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What are house dust mites and how do I know if I’m allergic to them?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deryn-lee-thompson-1449312">Deryn Lee Thompson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> People often believe they are allergic to <a href="https://ahd.csiro.au/everything-in-our-homes-gathers-dust-but-what-exactly-is-it-where-does-it-come-from-and-why-does-it-keep-coming-back-is-it-from-outside-is-it-fibres-from-our-clothes-and-cells-from-our-skin/">house dust</a>. But of the <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatments/allergen-minimisation">20% of Australians</a> suffereing with allergies, a number are are actually allergic to microscopic <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dust-mites">house dust mites</a>. House dust mites belong to the same family as spiders and ticks. They measure just 0.2-0.3 mm, with 50 fitting on a single pinhead. They <a href="https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71977">live</a> for 65–100 days, and females lay 60–100 eggs in their life. House dust mites love temperate climates and humidity. They feed off the skin cells we and animals shed, as well as mould, which they digest using special enzymes. These enzymes are excreted in their poo about <a href="https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/71977">20 times a day</a>. They also shed fragments of their exoskeletons. All these fragments trigger allergies in people with this type of allergic rhinitis (which is also known as hay fever) <h2>What are the symptoms?</h2> When people with house dust mite allergy inhale the allergens, they penetrate the mucous membranes of the airways and eyes. Their body recognises the allergens as a threat, releasing chemicals including one called histamine. This causes symptoms including a runny nose, an itchy nose, eyes and throat, sneezing, coughing and a feeling of mucus at the back of your throat (known as a post-nasal drip). People with this type of allergy usually mouth breath, snore, rub their nose constantly (creating a nasal crease called the “dust mite salute”) and have dark shadows under their eyes. House dust mite allergy <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7328274/">can also cause</a> poor sleep, constant tiredness, reduced concentration at work or school and lower quality of life. For people with eczema, their damaged skin barrier can allow house dust mite proteins in. This prompts immune cells in the skin to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article/190/1/e5/7485663">release chemicals</a> which make already flared skin become redder, sorer and itchier, especially in children. Symptoms of house dust mite allergy occur year round, and are often worse after going to bed and when waking in the morning. But people with house dust mite allergy and pollen allergies find their year-round symptoms worsen in spring. <h2>How is it diagnosed?</h2> House dust mite allergy symptoms often build up over months, or even years before people seek help. But an accurate diagnosis means you can not only access the right treatment – it’s also vital for minimising exposure. Doctor and nurse practitioners can order a <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatments/allergen-minimisation">blood test</a> to check for house dust mite allergy. Alternatively, health care providers with <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/a-career-in-clinical-immunology-and-allergy">specialised allergy training</a> can perform skin prick tests. This involves placing drops of the allergens on the arm, along with a positive and negative “control”. After 15 minutes, those who test positive will have developed a mosquito bite-like mark. <h2>How is it treated?</h2> Medication options include one or a combination of: <ul> <li>daily non-sedating antihistamines</li> <li>a steroid nasal spray</li> <li>allergy eye drops.</li> </ul> Your health care professional will work with you to develop a <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/images/stories/pospapers/ar/ASCIA_HP_Allergic_Rhinitis_2022.pdf">rhinitis (hay fever) medical management plan</a> to reduce your symptoms. If you’re using a nasal spray, your health provider will <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ytYj1TLojM">show you how to use it</a>, as people often use it incorrectly. If you also have <a href="https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/understanding-asthma/how-is-asthma-managed">asthma</a> or eczema which is worsened by dust mites, your health provider will adapt your <a href="https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/health-professionals/asthma-action-plans">asthma action plan</a> or <a href="https://medcast.com.au/qhub/eczema/resources">eczema care plan</a> accordingly. If you experience severe symptoms, a longer-term option is <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/images/pc/ASCIA_PC_Allergen_Immunotherapy_FAQ_2024.pdf">immunotherapy</a>. This aims to gradually turn off your immune system’s ability to recognise house dust mites as a harmful allergen. Immunotherapy involves taking either a daily sublingual tablet, under the tongue, or a series of injections. Injections require monthly attendances over three years, after the initial weekly build-up phase. These are <a href="https://theconversation.com/im-considering-allergen-immunotherapy-for-my-hay-fever-what-do-i-need-to-know-190408">effective</a>, but are costly (as well as time-consuming). So it’s important to weigh up the potential benefits and downsides with your health-care provider. <h2>How can you minimise house dust mites?</h2> There are also important allergy minimisation measures you can take to reduce allergens in your home. Each week, <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/component/finder/search?q=minimisation&Itemid=100001">wash</a> your bedding and pyjamas in hot water (over 60°C). This <a href="https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/resources/patients-carers/factsheets/dust-mites-trigger-my-asthma">removes</a> house dust mite eggs and debris. Opt for doonas, covers or quilts that can be washed in hot water above 60°C. Alternatively, low-cost waterproof or leak proof covers can keep house dust mites out. If you can, favour blinds and wood floors over curtains and carpet. Dust blinds and surfaces with a damp cloth each week and vacuum while wearing a mask, or have someone else do it, as house dust mites can become airborne during cleaning. But beware of costly products with big marketing budgets and little evidence to support their use. A new mattress, for example, will always be house dust mite-free. But once slept on, the house dust mite life cycle can start. Mattress protectors and toppers commonly claim to be “hypoallergenic”, “anti-allergy” or “allergy free”. But their pore sizes are not small enough to keep house dust mites and their poo out, or shed skin going through. Sprays claiming to kill mites require so much spray to penetrate the product that it’s likely to become wet, may smell like the spray and, unless dried properly, may grow mould. Finally, claims that expensive vacuum cleaners can extract all the house dust mites are unsubstantiated. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dust-mites">healthdirect.gov.au</a> or the <a href="https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-treatments/allergen-minimisation">Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240918/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/deryn-lee-thompson-1449312">Deryn Lee Thompson</a>, Eczema and Allergy Nurse; Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-are-house-dust-mites-and-how-do-i-know-if-im-allergic-to-them-240918">original article</a>. </div>

