Dust

House dust is the most common indoor pollutant and is a major contributor to indoor environment issues. A speck of dust may contain fabric fibers, insulation, skin, animal dander, dust mites, bacteria, cockroach parts, mold spores, food particles, and other debris.

Another dust issue occasionally encountered is a phenomenon known as “sooting.” Sooting can appear as an unexplained dark mark or film on an interior wall, carpet, or furniture surface. Unlike house dust, sooting is caused by a carbon-generating source and is usually created during a combustion process, such as indoor use of tobacco, candles, and gas appliances. Sooting can look like and is frequently mistaken to be mold. While sooting can cause unplesant aesthetic issues, it is not normally considered to be a health threat.

House dust can be a common cause of year-round runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, and sneezing. Dust can also make people with asthma experience wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Animal dander, house dust mites, and cockroaches are the most common substances in dust that cause these symptoms. Health effects can occur even though there are no visible signs of dust. 

Solving House Dust and Sooting 

Many materials in house dust may not be removed by typical housekeeping methods. For example, no matter how vigorously areas are dusted or vacuumed, the number of dust mites deep within carpeting, pillows, and mattresses may not not be reduced. Vigorous dusting, sweeping and vacuuming can put more dust into the air making symptoms worse.

To reduce household dust, it is recommended to use a vacuum with HEPA filtration, and when dusting, use a damp or oiled cloth is recommended for reducing house dust. If a dust-sensitive individual must clean, they should wear a mask to minimize exposure.

The best approach to resolving house dust-related health problems is to consult with an allergist to identify the specific allergin and eliminate those allergen contributors from the indoor environment.

It is extremely difficult to resolve a sooting problem without professional help. Resolution of these problems typically involves diagnostic tests of the house, HVAC system measurements, infrared measurements of wall insulation, and air current studies

Cleaning the HVAC Ductwork

If air ducts are “dirty” and you want to remove the debris, duct cleaning may be appropriate. If your goal is to use duct cleaning to solve an indoor air-related health problem, duct cleaning is unlikely to be effective.

Should You Have the Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?

Air Cleaners

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends consumers refer to the following publications before purchasing a device:

• Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
• Residential Air-Cleaning Devices: Summary of Available Information

Some allergens are small and can float in the air for a long time, while others are large and rapidly fall to the floor or other surfaces. Air filters can only remove the allergens if they are suspended in air.

If the allergen you are reacting to is a in the air, a filter may be able to remove allergen and alleviate your symptoms. If the allergen falls rapidly, the air filter will be unable remove the particle.

Providing adequate ventilation to dilute the allergen concentration is usually the most effective method.