dust

In the past, I've given you the lowdown on how to dust and where to dust . . . but what to dust with? Well, genuine ostrich down feather dusters are a-ok, but aside from that you should opt for microfiber towels. Wait. Scratch that. How about a microfiber bunny? That's right, the Fred and Friends Dust Bunny ($14.99) is made from "high-tech, dust-gathering, machine-washable, high-pile microfiber, right down to the fluffy chenille tail." And, you can wear it like a hand puppet! How can you argue with that? I mean . . . who ever said dusting couldn't be adorable?

If you suffer from year-round allergies to dust ones, Summer weather is not your friend. The air gets full of moisture, which dust mites love. Since those little buggers require 50 percent humidity in order to thrive, you want to figure out how much humidity is in your home (especially your bedroom), and make sure the humidity is under that magic number. In order to figure that out, you'll want to pick up a hygrometer ($14.99), a neat device that measures the amount of humidity in the air. If the humidity is above 50 percent, then you'll need a dehumidifier ($199). The opposite of a humidifier, these little machines pull water out of the air decreasing the humidity in the room. Drier air definitely makes allergy symptoms less severe.

It's certainly always healthy to make your home as fresh and clean as possible. But, as you may have noticed, sometimes it's hard to find the time to get it all done. So, don't waste one precious notch on your clock, dust only what can be seen. If you have 12 foot ceilings, but all of your friends top out at under six feet, there's no need to summon for a ladder to get your dusting done. Just wipe clean the surfaces within arm's reach of your tallest pal with some microfiber cloths, and save the heavy dusting for a long weekend. For some tips on dusting in general, be sure to check out my How-To.
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Many people live through childhood sleeping with their pet kitties on their pillows, rolling around on dust filled carpets, and collecting flowers and weeds to give to their moms. They do this without a sneeze or sniffle. Those same carefree kids grow up and when they hit their 20s, they suddenly develop allergies to all those things. What gives?

Allergies can develop at any age, and its prevalence in adults is rising. It's known as Adult-Onset Allergies and there are many theories as to why this happens. The most accepted reason is that nowadays babies' developing immune systems are not exposed to as many viruses, bacterium, and allergens as in the past due to wide use of antibiotics, vaccinations, cleaner food and water supply, better living conditions, and germ-a-phobe parents who don't let their kids roll around in dirt. When immune systems aren't faced with dust, pollen, and mold, they don't fully develop the ability to combat those allergens in the future. So in a way, being too careful and being protected against such allergens can actually cause children's immune systems to develop in an unbalanced way, which can make them hypersensitive to seemingly harmless substances in the future.

Allergies can also develop if you are exposed to allergens when your immune system is weakened. That's why pregnant women often develop allergies after they give birth.

Could your family history be to blame for allergies too? To find out read more

I've always been under the impression that feather dusters simply redistribute dust, but it's a little more complicated than that. Apparently, ostrich-down feather dusters actually work; their feathers will trap the dust, and then you can shake it out later outside of your house. However, dusters made of anything else, including lamb's wool, chicken feathers, or synthetics, won't do a thing to help your home's dust situation. Better to ditch the nonostrich feather duster and opt for some microfiber towels and Method. You can also read some of my other dusting tips here.


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