Body

How to get rid of dust mites for an allergen-free home

Getting rid of dust mites for good Dust mites are unwelcome guests for anyone, but they are particularly brutal for people with allergies. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips for how to get rid of dust mites. A few household changes and sticking to a cleaning schedule can help you get a handle on the problem right away. And if you’re prone to sneezing, here are the best cleaning products for people with allergies. Taking simple steps to help eliminate these pesky creatures can drastically improve your allergy symptoms. “While dust mites themselves are not harmful to most people, their faeces can trigger allergic reactions in those who suffer from allergies and asthma,” says sleep expert, Martin Seeley. “This includes respiratory problems and skin irritation, and in a worst-case scenario, they can even compromise a person’s immune system.” Learning how to get rid of dust itself or how to clean carpet spills requires some expert know-how too. We gathered the best advice on how to get rid of dust mites. What are dust mites? Invisible to the naked eye, dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in warm and humid environments. According to domestic cleaner, “dust mites appear in many homes, especially where there is high humidity and lots of dust.” In other words, basically everyone has at least some dust mites in their home – particularly since dust mites consume dust and dead skin flakes (shed by people and their pets). What do dust mites look like? You can’t see dust mites without a microscope. But if you could see them (or conveniently have a microscope on hand), they are oval and have eight legs. “They are translucent and have a white or cream colour, which also makes them difficult to see against a light background,” Seeley points out. Where do dust mites come from? Dust mites get into the house in a variety of ways. “This includes through ventilation systems, on clothes or furniture, or even on pets,” Doss says. “They thrive in warm and humid environments, so it is important to keep your home dry and dust-free to reduce their presence. How do I know if I have dust mites? One sign of dust mites could simply be your body’s reaction to them in the form of allergy symptoms. “Symptoms that readers should look out for include sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes and difficulty breathing,” says Doss. “Dust mites are allergens because they produce proteins in their droppings and bodies, which can cause an allergic reaction when inhaled.” As you begin to react to these allergens, your body releases histamine, a chemical that leads to allergic symptoms such as itching and sneezing. However, another sign of dust mites is the presence of dust itself. “Visible signs of dust mite infestation include dust buildup on surfaces, particularly in areas where people spend a lot of time, such as beds and sofas,” says cleaner, Zak Fleming. How to get rid of dust mites? Despite their size, dust mites can inhabit nearly every surface where people tend to spend a lot of time. Beds and mattresses – plus carpets and upholstered furniture – are just some of the usual suspects hosting dust mites. Here’s what to do about it. Vacuum regularly Many people might not know that dust mites come into the home on clothing or shoes. So vacuuming the floors where dust mites can congregate is a great place to start. “Vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture at least once a week,” says Fleming. This will prevent the buildup of both dust and dust mites inside your home. “But be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter,” he adds. HEPA stands for ‘high-efficiency particulate air,’ and a vacuum with a HEPA filter can trap many very small particles better than other vacuums. “You should also remember to vacuum under your bed, as this is another dust-mite hotspot,” says Seeley. Wash your bedding Dust mites consume dust, much of which contains human skin. So what better place for the dust mites to hang out than between the sheets? Fleming suggests washing bed sheets in hot water at 54° Celsius once a week to ensure you’ve removed all dust mites from the bed’s surface. To be extra careful, also dry your bedding on high heat (always check your sheets special care instructions). All this extra heat will kill the dust mites. While you’re at it, consider cleaning other cloth you regularly come into contact with, like bath towels. Reduce humidity Because dust mites thrive in high humidity, make your home a less tempting environment for them by decreasing your humidity levels. Doss recommends keeping it between 35 per cent and 50 per cent. Architect, Chris Matthias, recommends using a dehumidifier, as this device will remove moisture from the air. “It is nearly impossible to completely eliminate dust mites, as they are a natural part of our environment,” he says. Protect mattresses and pillows “Using dust mite covers on mattresses and pillows creates a barrier between the dust mites and the person sleeping on the bed, reducing allergen exposure,” says Fleming. Keeping a barrier between skin and potential dust mites will help keep those with allergies unaffected by the dust mites. Opt for hypoallergenic covers or a mattress protector. Reconsider your carpeting Instead, choose hardwood or tile floors. While “vacuuming helps to remove dust mites from carpets,” Doss says harder floors are better. With all their porous surfaces, carpets can house dust mites quite easily. “So avoid carpets and rugs if possible,” she says. Get rid of clutter Since dust accumulates in even the oddest of crevices, it’s wise to reduce dust-collecting clutter. “Limit the amount of clutter and dust collectors in your home, such as books, magazines and stuffed animals,” says Doss. And once you’ve gotten rid of the extra stuff, make sure to clean all those nooks and crannies you’ve uncovered. Lower room temperatures While not always ideal for people who tend to feel cold, retaining a cool temperature – less than 20°Celsius – in your home will keep dust mites from multiplying. Keeping the environment unwelcome helps keep their numbers low enough that they can’t spread, says Matthias. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/how-to-get-rid-of-dust-mites-for-an-allergen-free-home?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

What does the dust in your home mean for your health?

