The gross reason to vacuum your home regularly (Hint: It involves dust mites and their poo!)
A microbiologist weighs in.
The results are in for Dyson’s first ever global dust study, looking into global cleaning habits and the impact dust can have on our health and wellbeing.
At a time when hygiene is more important than ever, the study revealed that despite a global pandemic 60% of Aussies have not increased the frequency of their cleaning since the outbreak.
Additionally, 60% of Australians are unaware of the potential link between household dust and viruses and less than a third of Australians know that dust mainly consists of dust mites and their faeces which are considered the most important inducers of allergenic diseases worldwide.
Bounty Parents spoke to a Dyson microbiologist to find out more about keeping our home clean.
Can you explain the importance of cleaning our homes regularly?
When we bring pets, plants, people, food and furnishings into our homes, they all carry their own sources of bacteria and mould contamination. Effectively, we transport the outside, inside with us as we go about our daily lives, bringing microbes and allergens on our shoes, clothes and any other domestic items.
Once in the home, temperature and humidity influence what can survive and be prevalent within an indoor environment and consequently lead to differences in what can be sampled, grown in a lab and identified. The best way to deal with bacteria, pollen and dust mite allergens is to remove them from your home completely.
Clean your indoor environment more regularly, and use cleaning technologies like vacuum cleaners with fully sealed filtration as well as Dyson air purifiers with HEPA filters – this will help make sure that pollutants and particles don’t get emitted back into the air, reduce the bioburden in our homes and maintain our wellbeing.
Less than a third of Australians know that dust mainly consists of dust mites and their faeces. Ewww.
Do typical household dust particles thrive in certain environments?
House dust mites are microscopic arachnids that can be found in homes all around the world and make up a huge part of our household dust particles. Their average lifecycle is 65-100 days and during that time they will produce approximately 2,000 faecal pellets and secrete even more proteins through their saliva – both of which can trigger allergies and impact your wellbeing.
In fact, dust mite allergens are the most relevant inducers of allergic diseases worldwide, and extensive exposure in early childhood to indoor allergens, including house dust mites has been associated with asthma.
What’s your advice for tackling dust mites?
1. Starve your dust mites: Reducing the amount of skin cell debris in your home minimises the primary food source of dust mites, inhibiting them from reproducing exponentially during the dust mite season.
Vacuum your mattress on both sides with a machine with an advanced filtration system, like the Dyson V11 Outsize cord-free vacuum cleaner, as well as your sofa and other upholstery.
2. Manage humidity levels: Dust mites hydrate themselves by absorbing water from the air, so keeping relative humidity levels below 45 per cent at room temperature will kill most of them off.
Air out bedding and blankets frequently, as well as ventilating your home by opening the window or using a HEPA-filtered air purifier. Don’t forget to use the extractor fan after showering or while cooking too, as even raising the humidity levels for an hour and a half a day can enable house dust mites to survive.
3. Control the temperature: Dust mites thrive at temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius, so ensure you vacuum warmer areas in your home frequently to control levels of dust mites, like pet baskets, sofas or mattresses. Washing bedding or other soft furnishing at 60-90 degrees Celsius will break up allergens too.
The best way to deal with bacteria, pollen and dust mite allergens is by cleaning regularly.
Dyson vacuum’s are pretty expensive. Are they really worth it?
We believe a machine should work effectively. And for as long as possible. We go to extraordinary lengths to understand the dust, dirt and pollution in your home, so we can design machines to be your partner in maintaining a more hygienic home. We have been on a quest to improve everyday lives, and create cleaner, healthier homes.
