Experts have revealed the average home accumulates almost 20 kilograms of dust each year – enough to fill a suitcase for a trip abroad. This is equal to just under 1.6 kilos-a-month, or 0.8 pounds each week. And the majority of dust comes from outside after airborne particles, such as soot and pollen, are brought in on shoes and clothes.
Amena Warner, of Allergy UK, said: “Dust accumulates quickly due to various factors, including shedding skin cells, pet dander, outdoor pollutants, and airborne particles settling on surfaces. Even with regular cleaning, dust can reappear as new particles are introduced into the indoor environment.
“House dust mites can often be an irritant in the household, but interestingly it’s not the mites themselves which cause the irritation – but their droppings.
“Each mite produces about 20 of these waste droppings every day and they continue to cause allergic symptoms even after the mite has died.
“People may not know that a significant amount of exposure to house dust mite allergen actually happens in the bed when you’re sleeping. So, taking precautions in the bedroom by using allergy friendly covers on bedding, including on all pillows, is a first step.”
Research of 2,000 adults, commissioned by SharkNinja Detect Pro Cordless vacuum cleaner – which aims to help those with allergies reduce their exposure to dust – found people only give their home a good clean five times-a-month.
This pales in comparison to the nine times-a-month people believe they should be sprucing things up. After realising their home needs a clean, people typically leave it for three days before they actually get round to the task.
Before taking the survey, 39% said they had no idea there were little bugs, or house dust mites, which commonly live in dust. More than a third (36%) of those polled, via OnePoll.com, said now they know house mites live in dust, they feel like they should clean more often.
Tracey Scully, UK managing director at SharkNinja, said: “We’ve conducted research that shows there can be a misunderstanding of dust.
“With the average home collecting a lot of dust throughout the year it’s hard to avoid, but people can take steps to ensure their exposure is minimised.”
Men clean their homes more than women – from five times-a-month to four times respectively. And in fact, the younger generations are seemingly more house-proud, with 18 to 24-year-olds cleaning seven times-a-month compared to just three times-a-month among the 55 to 64-year-olds. Nearly two-thirds of all adults (65%) said no matter how much they clean, dust always appears and bothers them in the home.
Tracey Scully added: “Protecting yourself against allergens is one way of making your home more comfortable. Our research highlights the small changes people can make around their homes to help manage their allergies.”