You vacuum it, sweep it and wipe it off your furniture. But do you know what it actually is – and how it may affect your health? Don’t feel bad if you’re clueless about your dust. Scientists are not that far ahead of you in terms of understanding the sources and health risks of indoor air and particles. That’s an issue, because people spend a lot of time indoors. Indeed, the average American stays within four walls for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500165">almost 90% of their day</a>. So knowing more about how your indoor environment affects your health is vital. To better quantify environmental influences on health, researchers have begun using <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyr236">an “exposome” approach</a>, which considers every last environmental exposure an individual experiences over a lifetime. Your own exposome includes everything from secondhand smoke when you were a baby to lead exposure in your childhood to particulate matter if you grew up near a major roadway or industrial facility. Dust is a big component of the exposome. What particles are you inhaling and ingesting as you go about your day? I'm a geochemist, and my lab studies environmental health at the household level. Along with environmental scientist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=d_ZBfxYAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao">Mark Taylor</a> at Macquarie University and other international partners, I’m conducting a research project on the indoor exposome. Instead of dumping their vacuum canister into the trash, citizen-scientists put it into a sealable bag and send it off to our lab for analysis. This project, called <a href="https://www.360dustanalysis.com/">360 Dust Analysis</a>, is one of a number of recent efforts that are starting to crack the code on indoor dust. <h2>The dust is coming from inside</h2> About one-third of household dust is created inside your home. The components differ depending on the construction and age of your home, the climate and the cleaning and smoking habits of occupants, so there’s no standard formula for dust. First, you and your pets generate some of that detritus. Sloughed off human skin cells are part of the debris. So are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.05.042">pet skin cells</a>, called dander, and dust mites that feed on skin – both of which are strong human allergens. Overall, you can be sure that <a href="http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1966870,00.html">your dust also includes some</a> decomposed insects, food debris (especially in the kitchen), fibers from carpet, bedding and clothes, and particulate matter from smoking and cooking. We hope our 360 Dust Analysis program will help solve more of the riddle of just what else goes into dust. So far, so gross. And there are humanmade chemicals in the mix as well. For decades, manufacturers have chemically treated clothing and furniture with flame retardants and surface protectants. In fact, for some time, the <a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-Guidance/Childrens-Sleepwear-Regulations">flame retardants were required by law</a> in furniture and children’s sleepwear. But then researchers started identifying them in human blood and tissue, and even newborns showed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01793">evidence of exposure in utero</a>. How did these molecules end up in people’s bodies? Mostly via inhalation or ingestion of indoor dust. <h2>Health concerns about what we put in our homes</h2> Here’s one place new science and new techniques are starting to raise serious health red flags. A flurry of research is currently underway to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-018-0113-2">determine the potential toxicity</a> of these chemicals in the human system. Scientists are also developing new techniques <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2017.9">using wearables</a>, such as <a href="https://greensciencepolicy.org/monitoring-chemicals-in-our-environment-with-wristbands/">silicone wrist bands</a>, to determine the relationship between these dust sources and how much of them winds up in a person’s body. A pet-free and fiber-free indoor environment would be one way to reduce the amount and potential toxicity of indoor dust. But there’s an additional concern that’s emerged from recent research: the rise of antimicrobial resistance. Research has linked several indoor disinfection products to antimicrobial resistance. At least one study found that elevated levels of triclosan, a common antimicrobial agent in hand soaps, were correlated with high levels of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b00262">antibiotic-resistant genes in dust</a>, presumably from bacteria that live in your home and dust. This relationship is due to repeated partial, but not complete, destruction of bacteria and other microbes that go on to grow and proliferate, carrying resistant genes. <h2>The dust that comes in from outside</h2> To get a full picture of dust sources and hazards, you need to consider the other two-thirds of the indoor dust load, which <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/es9003735">actually come from outside</a>. This dirt and dust is tracked in on shoes and on the feet and fur of pets. It blows in through open windows and doorways and vents. And it <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/es9003735">ranges in size and composition</a>from gritty silt to irritating pollen to the finest of soil particles. One of the most widespread health issues related to outdoor sources is lead. This potent neurotoxin has <a href="http://doi.org/10.12952/journal.elementa.000059">accumulated to sometimes extremely high levels</a> in soils and dust after a century of emissions from industrial sources, vehicles burning leaded gasoline and degraded lead-based paints. The hazard is particularly great in cities and near mining or other industrial point sources of lead. Lead-contaminated soils, and dust generated from them, are tightly linked to <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/24927721">lead poisoning of children</a>. Owing to their active neural development, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.med.55.091902.103653">lead can permanently disable exposed children</a>. In the drive to prevent lead poisoning, scientists have focused on what they call point sources: relatively easily identifiable things like peeling paint and lead water pipes. Soil and dust exposures are less well known. Researchers have recently found correlations between <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/es303854c">lead in air and blood lead levels in children</a>. Now several lab groups are taking a careful look not just at exposures in outdoor settings but <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/es9003735">also at how lead may seep into homes</a> and become part of the indoor exposome. <h2>Limit what you can</h2> Much as <a href="https://doi.org/10.1126/science.187.4176.535">Freon in refrigerants and other products</a> caused the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6710-0_2">degradation of Earth’s protective stratospheric ozone layer</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2007.07.010">bisphenol A, a plasticizer used in bottles</a> and other consumer products ended up in people’s bodies, there’s concern among scientists that “better living through chemistry” might result in a string of <a href="https://www.ehn.org/chemical-exposures-are-small-doses-harm-2518446452.html">unintended human health consequences</a> in the realm of dust. Taking off outdoor clothing like jackets and adopting a shoeless household policy is one way to reduce indoor exposure to outdoor pollutants. <a href="https://www.ciriscience.org/a_96-Study-Reveals-High-Bacteria-Levels-on-Footwear">Shoe bottoms are gross</a>: 96% of shoes have traces of feces bacteria on their soles, including the antimicrobial resistant C. diff, and over 90% of these bacteria are transferred to floors. Add in cancer-causing <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10408444.2018.1528208">toxins from asphalt road residue</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/23273747.2016.1148803">endocrine-disrupting lawn chemicals</a>, and the recommendation becomes even clearer – no outdoor shoes inside. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-the-dust-in-your-home-mean-for-your-health-116565" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Another Project host bites the dust

