ventilation, shoes, clothes and six animals.
As a rule, harmful toxic substances are found in household items, household chemicals and cosmetics. They can also enter the apartment with air from the street, and then settle into dust.
In addition, house dust contains a large number of dust mites. By themselves, they do not pose a great danger to humans and are not carriers of viruses or infections, but their excrement is a danger. They easily rise with dust into the air and settle on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, thereby provoking an allergic reaction and asthma attacks. House dust also contains other strong allergens such as bacteria, plant pollen, fungi and mold spores.
The expert recommended doing a general cleaning at least once a month, at least once every three months. It is worth remembering that even with a long absence of people in the apartment, dust will still settle, even with completely clogged windows.
To maintain cleanliness, you can do a little damp cleaning once or twice a week, dusting shelves, cabinets and appliances, and mopping floors. Do not forget about indoor plants, on the leaves of which a lot of dust also accumulates, they need to be wiped periodically, and once a month you can wash in the shower.
Gershenzon advised other measures to be taken. For example, decluttering (getting rid of unnecessary old things), washing, including curtains, soft toys, blankets and carpets, humidifying the air and using “green” helpers or filter plants that can purify the air and attract dust.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
