Household Dust | Green Cleaning Science and MythBusters

Green cleaning is not just using toxic free cleaners, it is also related to HOW one cleans.  It is important to understand what is dust, as well as if and how it impacts us and our loved ones.

Household dust, it is a generic term for all of those tiny particles in the air that settle on our surfaces, wherever they may be.  Dust in homes, offices, and other human environments contains small amounts of minerals from outdoor soil, dead human skin cells and pet dander, plant pollen, human and animal hairs, paper and textile fibers, and many other materials which may be found in the local environment, even burnt meteorite particles.  It is everywhere, independent of arid or humid climates.

Dust is typically considered to be any finely divided solid material that is 500 microns or smaller in diameter.  This is tiny as 1 mm is 1,000 microns.  Another way to see it is that 1 inch is equivalent to 25,400 microns!  Some examples of those tiny particles:

• 5-10 microns includes talcum powder, fine slat, red blood cells, cocoa
• 44-74 microns includes pollen and milled flour
• 104-149 microns includes table salt and the thickest human hairs
• 297-1000 microns includes course sand

Not Everyone is Allergic to Household Dust

Dust can impact the health of its inhabitants and visitors as 30% population is allergic to dust, while 70% is not allergic to dust.  None-the-less according to the Safer Products Project in 2005, toxic chemicals have been found to end up in household dust.

Additional studies of household dust have also shown high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), allergens, and other toxic chemicals.  Other health hazards associated with dust, eye irritation, nasal dryness, headaches, and eczema.

American Cancer Society reports that research shows particles from secondhand tobacco smoke can settle into dust and onto surfaces and remain there long after the smoke is gone – some studies suggest the particles can last for months. Researchers call this third hand smoke or residual tobacco smoke.

Dust Can Impact Health thus Green Cleaning is Required

Some other health impacts that may be triggered by dust are:

• Eczema symptoms are often worsened by dust and can turn into a persistent condition known as chronic dermatitis.
• 37% of people with asthma experience symptoms from pet dander.  30% of asthma sufferers experience symptoms from pollen, an airborne allergen that sets off numerous asthma symptoms.
• 60% of asthma suffers experience symptoms from second hand smoke.
• 50% of asthma suffers experience symptoms from exposure to dust mites.

A single home located in the country can accumulate up to 40 pounds of dust annually.  Thus the requirement for that household chore known as dusting.  The more proactive you are by dusting on a regular basis the easier it is to keep up with the task.  So make it fun!

Good news, dusting burns about 100 calories per hour.  Although this is not a lot, 30 minutes of dusting the house will burn as much as 10 minutes of salsa dancing.  Dusting may feel like a chore, but it is a good excuse to burn a few calories, as well as creating a much healthier environmental.

Using a good dusting tool from Green Cleaning Products LLC such as the Fluffy Microfiber Duster by Cleans Green™ (available on Amazon in lime green  (http://www.amazon.com/Microfiber-Bendable-Flexible-Washable-Extendable/dp/B00A3CQSKG/) or royal blue (http://www.amazon.com/Duster-Microfiber-Extendable-Extension-Replacement/dp/B00KD6J0RU/) can make it easier (and fun) to have a clean and healthy environment.