We love how vacuum cleaners work. It’s an easy way to clean the house, getting all the dust and dirt out with just a machine. However, recent studies suggest that vacuum cleaners may cause more harm than good as they have the tendency to release dust, dirt, and bacteria back into the air in our homes. This includes allergens because most common allergens found at home are mixed with dust and dirt, that later on settles on furniture, carpets, and other surfaces. When we vacuum, as we collect dust and dirt, we are also disturbing it making dust particles, bacteria, and allergens to rise and get mixed into the air.

The study suggests that the older your vacuum cleaner is the more dust particles it releases back into your home. They also tested vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and found that they also released dust particles back in the air but at lower levels.

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Tips on How to Keep Indoor Air Clean

Before you doubt your vacuum cleaner, there are still ways on how you can rely on it. Besides, cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is still more convenient in maintaining a clean house. Here are some tips on how you can still keep allergens at harmless levels:

• Clean your vacuum – we like stocking things away and vacuums are common in stock rooms. If your cleaner is old, make sure to at least clean it before using it because mold allergy and other allergens may be stuck in it while it was stocked away. Using a dirty vacuum will only release more harm in your surroundings than actually get rid of unwanted particles.
• Choose vacuums with HEPA filters – if you have plans to change your vacuum cleaner, go with the one equipped with HEPA filters. Even though they are found to release dust back into the air, it’s not as high compared to other vacuums.
• Avoid using feather dusters – using feather dusters only disturb dust and the allergens in it. Disturbing dust and dirt will only increase our chances of inhaling allergens that are mixed in them. Opt for electrostatic or microfiber cloth to clean dust from surfaces.
• Avoid using carpets – carpets are a place for dust mites, and other allergens get stuck on them. When we vacuum a carpet, there’s the chance of disturbing the particles, making it easier to inhale the allergens that was stuck on it.

Other than regular cleaning, you may also use an air purifier to help eliminate bacteria and allergens that may be found in your home.

Maintaining a clean house is part of keeping allergens away from family members. We can never be too relaxed even when we come from a line of healthy families. Anyone who is exposed to high levels of allergens for a period of time may develop an allergy or other ailments.

Source:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/756531?sssdmh=dm1.748809&src=nldne

Posted under Allergy
Tags: allergens, Mold Allergy, most common allergens, Vacuum Cleaners.