Finding an efficient means of eradicating indoor dust can be a challenging task. This begs the question; do air purifiers remove dust? Let’s find out:
What is Dust Comprised of?
Contrary to the prevalent misconception, dust is not merely made of dirt; it also consists of other organic and inorganic compounds, as illustrated below.
- Soil and debris
- Dead skin cell
- Allergens like pollen, mildew spores, and pet dander
- The remnants of cigarette smoke
- Dust mites
- Food remains
- Bugs and their fecal matters
- Hair/fur
- Textile fibers
- Dryer lint
This list hardly scratches the surface regarding all that comprises dust. Also, mold spores alone aren’t dust, and neither is pollen or even soil.
It is the combination of these indoor pollutants clumped together that comprise dust. The majority of dust particles measure 1-20 micrometers, while others are as large as 100 micrometers in size.
Regardless of the form or size, dust can’t be good for either your home or health, which makes it imperative to eradicate it expediently.
What’s an Air Purifier?
Air purifiers denote home appliances that are tasked with improving indoor air quality, allowing the home’s occupants to enjoy a healthier and more comfortable environment. This is achieved by ridding the air of pollen, smoke, dust mites, musty smells, pet dander, viruses, and, more importantly, dust.
The Working Mechanism of Air Purifiers
Operation: An air cleaner operates by circulating air in a room. As this device sucks air from your indoor environment, it also pulls in minute particulate substances floating in the air, which include dust.
It subsequently cleans the sucked air before releasing it back to the environment, which is achieved using a built-in filter with fibers that are specially designed for capturing foreign matters.
The majority of air purifiers available in the market today feature True HEPA filter, which is tasked with capturing most indoor pollutants, including dust. A True HEPA filter is capable of arresting airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency rate of 99.97%. Most air cleaners are also fitted with a pre-filter that captures larger particles from your indoor air, which may include hair and dust, and thus saving your HEPA filter the trouble.
Qualities of a Good Air Purifier for Dust Removal
Apart from an effective filter, another excellent feature that allows an air purifier to eradicate indoor dust effectively is wide coverage. Meaning that the airflow or CADR must be higher, preferably above 200 cfm.
Swift airflow goes a long way in facilitating the unit’s capacity to capture more dust. This means that less dirt will settle on your household property like carpets, drapes, sofa, and shelves. Besides, reduced harmful contaminants in your home imply enhanced breathing capability and better health.
Why Use an Air Purifier
Dust particles will often float around your indoor atmosphere until they finally settle on a convenient surface like your bed, carpets, or electronics.
While regular vacuuming is essential as it prevents the settled dust from getting redistributed right back into the air, investing in an air purifier will also come in handy.
Using an air purifier will help with trapping these particles before they get the chance to settle. The ultimate result is a more pleasant and healthier air for the home occupants to breathe in addition to eliminating the accumulation of unsightly dust on books, cabinets, carpets, upholstery, and shelves.
The Bottom Line
Indoor dust is not only a nuisance to the home’s occupants; it’s also potentially hazardous to your health and that of your family. Dust can negatively affect your respiratory system and trigger allergic reactions among people with asthma, eye problems, sinus, and hay fever.
While not every air purifier can remove airborne dirt, one equipped with a mechanical strainer like MERV or HEPA filter will effectively trap dust particles before they can wreak havoc on your health.