AC Filters Reduce Dust in Homes
Some basic air-conditioning steps will help you reduce dust in your home, where it can trigger allergies, work its way into your lungs and cause coughing, watery eyes, runny noses, nasal congestion and itchy throats.
Air filters are great allies because they capture a lot of dust, mites and particles in your air. Periodically change the filters for your home’s heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and they will significantly reduce your dust problem.
In addition, use fans to move the air. Ceiling fans are especially nice for moving the air in North Alabama homes, but remember to clean the fan blades, which accumulate dust.
Dust is nothing to sneeze at.
The dust in a home can vary, depending on cooking, cleaning, smoke habits, and pets. (Pets create dander, the tiny flecks of skin that animals shed).
About 60 percent of dust enters the home from outside; think of dirt, pollens and other matter that you bring inside with you, according to an article by Christine Vanvuren in molekule.com.
Your body expels some dust, but far from all of it.
“The larger dust particles are usually trapped in your nose and mouth and are easily breathed out. Finer dust particles pose more risk; they are able to penetrate your lungs and, if ultrafine, can be absorbed directly into your bloodstream,” Vanvuren wrote.
Air filters and fans can do only so much. A homeowner must clean the house by vacuuming, mopping and paying special attention to dust-gathering sites like window blinds, televisions and other electronics, lighting fixtures, baseboards, tops of windows, doors and cabinets, and upholstery.
Vanvuren recommends using a damp cloth to capture dust.
“Don’t use a feather duster to remove dust from surfaces. All this actually does is release the dust back into the air to settle down elsewhere. Instead, wet a cloth with water, surface cleaner, or furniture polish and dust with that. This traps the dust, allowing you to get the surfaces completely clean.”
