Dust & Mold

The Dangers of Dust and Mold

Dust and mold allergies are some of the most debilitating allergies to have, since they occur all year round.  Furthermore, these allergens are often hidden under furniture or in deep crevices, making them difficult to eliminate; many people don’t realize how much mold is growing in their home, since it usually develops in places we cannot see.  Possibly more disturbing is that dust actually fuels the growth of mold, since it provides nutrients for the spores (dust generally consists of various fibers plus organic material such as hair, human skin flakes, and cockroach exoskeletons).  Dust and mold spores can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and even cause serious lung problems.

Air Purifiers as a Remedy

Bleach, vinegar, and other home remedies are known to help treat mold.  However, agitated mold spores will be picked up by the air in your home, and even dead mold can cause adverse reactions.  Dust poses a similar problem: you can wipe your surfaces and vacuum constantly, but many of these particles will be inevitably kicked up into the air. 

Thus, an air purifier is a good supplement to regular vacuuming and dusting, as it will pick up the allergens you force airborne by cleaning surfaces.  For getting rid of dust and mold, we recommend air purifiers with HEPA filters.  If you are allergic to these particles, we don’t recommend the use of Ionizers, since these machines cause airborne particles to aggregate around the machine, meaning you will have to vacuum or mop the area quite often.  If you frequently experience mold in your home, ask us about dehumidifiers or check out our Dehumidifiers page. To compare several air purifier models, click the check box by the product, then click the compare button at the bottom of the page.