i don't like dust. many people get sick from indoor dust. i'm sure
 most people would feel a whole lot happier and healthier without house
 dust.

 what is the best way to have a home without dust


 .

Thank you for your question, ray_on_the_web.

"Dust mites are microscopic and feed on skin and live in bedding,
carpets, and other dust traps. Dust mite allergens are proteins found
in the mite's feces."

[ http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/315 ]

Dust affects many people, and I have a found an article that details
many ways you can remove dust from the home.

[ http://www.sinuswars.com/newsletters/draft5.asp ]

The article's main points are:
- Do not have carpeting, instead opt for wooden floors for example.
- Use dust proof covers on bed mattresses.
- Keep furnishings to a minimum, as these all collect dust.
- Clean rooms thoroughly once a week - all surfaces - and allow the room to air.
- To help with the removal of dust mites, a room must be vacuumed 4 -
7 times a week, and the vacuum should be cleaned after use.

To thoroughly remove dust mites from the home, consider using a
cleaning system such as MiteBusters.

[ http://www.mitebusters.net/consumer/cons-frames.htm ]

I hope this answers your question. If you need more information,
please do not hesistate to request a clarification.

Best wishes,
Jon

Search terms:
"dust-free house"
"remove dust"

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ray_on_the_web-ga on 31 Dec 2003 06:17 PST

jon-ga 

thank you for the info on dust mites. i am fortunately not an allergy
sufferer nor am i affected by the allergens that their feces create.

i just don't like dust in fact i'm sick of it...

what i would like is info on how to have a home as dust free as possible.

ray

---

Clarification of Answer by jon-ga on 31 Dec 2003 07:46 PST

Ray,

Sorry my original answer was not wholly relevant for you. I have found
some other information that I hope is more like what you're looking
for.

"Stop dust in its tracks!"
This page contains some tips to help keep dust out of the home,
including mats at the front and back doors of your house, and keeping
the air clean by using a filter.

[ http://www.geocities.com/remedypage/eremedies/c17.html ]


The following page contains quite a lot of information on keeping dust
in the home to a minimum, but does state that "it is impossible to
have a dust free home". This is an extract of the main information
from the page to save you having to visit the site:

"Dust is more easily removed from smooth and cleanable surfaces
(smooth flooring such as includes wood, tile, linoleum, and vinyl)
through vacuuming and mopping. It is best to use a powerful vacuum
equipped with a high efficiency or HEPA filter. Carpets and the sponge
like pads often installed under the carpet can trap moisture once they
become wet (due to a plumbing or water leak, flood, or condensation)
providing a fertile setting for mold and dust mites. Carpets are
generally more difficult to vacuum effectively than hard surfaces.
Short- and closed-loop-pile carpets (such as commercial grade carpet)
are typically easier to clean than loose-pile carpets where dust and
dirt falls through to the underlying material. Other actions that can
help reduce dust mites are:

- Reduce the humidity in your home. The mites will not thrive below
60% relative humidity.
- Wash sheets in soapy water at 130 F every one or two weeks to kill mites.
- Take blankets to the dry cleaner, hang them outdoors once a year, or
wash them frequently.
- Cover conventional mattresses and pillows with dust mite covers
(micro-porous material to prevent infestation).
- Run a bathroom and kitchen fan that exhausts to the outside after
showering/bathing and while cooking to reduce moisture.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with high filtration features (high efficiency
or HEPA filter).
- Wash soft toys and stuffed animals regularly in hot wash followed by
thorough drying. The heat will kill off the mites.
- Shampoo, steam clean, or beat non-washable carpets once a year. This
removes large particles missed by the vacuum cleaner.
- Use effective filters in the heating system."

[ http://www.afhh.org/dah/dah_dust.htm ]


I hope this information is helpful for you, Ray. If it is not, please
let me know and I'll see if I can find anything else.

Best wishes,
Jon.

thank you

Live on a boat? :-)

-K~

Hi Ray!

