As we begin to get nestled into the holiday season, bringing out last year’s décor is at the top of the list. While transforming our homes into the ultimate festive wonderland, we’re often bringing in (and stirring up) unwanted company. This uninvited guest goes by the name of dust and finds its way into our homes through unexpected ways.

With windows tightly sealed and the heat cranked up, it’s easy to see how dust can circulate throughout your home without an escape. While dust is common in every home, its presence intensifies when moving furniture around to create the perfect holiday ambiance. Not only is it gathering on the surfaces around you, it’s also accumulating in the air you and your family breathes. By the time dust has built a visible layer on surfaces, you’ve already been breathing in its combination of organic and inorganic particles.

Dust is comprised of many particles, including pet hair and dander, human skin cells, food particles, rodent droppings, insect waste, and more. This unsightly combination can exacerbate preexisting health problems and even create new ones. Luckily for us, we have our own breathing filtration system that keeps larger particles out. However, the smaller dust particles tend to make their way into our lungs, which is where problems can begin.

Dust can intensify preexisting health problems and even create new ones. According to the American Lung Association, “exposure to dust mites at home can dramatically impact the health of people with asthma and those who are allergic or particularly sensitive to mites.” These flare ups result in headaches, difficulty breathing, irritated eyes, and sneezing. Asthma can also be intensified by the presence of dust, leaving sufferers relying on medication to avoid breathing difficulties and asthma attacks. Dust doesn’t just affect our lungs; it can cause skin issues to arise that range from simple itching to harmful dermatitis. For those without asthma or a dust allergy, the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI) state that exposure to dust can result in sneezing, runny/stuffy nose, red/itchy/teary eyes, wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Luckily, these risks and side effects can be reduced. You can avoid this holiday hindrance with the presence of an air purifier containing a True HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) Filter.

These highly effective filters are composed of tightly constructed fibers that capture microscopic particles. A True HEPA Filter is a holiday essential as it must satisfy certain levels of efficiency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), only True HEPA Filters can remove 99.97% of airborne particles with the size of 0.3 microns, the most penetrating particle size. For reference, the smallest form of household dust is 0.5 microns in size, meaning it stands no chance against a Winix True HEPA Filter.

While you and your family enjoy this year’s holiday season, let Winix keep your air clean and leave the dust to us!