First it was Carrie Bickmore, then Lisa Wilkinson and on Tuesday night’s episode another Project host announced their departure from the news program. Comedian and regular co-host on Channel 10’s news program Peter Helliar announced that he will be leaving the show after eight years. “These things come in threes and it’s time for me to say I will be leaving The Project soon,” he said. “It’s been something on my mind for a while. People will read into the situation however they want to read into it, but I feel like I need to create some space for some projects I want to work on. “I've been able to juggle over the years, you guys have seen me do How to Stay Married and stand-up and books over the years, but I feel like there are some new areas that I'm going into hopefully next year that I need to be present for.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> After nearly 8 years at the desk, Peter Helliar will be leaving The Project. Here is the moment he made the announcement. <a href="https://t.co/k1i19lWcM5">pic.twitter.com/k1i19lWcM5</a> — The Project (@theprojecttv) <a href="https://twitter.com/theprojecttv/status/1594974702744707072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2022</a></blockquote> An emotional Helliar then quoted Carrie when she shared her news saying that he will also continue loving the show. “You said that you are glad you're leaving The Project while you still love it, and I still love this show. I really do,” he continued. “It means a lot to me. It's done amazing things for me. I interviewed Luke Skywalker once and that meant a lot, and I look forward to seeing what the show is like in the future. “I'm pretty sure there are no more announcements and I can't wait to see what you and Kyle and Jackie O do with the show next year,” he said to Waleed Aly. Helliar has another two more weeks on the show, while Carrie has four more days. She jokingly wished Waleed Aly good luck for remaining. But the real question now is, will Waleed Aly quit next? According to entertainment reporter Peter Ford, the program has received quite a bit of backlash in the past year that it would not be surprising if Aly quit next. “I can’t think of a TV show that has been as polarising and has divided opinion as much as The Project, but it’s not mandatory to watch,” he said. “It’s increasing and increasing, and partly it is because on Twitter, people love to be angry, they want to be outraged and they want to bring someone or something down, so you have to allow that haters are going to hate. “But The Project has become a brand name that seems to get people angry, and I don’t know why that is. It’s odd – nobody is being forced to watch it.” He did however say that Aly may get away with it because he doesn’t have social media and doesn’t acknowledge the bad press toward him. Image: The Project

News

8 tricks that will change the way you dust forever

Dust is the bane of many households – just when you think you’ve got it all, it’s back again the next day. Lucky for you, we’ve stumbled on some nifty tricks that will transform your dusting technique and make life much easier. <ol start="1"> <li>Use coffee filters to dust your car – grimy dashboard? Simply grab some coffee filters and watch as they easily pick up dust in even the trickiest places.</li> <li>Use tongs to clean slatted blinds – this one is simply ingenious. Wrap a pair of tongs with dusting rags and secure with elastic bands. Clamp the tongs down on each slat and slide across until all the dust is collected.</li> <li>Use a foam brush to clean vents – if you’ve got a dusty space that’s too small to get to, like air conditioning vents, grab a cheap foam paint brush to get into those tiny nooks and crannies.</li> <li>Use a lint roller to clean lamp shades – you may not have thought to do this before, but it definitely makes sense! Just grab a lint roller and the dust will disappear in no time.</li> <li>Use a lone sock on your Swiffer – got a single fluffy sock with no companion? Stretch it over your Swiffer and use it to pick up dust in hard-to-reach places.</li> <li>Use dryer sheets to clean your screens – dryer sheets attract dust and dirt, leaving your electronic screens looking as good as new. Just make sure you use already-used sheets or you’ll wind up with fabric softener all over your device.</li> <li>Use a doormat – stop dust and dirt at the source by placing a door mat at the entrance to your house.</li> <li>Use a pillow case to dust your ceiling fan – dusting ceiling fans can be a dirty job, but wiping them down with pillow cases is a fantastic way to catch any dust that falls while you’re cleaning the blades.</li> </ol> Do you have any smart cleaning tips you’d like to share with us? Simply let us know in the comments below. Image: Getty

Home Hints & Tips

House dust from 35 countries reveals our global toxic contaminant exposure and health risk

