Fall Dust Allergies

If dust and dust mites are the bane of your existence, then you should read this article. The beginning of fall is usually the best time of production for several different allergens. If you already know you’re allergic to dust mites, pet dander, or pollen, you can assume that dust will be an ever-present allergen. For those of us with sensitivities to mold spores, pollen, and dust mites, from early August to late November, the dust in our homes can carry a higher chance of triggering our symptoms. This is because dust is basically a collection of allergens that has settled in corners, under furniture, and on window frames.

A recipe for dust

The main ingredient of the powder is dead skin. The tiny shimmering specks of dust you see swirling in a beam of sunlight are actually your skin cells that have shed. Your bed, couch, or sofa is brimming with this type of dust, making these items the perfect environment for dust mites. Dust mite allergens are a major factor triggering attacks in people with allergic asthma (around 90% of allergic asthmatics are sensitive to dust mites).

Other bits of debris join the mix, including fibers, dirt and sand on shoes, pollen, mold spores, carbon flecks from ovens, sawdust, plant parts and insects, etc. Dust balls are a product of fiber dust: those little bits of lint from clothes, carpets, and furniture accumulate to form a larger ball of dust.

Fall Dust Problems: Why Are Dust Allergies Worse In The Fall?

• During the months of July and August, dust mite populations peak throughout the year. due to ample amounts of heat and humidity (derived from sweat and ambient humidity). So if you find that you wake up with dry eyes or a stuffy nose, you can assume that you have some sensitivity to dust mites.
• Early August to early November is ragweed pollination season, that is why it is the main cause of autumnal allergies. Ragweed relies on the wind to spread its pollen, which means that (unlike other plants that produce pretty or scented flowers to attract pollinating insects) this plant produces huge amounts of tiny pollen grains that are carried by a gust of wind. air. Because this pollination technique is completely unpredictable, the more pollen the plant produces, the better its chances of pollination.
• As wet leaves accumulate, mold growth is prolific. Leaves are a perfect food source for mold, so it only takes a small amount of moisture and a few warm days for mold to quickly sprout and produce large numbers of spores.

If you have moderate to severe allergies to dust, mold, pollen, or dust mites, now may be the time of year when the dust in your home is made up of these seasonal allergens. If you’re looking for relief beyond basic cleaning, you want to protect your room from dust.

How to prepare the room:

1. pack up all your belongings as if you were going to move and empty the room.
2. Empty out your cupboard – clean out the contents and seal them in plastic bags or Tupperware containers.
3. keep clothes in zippered plastic bags and shoes in shoe boxes off the floor.
4. Remove loose rugs.
5. clean and scrub woodwork and floors to remove any dust present.
6. Clean all wood, tile, or linoleum surfaces in the room with water, then wax or oil them.
7. Re-cement any raised linoleum on the floor so there are no hiding places for the dust.
8. if the room is a guest room, keep all windows and doors closed

Maintenance:

1. (Remember, if you’re allergic to dust, you may want to wear a mask while cleaning.)
2. deep clean the room once a week.
3. Wipe down floors, furniture, tops of doors and door frames, and window frames with a damp cloth or oiled dusting cloth.
4. vacuum carpets and upholstery regularly (preferably with a vacuum specially designed to filter out allergens)
5. remember to wash your curtains, because they can accumulate a lot of dust. Soak them in a bucket of hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit) to kill dust mites.
6. open the windows and “ventilate” the room. Due to the airtight construction used to improve energy efficiency, there are 200% more allergens trapped inside than in older drafty homes. Although you might think that open windows bring in more allergens like pollen and dust, the amount that accumulates in the room over a one- or two-week period is substantially higher. In the end, you have more allergens leaving the room than entering.
7. if you have wall to wall carpeting you may want to remove it as they tend to collect dust
8. bedding should be washed weekly
9. installing an air filter can drastically reduce the amount of dust in the air, and in turn reduce the amount of dust that collects on your belongings.