Published On:
June 19, 2020

What Is Dust And Why Does It Accumulate?

If you feel like the only sure thing in life are death, taxes, and dust accumulating in your house, you’re not alone. Dust is the enemy of households - it accumulates fast and makes your house look dirty. But what is dust, and why does it accumulate? We share more below.

What is dust made of?

Dust is made of hair, fibres and more
  1. Dead skin cells

Do you know that all humans are shedding skin cells daily? It may not be visible to the naked eye, but they fall off as we are standing, sitting and moving around. In one year, you can shed up to 3.6kg of skin cells. That is indeed quite a lot of dust. 

  1. Dust mites

Dust mites feed on dead skin cells and are too small to see with the naked eye, but chances are, they’re living in your current bundles of dust. Thankfully, they’re fairly harmless, but they can cause allergic reactions.

  1. Pet Hair

Pets bring a lot of joy to our house, but they also shed hair. This may be a big issue especially if you have pets with long hair. Brush your pets often to reduce shedding. 

  1. Human Hair

Humans too, shed hair as we go about our daily lives. Short hairs are less obvious than long ones and may be easily missed. Hair strands can trap more fibres around them, worsening the accumulation of dust.

  1. Vehicle exhaust 

If you live near a road, chances are that a combination of cars driving by and wind can cause particles from car exhausts to settle in your house. This is the reason why apartments near or facing roads seem to get dusty particularly quickly. 

  1. Fibres from paper and clothes

The fibres in our documents and clothes also drop and accumulate, even if we don't see it! 

Our housekeepers vacuum even under the rug, to ensure a dust free household.

How does dust accumulate? 

If you feel a refreshing breeze coming in your house, that means that dust is being brought into your home. The wind brings in trace amounts of pollen, fibres, and bits of soil that are too small to see with our eyes but nevertheless accumulate over time. 

Our shoes and feet also track in particles from outside, when we return home. Air conditioners may be another source of dust, if they are not cleaned often. They can trap particles and blow out dust, if enough dust has accumulated inside the air conditioner.

The dangers of dust

Ever cleared out a dusty corner and couldn’t stop sneezing? Dust can pose a health threat to the vulnerable when inhaled, such as young children and seniors. Care is needed while performing dusting, to ensure that dust is not disturbed. 

It's important to maintain a low level of dust in your house, for the safety of health of everyone in the household. Nimbus Homes’ housekeepers are trained to provide hotel-like housekeeping, with professional equipment to ensure a thorough removal of dust without redistributing it. If you’re facing problems with a dusty home, book a part time cleaner to feel the difference in your own home. Don't hesitate to explore our home cleaning services if you're interested in keeping your house clean on a regular basis.