Increased moisture in your indoor air soaks the airborne dust particles, making them heavier and unable to stay suspended. While humidifiers don't get rid of dust, they do reduce the amount that remains airborne in your home.
While a humidifier can add moisture to the air, it is not designed to remove pollutants or allergens. If you want to improve the air quality in your home or office, an air purifier is a better choice.
Air purifiers assist in eliminating household dust by helping clean the air at home. These machines are engineered with technology that traps dust before it settles on your furniture and floors. Opt for a HEPA air purifier that captures 99.97% of dust and particles as small as 0.3 microns.
Open doors and windows can let dust creep indoors. The best solution is to seal windows and doors and any other cracks and crevices that are possible dust entryways. Dust also hides in cloth and clutter. Regular washing of carpets, textiles, stuffed animals, garages, and attics can go a long way.
And if you're finding yourself waking up with congestion, having a hard time breathing at night or feel congested often throughout the day, then you might benefit from a humidifier. Dry air from heaters or the climate outside, can cause your nasal passages to dry out, which may be behind your congestion.
The humidity in most homes is between 30% and 50%. If your home is above 50% humidity then a dehumidifier is needed. However, if humidity levels are below 30%, a humidifier is needed. To determine the humidity level in your home pick up a hygrometer for less than $20 at a home improvement store.
Dry sinuses, bloody noses and cracked lips: Humidifiers are often used to soothe these familiar problems caused by dry indoor air. And if your child has a cold, a cool-mist humidifier may ease a stuffy nose by adding moisture to the air.
Your room is too humid.
Dust particles can adhere more easily to damp surfaces, which can occur if the humidity levels in your bedroom are too high. “Humidity causes static electricity, which is regarded as the culprit that helps dust cling to surfaces,” says Jameson.
That's because bedrooms tend to generate dust from skin cells, dust mites, and upholstery fibers from cozy fabrics in your bed, carpet, rugs, and furniture. Plus, if your furry friends tend to curl up in your bed or other parts of the room, increased pet dander can create more dusty corners.
Unfortunately, keeping your windows open will not reduce the amount of dust in your home; in fact, doing this could increase it.
Despite all the health benefits, there are also some risks associated with using a humidifier. For example, it is actually possible that a room can have too much moisture. If your humidifier is set too high, it can result in the proliferation of dust mites which can trigger allergy symptoms.
Other risks. While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.
Humidifiers are great devices to have when you're sick, having trouble breathing, experiencing skin problems and more. So having humidifiers stationed in every room allows you to reap their benefits without always having to shuffle the only one you have from room to room.
Signs The Air In Your House Is Too Dry
Chapped lips and cracked skin on your hands are some of the most common signs. But you may have noticed some of the following signs too: Irritated sinus and nose bleeds can make it hard to breathe or sleep at night.
Given these factors, it's often recommended to run a humidifier for at least 12 hours per day, typically during sleeping hours when people spend the most time in the room.
It is a small change, but using a humidifier at night can make a big difference. It can help you to sleep better and help your body stay healthy. During both the winter and summer, in particular, maintaining a relative humidity level between 40 and 60% indoors has a number of surprising benefits.
Overall, it is best to limit your humidifier use to approximately 12 hours a day. By doing this, you will prevent any mold and mildew from forming in your rooms. But, leave it on too long, and you could end up breathing in too much moisture.
Vacuum often to reduce dust mites, ensure to do rugs and get under beds and couches. The Australian Asthma Handbook by the National Asthma Council Australia suggests using a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Regularly clean carpets and couches. Wash curtains and dust window coverings.
Dust before vacuuming
We recommend dusting before vacuuming, this is because dust particles usually get moved around the room when you dust, meaning all your hard work will go to waste. A top tip is to wait at least 2 hours after dusting to get the vacuum out.
Vacuuming every day, or even a few times a day, is not going to create any long term problems. 'But,' you might be thinking, 'doesn't the brushes spinning over the carpet on a beater bar wear it out? ' Sure, but a very small amount.