Do you have a forced air furnace? We were in Rona buying furnace
filters the other day and just happened to notice "Electrostatic
Register Vent Air Filters", a package of 12 for about $3 (not sure of
the price, but they were cheap). We now have filters in all of our
registers - hopefully it will help.

Happy New Year,
hummer

Carpets are a BIG problem, particularly for asthma sufferers.

Throw them all out right away.

Polished wood flooring is much, much better.

knowledge_seeker-ga 

i love boats. now i have to try to find a way to move my home onto one.

ray

hello hummer

sounds like a good idea

does the store have a website

thanks

ray

probonopublico-ga

good advice... thanks for the post

ray

Ray, here is the link to Rona.ca but they don't seem to have the
filters online. Any good hardware store should have some, but maybe
not the cheap ones we purchased. There were other models that were
scented/unscented, I think they were about $1 each. If you can't find
any, perhaps cutting up a regular furnace filter to fit would work?

Rona:
http://www.rona.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/UserInputView?storeId=10001

Air Filters
"Pleated fiberglass air filters are more effective than old-fashioned
spun fiberglass filters because they offer more surface area. The
material is usually fiberglass that filters out larger particles
similar to standard fiberglass filters. Electrostatic air filters out
perform other filters and capture allergens more effectively."
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2141314547.1072881557@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccedadckfljghgdcgelceffdfgidgjm.0&MID=9876

Registers & Grills
"Most of us overlook the registers and return air grilles in our homes
until we paint a room. A grille is a louvered part that covers an
opening through which air passes and is usually used for a return air
duct. Registers and grilles are available for all standard-size return
ducts and are pre-scored for flexible connection."
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@2141314547.1072881557@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccedadckfljghgdcgelceffdfgidgjm.0&MID=9876

hummer

Hi ray_non_the_web-ga,

You cannot have a dust free home, unless you plan to make it a clean
room(where they assemble/make semiconductor devices, which is normally
protected from dust with extensive use of HEPA filters, air curtains/
showers,body suit/masks etc.).  That being said, here are some of the 
suggestions to keep the dust level minimum inside a home.
i) Use good quality furnace filters(more effective means need for frequent
changing).
ii) Identify areas of fine dust/smoke, and install local HEPA air purifiers
with ionizers(if you don't mind a dust coating on walls but bothered only
of suspended dust particles).
iii) install local filters(such as register vent filters, kitchen hood filters
etc.).
iv) Avoid using a ultrasonic humidifier(since it could create white dust-
dissolved minerals), but would highly recommend the use of a forced air
warm mist/evaporative humidifier, since it would make the dust particles
damp and heavy and help them settle down instead of being suspended, apart
from capturing most of them in the capillary wick. A whole house humidifier
with a replaceable wick filter is preferred to smaller units with permanent
wick filters. Always ensure the humidifier is well maintained-bleach pre
wash, anti-bacterial treatment with water, occassional thorough clean inside
out.
v) Provide fine screen filters to frequently used doors, or install duct
dampers to temporarily suspend central AC from carrying dust around.
vi) If your thermostat has a switch for continuous fan circulation, use it.
vii) Add an additional glass door to your main entrance.
Note: The filters are as good as its maintenance, so religiously keep track
of their installation date and replace them as required or atleast at the
recommended intervals.
viii)Avoid extended use of power ventilators, if possible install one of
those expensive heat exchanger ventilators with a filter.

Regards
ldavinci-ga

hello again hummer

thanks for the links and info

hope you both have a lovely new years

ray

p

ldavinci-ga

i sincerely appreciate your viii pt contibution.

good food for thought

hope you have a fine new year

ray

.

Thank you for the tip, Ray. Have a great 2004!

Asthma and allergy sufferers need to isolate themselves as much as
possible from dust mites. Its a good idea to get rid of carpets if
possible as these provide a home for dust mites and their allergen, a
bigger problem is your bed because most of us have to use a mattress
for comfort but this is where you are closest to a large population of
mites. You cannot get rid of them so you need to put a barrier between
you and them. You can get them here

http://www.snugnights.co.uk