The quality of air within our homes has a direct impact on our health. Indoor air pollution, caused by factors like dust, pet hair, mold, and allergens, can lead to various health problems. Vacuuming plays a significant role in mitigating these risks and promoting cleaner air.
But even those big-ticket cleaners can't eliminate your exposure to air pollution because the act of vacuuming itself kicks up significant debris, according to Jeffrey Siegel, PhD, a professor at the University of Toronto specializing in building engineering and indoor air quality.
Only HEPA-rated vacuum cleaners can effectively filter out minute particles, while normal ones cannot. Even if you're not asthmatic or an allergy sufferer, it would be an excellent decision to have this in your home to maintain high IAQ standards.
absolutely! Vacuum cleaners are great for removing allergens and dust particles from your home, which can help improve indoor air quality. Make sure to choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, as it can trap even the tiniest particles, like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites.
In light traffic areas, a weekly vacuum is sufficient. However, in high-traffic zones like hallways or living rooms, twice a week is advisable. If you have pets or allergy sufferers at home, you might need to vacuum three times a week to keep the environment fresh and free from allergens.
Over time, dirt and debris can cause wear and tear, even for the most durable carpets. Soil is often surprisingly gritty, to the extent that it could cause profound damage to a carpets' fibers. Regular vacuuming can minimize this damage, therefore dramatically extending your carpet's life.
Vacuuming can agitate these VOCs, causing them to become airborne. Inadequate ventilation or low-quality vacuum cleaners may fail to capture these volatile particles, allowing them to linger in the air and potentially leading to adverse health effects, including respiratory irritation and allergic reactions.
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
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 doesn't prevent or remove odors.
What usually goes hand in hand with spots and stains? That's right, lingering odors! Unfortunately, vacuums don't help with odor removal, but odor can be managed and removed when you deep clean your carpets.
After removing the filter from your vacuum, check for a serial number and test results. These must be printed on a true HEPA filter. If the test results state that the filter can capture 99.97% or more of 0.3-micron particles, then it's a HEPA filter.
Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.
Instant Gratification: The immediate results of vacuuming — seeing a carpet transform from dirty to clean in minutes — can provide a quick mood boost and a sense of satisfaction. Physical Activity: The act of vacuuming gets you moving, which can increase endorphins and reduce feelings of depression.
Change your furnace filter regularly. Avoid burning in your home, including fireplaces, wood stoves, gas appliances, and candles. Avoid chemicals such as air fresheners, sprays and cleaning products or use a healthier option. Vacuum your rugs and carpets regularly.
Reducing Allergens: Breathe Easier and Minimize Allergy Symptoms. Allergens are microorganisms and particles that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks, or similar respiratory problems. Vacuuming is a powerful weapon against these irritants, as doing so diminishes their presence in your home.
Combine Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint or Rosemary oil with water in a spray bottle and spray your bed, linens, and other furniture lightly with a fine mist. Once this mixture air dries, the scent should repel dust mites.
Sleep disruption: Dust mite allergies can disrupt sleep patterns, especially if symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, and coughing are more pronounced at night. This can spill over into a long-term health risk, as poor sleep quality can have a negative impact on your overall well-being.
Use Immunotherapy
There are two ways of doing immunotherapy. You can do weekly allergy shots, or you can do sublingual immunotherapy, which you can take under the tongue. Both methods are gonna cause exposure until, over time, you become immune.
Dust mites occur naturally and can appear in nearly all homes; roughly four out of five homes in the United States have dust mite allergens in at least one bed. Dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains.
Just like the slouching tendency, keeping your spine rigidly over-extended while vacuuming is potentially damaging. In this case, though, it may irritate spinal arthritis-related issues.
Sucking in the stomach muscles to achieve a flat look can lead to body image disorder and changes in abdominal composition, causing "hourglass syndrome" and internal organ complications if left untreated.
Hourglass syndrome (HS) describes habitually holding in, or “sucking in,” the stomach region. This action pulls in the lower ribs and gives the waist a smaller, hourglass shape. It is not an official diagnosis. HS can occur due to an underlying pain condition or as a result of poor posture.
How Often Should I Vacuum? The basic rule of thumb is that carpeted floors and rugs should be vacuumed at least twice weekly, while hard surface floors like tile, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl should be vacuumed at least once per week.