Does Air Purifier help with dust or dust mites?
So how can you get rid of them? Will an Air Purifier help you get rid of the dust and dust mites? Well, the answer is yes it can. You need a specially designed Air Purifier to serve this purpose but first, let us know more about these microscopic elements and how can it harm us.
What is Dust?
Dust is so much more than just dirt, it’s one of the world’s most widespread allergens. The majority of dust particles are microscopic. Dust is hard to remove by dusting or vacuuming because of its small size. It also makes it simple to instigate these particles when cleaning your home.
Dust is made up of many small things such as pet dander, hair fibers, fabric fibers, carpet dust fibers, construction materials, human skin, outdoor elements, and much more.
What are Dust mites and where is it found?
Dust mites are microscopic insects which prefer warm humid condition to survive. The ideal condition for these mites is 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit and 70-80% humidity. Dust mites can hardly survive in dry conditions.
It feeds on human and animal skin flakes so it is most likely to be found on beds, bedding, sofas, pet’s bed, etc.
What are signs that your house has dust mites in it?
Dust mites may create an allergic reaction in your skin (which manifests as a rash-like, reddish look), but they do not bite. Inhaling the mites’ skin and feces can produce symptoms that are similar to those of a pollen allergy or even a cold. You may have severe asthma trigger by this allergy as well.
So how will you know if you have these dust mites as your roommates? These are some of the common symptoms to look for :
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Postnasal Drip
- Runny or Stuffy Nose
- Itchy, Watery Eyes
- Red, Itchy Skin
- Itchy Throat
How will an Air Purifier help?
An air purifier with a HEPA filter will be efficient against dust. This filter captures small dust particles before they have a chance to gather. You’ll have fewer dust mites to deal with if there’s less dust. An electric fan is included inside the best home air purifier devices, which sucks air into the device and then propels unclean air toward a filter system to be cleaned.
This air will be filtered through two major stages of the filtration system. A pre-filter air filter is the first filter layer that the dust encounters, and it comprises a larger, coarser material that catches the larger dust particles. Anything small enough to pass through this pre-filter is directed to the HEPA filter, which is the second half of the system.
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, and it’s a thick coating of material that catches even the tiniest dust particles and keeps them out of your lungs. Up to 99.97 percent of dust particles can be filtered out and trapped by an air purifier with a HEPA filter. As a result, it’s regarded as the greatest air filter for allergies.
Although a device with a reusable filter can remove dust particles from the air, it will not be as effective as one with a replaceable HEPA filter. Because the filter material is not dense enough to trap small contaminants, this is the case.
A reusable HEPA filter can capture dust particles as fine as 2 to 5 microns in size, whereas a replaceable HEPA filter can capture dust particles as fine as 0.3 microns.
Dust mites feed on the dust that floats around in your home. Dust mites will have less to eat if the quantity of dust particles in your home is reduced. The longer you operate your air purifier and maintain the filter system clean, you should notice fewer and fewer dust mites in your house.
Other than the HEPA filter there are some other filters in the list as well:
- Ozone Air Purifier(also known as ozone generator)
- Ionic Air purifier
But these two produce harmful ozone gas as it is a by-product and hence it is best to avoid it when you are indoor. You can switch these on and leave and switch them off after returning these would reduce the effect of ozone as well as reduce the dust particles.
Some other ways to get rid of Dust and Dust mites
Frequent cleaning of the house:
Dust is primarily made up of skin flakes from humans and pets, so dusting and cleaning regularly are essential! While it’s nearly impossible to eliminate dust from your home, you may try to keep it simple by using a microfiber duster or damp cloth.
Vacuum more frequently
Vacuuming carpets and rugs at least twice a week will assist with dust, with extra care paid to high-traffic areas and areas where your pets congregate.
Changing the bedsheets and curtains more frequently:
Dust mites prefer places with a lot of dead skin, as we’ve already said a few times, and our mattresses are usually the spot with the most! Furthermore, mattresses are warm and humid, providing an excellent habitat for them to develop. Wash your bedding at least once a week in water that is 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Cover your mattress
It’s simply not possible to wash every area of your bed, but you can use allergen-proof covers instead. To keep mites away from you, put your mattress, box spring, and pillows in them.
Keep your room temperature cooler
If you don’t mind being cold all of the time, you might be able to keep your home’s temperature below 65 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity between 40 and 45 percent.
FAQs on reduction of Dust and Dust Mites
What should we keep in mind while buying an Air Purifier?
As discussed, earlier the HEPA filter air purifier is one of the most effective air purifiers to remove dust and dust mites. When purchasing one of the best air purifiers, you should consider the size and area that it can purify. Consider the size of the room you'll be using it in, as well as the ACH rate of the model.
How can I test for Dust mites in my home?
Some rapid tests can detect them.
Does baking soda kill dust mites?
Well, this is one of the home remedies which can kill them.
Conclusion
The dust contains much more than we could have to imagine and dust mites are also harmful. It is suggested to maintain a proper clean environment around to eliminate these microscopic insects. A HEPA Air Purifier is one of the best solutions to remove dust and dust mites.