Everyone’s home gets dusty, but is yours the same as house dust in China or the US? Researchers around the world have united to capture the <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04494" target="_blank">world’s first trans-continental data on household dust.</a> People from 35 countries vacuumed their homes and sent their dust to universities in different countries, where it was tested for potentially toxic trace metals. Researchers gathered data on the human and household factors that might affect how much humans are exposed to these contaminants. This is the first effort to collect global data of this type in a single <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04494" target="_blank">study</a>. It shed new light on the sources and risks associated with trace metal exposure, which can lead to concerning neurocognitive effects in people of all ages. The <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04494" target="_blank">study</a> shows it doesn’t matter whether you live in a high or low income country, are rich or poor – we’re all exposed to contaminants via dust. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433642/original/file-20211124-19-29ut51.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433642/original/file-20211124-19-29ut51.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A man sneezes in a dusty room" /></a> It doesn’t matter whether you live in a high or low income country, we are all exposed to contaminants in dust. Shutterstock Differences between countries Local environmental factors and contamination histories can make a difference. In <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0269749121011751" target="_blank">New Caledonia</a>, elevated chromium, nickel and manganese were evident, due to local rock, soil and nickel smelters. These may be linked to increased <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-jstor-org.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/stable/45011245" target="_blank">lung</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S1877782117301455" target="_blank">thyroid</a> cancers in New Caledonia. In New Zealand, arsenic concentrations are <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gexplo.2016.05.009" target="_blank">naturally high</a>. One in three New Zealand homes exceeded the acceptable health risk for children under two, set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Australia has concerning levels of arsenic and lead contamination in house dust. One in six Australian homes exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency acceptable health risk. Arsenic exposure can increase <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S1382668915300946" target="_blank">cancer risk</a> and cause problems to respiratory health and immune function. <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/the-verdicts-in-we-must-better-protect-kids-from-toxic-lead-exposure-41969" target="_blank">Lead</a> can affect children’s brain and nervous system development, causing behavioural and developmental problems. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439426/original/file-20220104-23-nhnz25.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439426/original/file-20220104-23-nhnz25.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A man dusts on top of a shelf." /></a> Frequent vacuuming, mopping and dusting with a damp cloth can reduce your risk. Shutterstock It’s clear <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749121020443" target="_blank">lead mining</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/children-continue-to-be-exposed-to-contaminated-air-in-port-pirie-113484" target="_blank">smelting</a> activities cause high lead levels in dust for local communities. But the study shows inner city areas are equally affected, commonly from legacy sources like <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S016041201000156X" target="_blank">emissions</a> from the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0883292717301300" target="_blank">leaded petrol era</a>, or peeling lead paint in homes. Data from Accra, in Ghana showed homes contained elevated lead concentrations, likely due to nearby electronic recycling operations. Old wiring and circuitry are <a rel="noopener" href="https://greatforest.com/sustainability101/best-recycling-videos-story-electronics/" target="_blank">burned to extract metals</a>, causing trace metals such as lead, nickel and copper to fall out as dust across the city. So where do contaminants in house dust come from? One source reflects lead from past leaded petrol emissions and paints. Another reflects the degradation of building materials, rich in copper and zinc. This was more prevalent in older homes, which have seen more wear and tear and have been exposed to traffic emissions longer. The third common source is soil, which gets blown in from outside and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0160412019320021" target="_blank">walked into homes</a> by people and pets. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433643/original/file-20211124-17-1tfgi8d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433643/original/file-20211124-17-1tfgi8d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A woman cleans a vent." /></a> Simple home cleaning practices, like frequently vacuuming, mopping and dusting with a damp cloth can reduce your exposure to contaminants in dust. Shutterstock What factors affect how risky your dust is? We also gathered global data on building materials, pets, hobbies, habits and home characteristics. What made the most difference to metals in dust were house age, peeling paint, having a garden and smoking. Interestingly, homes with garden access had higher dust concentrations of lead and arsenic. Older homes had higher levels of all metals except chromium, and are likely to have residues from peeling paints, traffic and industrial pollutants, pest treatments and other chemicals. Other factors, such as home type, building material, heating fuel didn’t appear to influence trace metal concentrations in homes. Critically, what’s outside ends up <a rel="noopener" href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/science/article/pii/S0013935120302504" target="_blank">in our homes</a>, where it can be inhaled and <a rel="noopener" href="https://pubs-acs-org.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.1c01097" target="_blank">ingested</a>. While global averages were within accepted thresholds, many individual homes exceeded these, particularly homes in Australia for lead-related risks, New Caledonia and the US for chromium-related risks, and New Zealand for arsenic-related risks. <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433664/original/file-20211124-21-1czyn4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/433664/original/file-20211124-21-1czyn4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A person wipes dust from a shoe area." /></a> Reduce the amount of dust entering your home by taking your shoes off at the door. Shutterstock How to reduce your exposure to contaminants in dust Frequent vacuuming, mopping and dusting with a damp cloth can reduce your risk. Vacuuming reduces contaminants like <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/were-all-ingesting-microplastics-at-home-and-these-might-be-toxic-for-our-health-here-are-some-tips-to-reduce-your-risk-159537" target="_blank">microplastics</a> in house dust. If you live in an older home, keep the paint in good condition so it’s not flaking off. When painting or renovating, follow safety <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/household-building-and-renovation/lead-safety" target="_blank">guidance</a> from your state’s environmental protection authority – or call a <a href="https://painters.edu.au/Training-Resources/CPCCPD3031-Work-safely-with-lead-painted-surfaces-in-the-painting-industry.htm">professional</a>. Hobbies involving lead, like fishing, shooting and metal work, can affect your trace metal exposure. Choosing not to smoke inside will reduce exposures to chromium and manganese. Cover exposed soil in your garden with mulch or grass, use a dual system of outdoor and indoor mats, take shoes off at the door and towel down muddy pets before letting them inside. Considering we spend most of our lives <a rel="noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500165" target="_blank">indoors</a>, there is growing <a rel="noopener" href="https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.simsrad.net.ocs.mq.edu.au/doi/epdf/10.1111/ina.12722" target="_blank">international interest</a> in setting public health guidelines for chemicals in indoor settled dust. In <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/household-building-and-renovation/lead-safety" target="_blank">Australia</a> and the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.epa.gov/lead/hazard-standards-and-clearance-levels-lead-paint-dust-and-soil-tsca-sections-402-and-403" target="_blank">US</a>, we have guidance for lead dust, but not other contaminants. The best way to know what’s in your house dust is to have it tested by <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.360dustanalysis.com/" target="_blank">DustSafe</a> researchers. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172499/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439427/original/file-20220105-25-mvokjp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/439427/original/file-20220105-25-mvokjp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="A man vacuums his house." /></a> Vacuuming reduces contaminants like microplastics in house dust. Shutterstock <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cynthia-faye-isley-602937" target="_blank">Cynthia Faye Isley</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Science, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174" target="_blank">Macquarie University</a>; <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kara-fry-1274525" target="_blank">Kara Fry</a>, Academic Casual, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174" target="_blank">Macquarie University</a>, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-patrick-taylor-11394" target="_blank">Mark Patrick Taylor</a>, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/macquarie-university-1174" target="_blank">Macquarie University</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/house-dust-from-35-countries-reveals-our-global-toxic-contaminant-exposure-and-health-risk-172499" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

