Taking Action: Controlling the Dust in Your Home

Attic window with sunlight beaming through.

Taking control of your house dust is a critical step in preventing allergies.

To successfully control the dust in your home, you must do two things:

Decrease the amount of house dust
Shape the composition of your house dust

Decreasing the amount of house dust

The longer that dust sits in your house, the more dust mites and toxins build up, which increases your child's risk of developing allergies.

Maintain dust buildup by: ⁽⁸³^, ⁸⁶^, ⁹³^, ⁹⁴⁾

Dusting every 1-2 weeks
Vacuuming every 1-2 weeks
Minimizing clutter
Replacing carpets
Replacing curtains/draperies
Replacing air filters when needed
Replacing upholstered furniture
Prioritizing furniture with legs to promote airflow
Switching to impermeable mattress and pillow covers (finely woven cotton)
Washing bedding every 1-2 weeks

Shaping the composition of your house dust

A healthy composition for house dust more closely mirrors dust from the natural environment, characterized by lower levels of dust mites and toxins, and greater microbial diversity. More of the good, less of the bad.

Reduce dust mite levels in house dust by maintaining 30-45% relative humidity. This can be achieved through proper ventilation, use of exhaust fans, and use of a dehumidifier.⁹³

To reduce toxins in your house dust, change the products you bring into your home. Filling your home with toxic products will lead to many toxins accumulating in your house dust. Another thing you can do is limit exhaust fume exposure. Try not to live next to a busy road and do not leave a gas-powered vehicle running in the garage. Lastly, invest in a high-quality air cleaner, such as one with a HEPA filter. Air cleaners efficiently remove toxic airborne particles.⁽⁸²^, ⁸³⁾

To increase microbial diversity in your house dust: ⁽⁹⁵^, ⁹⁶^, ⁹⁷^, ⁹⁸⁾

Add some indoor plants
Adopt a pet, especially a dog
Live in a rural or farm-like environment
Ventilate your home (open windows)