How to Test Dust in Home to Reduce Allergens

Many Americans suffer from allergies in the home. Common household allergens include mold, pollen, and pet dander. Pollen is a seasonal allergy, mold can be prevented, and owning pets is a choice, but dust is everywhere. Making a home 100 percent dust-free is not an option, however, knowing what is in the dust helps eliminate the sources of certain allergens. Knowing how to test the dust in your home is the first step in controlling it.

What is Dust? 

Dust is made up of fine particles of solid matter, fifty percent of which are dead skin cells. Dust also consists of fibers from clothing, food particles, parts of dead insects, plastic as well as things you bring indoors with you on the bottom of your shoes. While preventing dust is not possible, controlling it is. That said, it is helpful to know what is in the dust. There could be certain allergens that are making you or someone in your home ill.

A dust allergy is called allergic rhinitis and symptoms include a stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throat and skin, runny nose, and sneezing. As annoying as dust may be for some people, for those with household dust allergies life can become unbearable. 

Testing for Dust in the Home

Testing for dust in the home is easy and affordable. A DIY test kit gives homeowners everything they need to collect samples. After collection, just send the samples to an environmental lab for analysis. After receiving the results, a remediation plan follows.

How to Test for Dust

The first step is to order a home testing kit for dust. Once you have the kit it’s important to collect samples from areas that contain a lot of dust. The House Dust Kit from Indoor Air Test was designed to collect dust from carpeting. Avoid vacuuming for a few days leading up to the collection date. While carpeting yields sufficient samples for testing, many people who suffer from allergies do not have carpeting in their homes. In that case, any area with a heavy dust build-up is a good place to collect samples.

The Dust Test Kit covers a wide range of allergens and household contaminants including dust mites, cockroaches, and mold. The test kit includes a sample collection device. After collecting the samples, mail them into the lab for testing. After receiving the samples, the lab tests them then emails the results in PDF format within 10 to 14 days. Dust Mite test kits are also available.

Other Home Allergens

Test kits are available to test for a variety of specific household allergens. Not every home is affected by the same allergens, however, knowing how to test dust in the home helps eliminate certain allergens so you can focus on the real problem.

Smoke

Smoke from fireplaces, pipes, cigars, and cigarettes are the main culprits but wildfire smoke, which travels for thousands of miles, is also a risk. 

Fungi

Fungi such as mold produce spores that travel through the air. Once breathed into the lungs, they can cause respiratory illness. 

Fiberglass

Used to make insulation, this material breaks down over time, moves through HVAC, then travels throughout the home.

Mycotoxins

Fungi and mold produce these toxic compounds and pose a health threat. They thrive in humid conditions so if the test kit reveals the presence of mycotoxins, remediation should follow. 

Radon

This natural gas is odorless and invisible. It enters the home through cracks in the foundation and walls and around door and window frames.

After Your Test for Dust In the Home

Learning how to test for dust in the home is only the first step. If the test determines the presence of mold or chemicals then additional steps in remediation help eliminate the source.  

Many people who suffer from dust allergies use hypoallergenic sheets, pillowcases, and bedcovers. They are also vigilant about dusting their homes and use vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters to reduce indoor allergens. Air purifiers also provide comfort for many suffering from dust allergies, but it’s helpful to know what features to look for in an air cleaning device. 

Order Your Home Allergen Test Kit Today

The allergens found in dust can put you and your family at risk of allergies, asthma attacks, and other respiratory illnesses. You need to find out the source of the problem so you know where to focus your mitigation efforts. Start with an allergen home test kit. Order your screening kit today and call us with questions at 727-572-4550 with questions.