Instagram influencer hits back at online bullies over white doona dust-up

An Aussie Instagram influencer has spoken up after receiving online attacks over her post on a white doona cover. Tasmanian woman Claire is the manager of @thekmartlover, an Instagram page that provides tips and updates on fashion and home décor featuring products from Kmart and other stores in Australia. After posting about a white quilt cover from Kmart with the part of caption reading “white is right” on Friday, she received messages calling her “racist” and “white supremacist”. She then replaced the line “white is right” with: “Can you beat a white quilt cover for a relaxing entrance to a bedroom? I love it!” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7sdBqAJPEK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7sdBqAJPEK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Can you beat a white quilt cover for a relaxing entrance to a bedroom? I love it! This is the @kmartaus waffle quilt cover, $45 for the king. Of course it’s teamed with the stunning new $69 wool blend shirred rug and poppy cushion $12. Decorative ladder $25 and throw (old stock sorry) also from Kmart Bed @freedom_australia</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/thekmartlover/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> • C L A I R E •</a> (@thekmartlover) on Jan 23, 2020 at 11:48pm PST </div> </blockquote> On Saturday, Claire spoke about the controversy on Instagram Story. “I’m not racist. I was purely talking about a bloody doona cover and it does hurt. It hurts me. I put in time to this page. It’s my page,” she said. She shared another post addressing the controversy. “This week I have been trolled for having too many hats and contributing to landfill. This week I have been trolled as being racist for saying ‘white is right’ about the depicted doona cover. This week I have been trolled for having too many clothes and that I should donated more, that I am wasteful, not thoughtful and that I should influence people in a far better way,” she wrote. “I am using my voice so that hopefully this changes the mindset of one person out there that has thought about writing something negative in any online forum.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7vDSUUJAW7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7vDSUUJAW7/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by • C L A I R E • (@thekmartlover)</a> on Jan 25, 2020 at 12:01am PST </div> </blockquote> She encouraged her 111,000 followers to support her collaboration t-shirt project with Small Print Design. For every t-shirt sold, $5 will be donated to anti-bullying organisation Bully Zero. Claire told <a href="https://10daily.com.au/lifestyle/life/a200127crina/it-hurts-me-aussie-instagram-influencer-viciously-attacked-over-white-doona-cover-20200128">10daily</a>, “If you do not like it, then simply unfollow and use your time in another manner. Obviously a message of mine is Just Be Kind. A little kindness goes a long way.”

Home & Garden

Aussies have more than $8 billion worth of phones in their homes unused

According to new research, mobile phone industry product steward MobileMuster has estimated that there are 25 million mobile phones going unused and taking up space. According to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/gadgets/mobile-phones/australians-have-more-than-8-billion-worth-of-mobile-phones-gathering-dust/news-story/013dedc0b0bdb3046fb699efcaeda9e0">news.com.au</a>, that's enough phones for each person in the country. The research found that one in three Aussies also have trouble parting with their old phone, even though almost three-quarters will never use it again. It can be handy to have a spare, but figures from online marketplace eBay has suggested that those who aren’t selling their old mobile phones are missing out. More than 70,000 phones have been sold on the site this year, which equates to one every 68 seconds. With almost 90 per cent of all Australians owning a phone, many of us are holding onto the devices for longer due to price hikes and decreases in innovation. In order to combat the amount of waste that can be left by mobile phones, MobileMuster is offering a range of collection points around the nation. You can also hand in your old phone for recycling at the Salvation Army stores in your local area.

