Dust contains hair, pollen, soil, mould spores, textile fibres and dust mite faeces, amongst other matter.
Who remembers Marjorie from Little Britain saying, “Dust, anybody, dust? It’s actually very low in fat and you can eat as much as you like”?
Marjorie is actually incorrect when it comes to dust being low in fat.
Research has shown that certain types of matter within household dust can turn on a protein called PPAR-gamma (peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptor gamma).
This protein may be involved in obesity, because of the protein triggering fat cells to grow in our bodies.
More research is currently being completed in regards to the correlation between PPAR-gamma and obesity.
Dust mites are tiny little arachnids that are usually between 0.2-0.3 mm in length.
They are smaller than a grain of sand and not visible to the human eye!
- A 2013 study found that household dust mites have actually evolved from parasites.
- Dust mites feed mainly on dead skin that we shed.
- One of the most common triggers of allergies in the home is the decomposing bodies and faecal matter of dust mites. Yuck!
- Half a teaspoon of dust can contain up to 1,000 dust mites and around 250,000 faecal pellets!
- The average mattress contains anywhere between 100,000 to 10 million dust mites.
The Dustiest Places
There are some places in your home where dust will accumulate more often than others.
- Window blinds– Wipe your blinds with a duster and vacuum them regularly.
- Electronic devices– Collect dust because of static electricity, so make sure you frequently wipe with a duster.
- Fixtures and fittings– Light fittings, lampshades, light switches and ceiling fans attract dust, so clean these in your weekly routine.
- Upholstery– Dust mites love upholstery because of the warm environment between the textile fibres. Make sure hoovering your upholstery is in your weekly cleaning schedule.
- Carpets– Like upholstery, dust mites thrive in the carpet fibres, so again make sure you’re regularly hoovering.
Our friends over at ServiceMaster Clean can help you with professional carpet cleaning.
If you’re not a fan of dust after reading some of these horrible facts, find your local office here and contact us today.