Reducing Toxic Dust in Your Home

A dusty house is no longer just an inconvenient mess -- it's a real health hazard. Dust tops the list as one of the most significant sources of exposure to toxic chemicals. Chemicals accumulate in household dust, and having our homes sealed up for climate control means breathing, eating, playing and sleeping with toxic substances around the clock. Here are a few ways to reduce the toxic dust in your home.

• Take off your shoes. Removing your shoes when you enter your home significantly cuts down on the dirt and chemicals you track in from the outside world. 
• Avoid commercial air fresheners and chemical cleaners. Whenever possible, use baking soda and vinegar to clean your home, and avoid using commercial air fresheners. When you use conventional cleaners and air fresheners, you're basically spraying toxic chemicals in the air, which then settle into the dust, carpet and upholstery. In one study, a plug-in air freshener was found to emit 20 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including seven regulated as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal laws. But these chemicals were not included on the label -- only the word "fragrance" is required to be listed. The actual composition of the fragrance is considered a "trade secret." Most fragrances are derived from petroleum products, and generally haven’t been tested to see if they have any significant adverse health effects in humans when they are inhaled. Use the simplest green cleaner needed to get the job done, and add a few drops of essential oil if you really want to add a nice smell.
• Open the windows. Not only will this freshen the air inside your home so you don't need commercial air fresheners, the breezes will help move the air so the toxins can head outside. 
• Don't microwave plastic. Heating food in plastic containers releases toxic chemicals both into your food and into the air. Heat food in glass or ceramic instead. 
• Vacuum regularly to remove the dust that settles into carpet. Use a HEPA filter to reduce concentrations of lead, phthalates and brominated fire-retardant chemicals (PBDEs) and to help keep dust and dirt from being blown back out through the vacuum exhaust. Don't forget to run the vacuum attachment over upholstery regularly to catch the dust and mites nestling in the cushions. Sweep the floors, and mop to remove the dust sweeping leaves behind.
• Damp dust horizontal surfaces around the home to get the most dust out. A microfiber cloth works well and is machine washable.
• Wash your bedding regularly to get rid of mites and old skin cells. Air dry to freshen and add a sunkissed smell to your bedding. Added bonus: the sunshine also kills germs and whitens whites.
• Add some greenery. Any room is prettier with a fern, spider plant or aloe vera. It’s also healthier. NASA research shows that indoor plants like these act as living air purifiers -- the foliage and roots work in tandem to absorb chemical pollutants released by synthetic materials. If you have kids or pets, make sure the plants aren’t poisonous if ingested.