Technology

3 simple ways to reduce dust in your home

Dust. The bane of everyone’s existence. It seems that no matter how many times you remove the pesky particles from your home, they always manage to come back stronger than ever. While it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to live a dust-free life permanently, there are ways to reduce to amount you’re surrounded with – which isn’t great for your health either. 1. Take your shoes off Believe it or not, shoes bring about a lot of dust, and it makes sense as to why. The same shoes you’ve been parading around in the great outdoors are sure to bring unwelcome visitors inside the home. The easiest way to follow this step is to keep a shoe rack besides your door, so as soon as you walk towards the entryway, you’re reminded to remove any footwear. 2. Wash your bed sheets weekly Now this is something everyone should be doing anyway. Bedsheets are breeding grounds for dust and bacteria. With dead skin accumulating on your comforter, it’s important to give it a good wash every week. Dust is made predominantly from dead skin, and while it sounds disgusting, it may be the motivation you need to wash your sheets. 3. Vacuum upholstery Upholstered furniture and décor looks beautiful inside the home, but attracts dust like nothing else. That doesn’t mean you should get rid of everything inside your house, but instead, give your sofas, curtains and mattresses a good blast with the vacuum to suck everything right up.

Home & Garden

Stay indoors: Huge dust storm could hit this city tomorrow

A huge dust storm hit Sydney in September 2009. The Double Bay marina is covered in a red haze on September 23, 2009. Sydney could be hit with dust storms from Wednesday as winds pick up and temperatures rise ahead of a cold front. Parts of south-western NSW was “sand blasted” by swirling winds and conditions are so dry that most of the winter crop has failed to grow, reports <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sand-blasted-large-dust-storm-may-hit-sydney-ahead-of-cold-front-20180813-p4zx8d.html">Sydney Morning Herald.</a> A strengthening cold weather front this week means the dust could be carried to the NSW coast, possibly creating a similar dust storm to 2009 when Sydney’s skyline turned red. David Wilke, duty forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said although it was more likely that areas in western NSW hit will be hit by dust storms, it was possible the storm could hit Sydney. “The next strong cold front will likely come at the end of this week but there is a weaker front at the moment and we do have very dry conditions,” Mr Wilke said. Cold front often lead to dust storms as warm columns of air lift and carry particles from dry areas, Mr Wilke explained. Most of the dust in NSW is from south-western Queensland and South Australia, both of which are particularly dry. All of NSW was declared in drought last week. Australia has experienced its driest July since 2002, and the driest autumn since 1902.

Domestic Travel

Bad news for shoppers: two more iconic Aussie brands set to bite the dust

Australia’s <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/2017/11/bad-news-for-shoppers-300-millers-katies-and-rivers-stores-set-to-close/" target="_blank">retail slump has claimed another victim</a>, with iconic boutique footwear brand Diana Ferrari set to shut all 23 stores and 11 clearance outlets within months. The label, which was founded in 1979, will continue to maintain an online presence. “All Diana Ferrari stores will be closed over the coming months, but our fabulous footwear will continue to be available through our online stores, Mathers, Williams, wholesale stockists and major department stores,” a company statement read. “We truly appreciate and thank all our loyal clothing customers over the last 17 years.” This news comes as plus-size retailer Maggie T has announced it would also be going into administration, with the company reportedly struggling to pay significant debts. Since the announcement, the company has slashed prices of clothing in online sales, with customers able to save as much as 70 per cent on certain products. What are your thoughts? Do you think this is simply a case of retailers failing to respond to a changing environment? Or should more to done to protect iconic Australian brands?

Money & Banking

Woman's disgusting discovery after sleeping on SAME dirty pillowcase for 5 years

Whenever we get itchy eyes, we usually put it down to allergies or hayfever. But we’re sorry to tell you there’s another much more skin-crawling cause of irritated eyes, as one Chinese woman found out. The woman, known only as Ms Xu, told doctors in the central Chinese province of Hubei that she had been suffering from itchy, red eyes for two years and had no idea why. When doctors asked about her hygiene and housekeeping routine, it was revealed that she had been using the same unwashed pillowcase since 2012. Yes, five years of sleeping on a dirty pillowcase. Upon examining her eyes, doctors were shocked to find over 100 eyelash parasites on her eyelids. Horrifyingly, according to Chinese media, a colony of 10 mites was found in one single follicle. Aside from the woman’s filthy pillowcase, doctors said a lack of airflow in her bedroom contributed to creating the ultimate breeding ground for the disgusting parasites. In addition to the mites, the woman was also diagnosed with blepharitis and conjunctivitis. She was treated and made a full recovery. We have a feeling she’ll be a lot more diligent with washing her sheets from now on. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to wash my pillowcase and air out my bedroom.

Body

The surprising thing in your house that’s making you gain weight

Earlier this month, we found out that <a href="http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/07/05/smelling-your-food-makes-you-fat/" target="_blank">simply smelling our food</a> could be making us fatter, and now, it seems even our homes are conspiring against our diets. <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712084955.htm" target="_blank">A new study</a> from the American Chemical Society has found that dust – yes, ordinary household dust – could be making us gain weight. Researchers found a number of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were present in household dust. What do these chemicals do, exactly? Well, they can wreak havoc on your hormones, potentially negatively impacting your reproductive, neurological and immune functions – and, as certain animal studies suggest, can cause weight gain later in life. Some manufacturers have reduced the use of EDCs in their consumer products, but many continue to do so, meaning they can easily find their way into household dust, which is then inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average child consumes around 50 milligrams of house dust per day. “Amounts of dust as low as 3 micrograms – well below the mass of dust that children are exposed to daily – caused measurable effects,” writes <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170712084955.htm" target="_blank">ScienceDaily</a>. So, if you needed a bit of motivation to get out the vacuum, let this be it!

