The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

The east coast of Australia has experienced a long, wet winter and that means, according to Distinguished Professor Brian Oliver, that we’ll be seeing more mould in our homes.

“That’s particularly the case in older homes that don’t have built-in measures to keep humidity down and in places which have had floods like Queensland because mould really thrives in damp environments,” he says.

Don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security if you live further south. Humidity is the main factor in determining mould growth, so wet areas such as bathrooms can provide the ideal environment for mould growth even in dry climates.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DUST

Come spring, when it starts to warm up and we can air out our homes, tackling all those areas that may have been neglected can feel like a healthy way to greet the new season. Spring cleaning, though, does come with health risks for those with respiratory conditions.

The main concern, according to Professor Oliver, is dust.

“For the person who doesn't have any respiratory disease or underlying health conditions, the dust and mould that comes with spring cleaning shouldn’t be of too much concern. People with respiratory disease, especially asthma, have to be very concerned because most people with asthma are allergic to dust.”

“Indoor dust is typically a mixture of human skin cells, and the poo from the mites which feed on these cells. It is the poo which contains the allergens, so the more dust, the more allergens and the greater the risk of an exacerbation for someone with asthma and allergies.”

TIMBER FLOORING OR CARPET?

That’s a challenge year-round for people with respiratory conditions but experts differ on matters as fundamental as whether it’s better to have timber floors or carpets.

“If you have timber floors, they’re easier to clean and you can suppress dust levels but ideally, you’d clean them every day which is not realistic for most people. A robot vacuum that's running all the time is probably your best option.”

“If you have carpet, that will trap the dust unless you do something to aerosolise it such as walking or running, a bit like beating a rug. But you have to think about what type of vacuum you use because you don’t want it sucking everything up just to release it into the air. You need something with high levels of filtration, even a HEPA filter.”

“Totally getting rid of dust mites, though, is next to impossible. They’re just so prolific.”

UP IN THE AIR

“When it comes to spring cleaning, if you open up your cupboard and it's gathered dust for six months or so, and then you take things out and you start shaking them, you aerosolise all that dust and give yourself a big exposure and that can bring on an asthma attack.”

So, come spring, when we haven’t been cleaning our homes daily and we’re ready tackle the chaos in our cupboard what should we do to protect our respiratory health?

“I don’t have asthma or hay fever but certain perfumes make me sneeze – that’s not great but it’s not a real risk to my health.”

"Most respiratory conditions, though, are characterised by exacerbations and that sneeze, that cough, any irritation of the airways caused by cleaning chemicals may lead to an exacerbation, so you need to take precautions."

TOP TIPS

Professor Oliver’s advice:

• As a general rule, be careful with the use of commercial cleaning products, especially anything with bleach in it because, if you have asthma, bleach can make it difficult for you to breathe.
• The best way to avoid irritants is to use simple, old-fashioned products like soap or dish washing detergent, baking soda, lemon juice, vinegar and salt – advice on your best options is available here.
• A mask will provide some protection but rarely enough if you have a respiratory condition.
• Spring, when the pollen count is high, is probably not the best time to line dry all that linen in your pantry.
• Don’t overdo it – spring cleaning can be hard, physical work and for someone with exercise-induce asthma it could trigger an attack.
• If you’re cleaning the tops of wardrobes, windowsills or anywhere where dust may have accumulated use a wet cloth, electrostatic wipes or microfibre – something that captures the dust rather than making it airborne.
• Use a vacuum instead of a broom and definitely not a feather duster – that’s probably the worst thing you can do because with a feather duster you get the dust off a surface by just putting it into the air.

• Our Respiratory Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Group
• Asthma
• Asthma Triggers: Mould