Who actually enjoys dusting? I don’t. In fact, for being a self-proclaimed “neat-nick,” I will give myself every excuse in the book to not dust.
But that’s a thing of the past now that I’ve learned that household dust is essentially a concentrated little collection of all of the toxins found in our homes (yuck!).
Fortunately, Our Big Earth provides us with some ways to help rid our hosues of dust and the toxins it contains:
- Clean floors and surfaces on a regular basis.
- Clean non-carpeted floors with wet mops, without toxic household cleaners.
- Use a regular damp cloth or microfiber cloth (for example, E-Cloth) to wipe down furniture.
- Vacuum often and use a vacuum with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter and debris collection system. Don’t forget to vacuum the stuffed furniture, including under the cushions.
- Dust places where children hang out or crawl (for example, under tables and in closets).
- Make sure you dust electronic equipment regularly, especially computers – electronics are a common source of fire retardants in dust.
- Establish a no-shoe policy in your house. Shoes are a common way to bring in outdoor pollutants like pesticides, oil residues, pollen and antifreeze.
- Use HEPA filters on your furnace and air conditioning units and clean filters regularly during the heating and cooling seasons.
- Buy a HEPA air filter system (11+) with a high MERV value if you have many allergies or chemical sensitivities.
- Cover tears in upholstery that expose polyurethane foam, particularly if foam is deteriorating and pre-2005.
- Cover mattresses with a tightly woven cotton allergen barrier to reduce dust that could carry PBDE and provide protection from dust mites.
- Seal off work areas for home improvement projects and clean up thoroughly after each working session (make sure you wear a barrier mask).
