What is house dust mostly made of? Is it true that it's mostly dead skin? Okay, fact: An average home collects about 40 pounds (18 kg) of dust per year. One of the most popular household dust myths is that its mostly made of your own skin cells. But in reality, dust has a way more complicated structure. You bring dust in your home from the outside. But even if you never left the house, youd open windows to get some fresh air. This is when even more dust comes in. If there are trees right by your window, youd get in some extra dust from birds feathers and mites.
Also, dust comes from carpet fluff, clothes fibers, your pets, and even your food. Bits of fiber and crumbs of food from your lunch contribute to dust composition. So do your carpets, rugs, drapes, curtains, towels, and upholstered furniture. Your clothing sheds fibers that transform into dust. If youre using fabric softener, youre making things even worse. It coats the fabrics with a nice smell and extra softness and that coating flakes off in more dust. And yes, you are also a source of dust. But what about the percentage? Date: 2022-04-19
