| If dust and dust mites are the bane of your | | | | If you have moderate to severe dust, mold, pollen or |
| existence, then you should read this article. Early fall | | | | dust mite allergies, now may be the time of year |
| often is prime production time for several different | | | | when the dust in your home is made up of these |
| allergens. If you already know that you are allergic to | | | | seasonal allergens. If you are looking for relief beyond |
| dust mites, animal dander or pollen, you can assume | | | | basic cleaning, you want to dust-proof your room. |
| that dust will be an ever-present allergen. For those | | | | How to prep the room: |
| of us with sensitivities to mold spores, pollen and | | | | |
| dust mites, early August to Late November, the dust | | | | 1. pack up all your belongings as if you were moving |
| in our homes may carry with it an increased chance | | | | and empty out the room. |
| of triggering our symptoms. This is because dust | | | | 2. empty out your closet--clean the contents and seal |
| basically is a collection of allergens that has settled in | | | | in plastic bags or Tupperware containers. |
| corners, under furniture and on window sills. | | | | 3. keep clothing in zippered plastic bags and shoes in |
| A Recipe for Dust | | | | shoe boxes up off of the floor. |
| The primary ingredient in dust is dead skin. The tiny | | | | 4. remove any loose carpets. |
| glimmering specs of dust that you see whirling in a | | | | 5. clean and scrub the woodwork and floors to |
| ray of sunlight are actually your one shed skin cells. | | | | remove all of the dust present. |
| Your bed, armchair or sofa is overflowing with this | | | | 6. wipe all of the wood, tile or linoleum surfaces in the |
| sort of dust, which makes these items the perfect | | | | room with water, then wax or oil them. |
| environment for dust mites. Dust mite allergen is a | | | | 7. re-cement any lifted linoleum to the floor so that |
| major factor in sparking attacks for those with | | | | there are no hiding places from dust. |
| allergic asthma (about 90% of allergic asthmatics are | | | | 8. if the room is a guest room, keep all of the |
| sensitive to dust mites). | | | | windows and doors closed |
| Other little bits of debris joins the mixture, including | | | | Maintenance: |
| fibers, dirt and sand tracked in on shoes, pollen, mold | | | | (Remember, if you are allergic to dust, you might |
| spores, specks of carbon from furnaces, sawdust, | | | | want to wear a mask while cleaning.) |
| plant and insect parts, etc. Dust bunnies are a | | | | 1. thoroughly clean the room once a week. |
| product of fiber dust-those tiny bits of fuzz from | | | | 2. clean the floors, furniture, tops of doors and door |
| clothes, carpets and furniture collect to form a larger | | | | frames and window sills with a damp cloth or oiled |
| ball of dust. | | | | dusting rag. |
| Fall Dust Woes: why are dust allergies worse in the | | | | 3. vacuum carpets and upholstery on a regular basis |
| fall? | | | | (preferably using a vacuum specially made to filter |
| - During the months of July and August, dust mite | | | | out allergens) |
| populations hit their year-round peak because of the | | | | 4. remember to wash your curtains, because they |
| ample amounts of warmth and moisture (derived | | | | can collect a lot of dust. Soak them in a bucket of |
| from your sweat and environmental humidity). So if | | | | hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) to rid them of |
| you find that you are waking up with dry eyes or a | | | | dust mites. |
| stuffed up nose, you can assume that you have | | | | 5. open the windows and "air out" the room. Because |
| some sensitivity to dust mites. | | | | of the airtight construction used to improve energy |
| - Early August to early November is the pollinating | | | | efficiency, there are 200% more allergens trapped |
| season for ragweed, which is why it is the leading | | | | indoors that older, drafty homes. Though you might |
| cause of fall allergies. Ragweed relies on the wind to | | | | think that open windows bring in more allergens like |
| spread its pollen, which means (unlike other plants | | | | pollen and dust, the amount that collects in the room |
| that produce pretty or scented flowers to attract | | | | over the period of a week or two is substantially |
| insects to pollinate them) this plant produces | | | | more. In the end, you have more allergens leaving |
| enormous amounts of tiny pollen grains that are | | | | the room than entering it. |
| carried on gust of air. Because this pollination | | | | 6. if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may want |
| technique is completely hit or miss, the more pollen | | | | to remove it, because it tends to collect dust |
| the plant produces will increase its chances of | | | | 7. bedding should be washed weekly - for more tips |
| pollination. | | | | on laundering your bedding, read my post with tips |
| - As damp leaves pile up, mold growth is prolific. | | | | for ridding your bedroom of dust mites. |
| Leaves are a perfect food source for molds, so it | | | | 8. installing an air filter can dramatically reduce the |
| only takes a small amount of moisture and a few | | | | amount of dust in the air and, in turn, cut down on |
| warm days for molds to quickly sprout and produce | | | | how much dust is piling up on your belongings. |
| large amounts of spores. | | | | |