Body

Dark chocolate macaroons with strawberry dust

Macaroons, not to be confused with macarons, are one of my favourite types of cookie. They consist mostly of coconut, aren't overly sweet and have a lovely crumbly texture. When they're dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with freeze-dried strawberry powder, these become next-level treats. Serves: 15 Ingredients: <ul> <li>3 cups fine desiccated coconut</li> <li>1/3 cup caster sugar</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</li> <li>Pinch sea salt</li> <li>Whites from 3 large eggs</li> <li>1 cup 70 per cent dark chocolate chips</li> <li>10g strawberry powder</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Preheat oven to 170°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper.</li> <li>In a large bowl, combine coconut, sugar, vanilla, salt and egg whites. Use your hands to form balls (about the size of golf balls) and place on the baking tray.</li> <li>Bake for about 15 minutes or until slightly golden. Cool before transferring to a rack.</li> <li>Meanwhile, melt chocolate. Place chips in a small bowl over a small pot of boiling water.</li> <li>Stir until completely melted.</li> <li>Dip base of each macaroon into melted chocolate and place directly on the lined baking tray.</li> </ol> Written by Jonathan Rondel. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Image credit: Emma Boyd / <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Food & Wine

Dusting tricks for those hard-to-clean items

Your dusting time can be reduced if you know how to uniquely address the problem areas that attract dust to themselves. Follow our guide on how to tackle those difficult objects to extend the time between your dusting expeditions around the house. Keyboard Tackle these item with baby wipes as they can be laundered and reused as dust cloths. For items such as keyboards and phone buttons, shaking them out only gets rid of some of the dust. Use a baby wipe to remove dirt, dried spills and unspecified gunk that builds up on your technology. Always make sure you turn off your computer before you wipe down the keyboard. TV and PC Screen Use fabric softening liquid on plastic surfaces right after you clean your screens. By dampening your cloth with fabric softening liquid it will eliminate the static that attracts dust. To repel dust, pour some softener into water and store in a squirt bottle so the solution will be ready for use when you need it. You should also use fabric softening liquid for glass tables, shower doors and other hard surfaces. For technological screens, you can also use fabric softener sheets. Fabric softener sheets are designed to reduce static cling, leaving your technology without the dust. Use can also use this item for venetians blind and it will extend the time you will have to dust them next as the sheets will repel the dust. Delicate ornaments When dusting your most valuable items, put on some fabric gloves to protect the item. The softer the glove is the better it will be for your glass item. These gloves will ensure that your glass items are without dust but still in pristine condition. You can clean a chandelier by soaking gloves in window cleaner and then wiping them over the lighting fixture. Window screens For window screens, paint brushes are an effective away to give them a good clean. Shake off the brush, dip it into kerosene and then stoke the screens. The mesh can be cleaned with a dry cloth. Polish furniture Oven mitts can be used to protect your hands in the kitchen but they can also be used to polish your furniture. Use one side to apply the wax or polish and the other side of the mitt to buff it up. We all have old oven mitts lying around so you might as well put them to good use. Baking pans Cut the foot off the pantyhose leg and fill it with flour, tie a knot and then keep it in your flour jar. Give the pantyhose a shake when you need to dust flour onto a baking pan or prepare a surface for dough. You can also use pantyhose by attaching them to a rubber band or coat hanger and brushing it in the cracks of your refrigerator. The nylon in the pantyhose will cause the dust to cling to it and then it can easily be washed off. Ceiling fan An easy way to clean the dust that has collected on top of your ceiling fan is to place a pillowcase over one of the ceiling fan blades and then slowly pull the pillowcase off. The blade will be dusted with all the dust collected in the pillowcase instead of falling everywhere. Picture frame An empty squirt bottle can be used to blast off the dust that is on your picture frames. The force of the air will cause the dust to be removed. Tiny cracks To get the hardest and smallest places to reach in your house, dip a toothbrush into alcohol and slide it in the area you want cleaned. This same method will also work for the buttons on your phone which are highly important to clean. What are your tips for dusting? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/02/dirtiest-items-in-your-home-and-how-to-clean-them/">Dirtiest items in your home (and how to clean them)</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/02/mistakes-to-avoid-when-washing-sheets/">5 common mistakes to avoid when washing your sheets</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2017/02/tips-for-canned-food-safety/">Canned food safety tips to avoid food poisoning</a>

Home & Garden

8 tricks to help you clean impossible-to-reach spots

The gap next to the fridge. The small space between where the rug ends and the couch starts. We’ve all got those spots in the home that we’d rather just bypass than actively try to clean. Eventually however, we can’t avoid it any longer. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up the best expert tips and tricks to make cleaning tricky spots a breeze. <ol> <li>The cracks between your keyboard keys – Remove crumbs, dust, dirt and food easily by running the sticky side of a post-it note between the keys to pick up all the muck.</li> <li>Window sills and tracks – Trying to squeeze the nozzle attachment of your vacuum into your narrow window tracks can be a nightmare. The solution? Attach a toilet paper tube to the nozzle. The cardboard can be manipulated to fit even the strangest shaped space.</li> <li>Car air-conditioning vents – Clean out the dust and must from the vents by using a sponge tipped pain brush. It’s the perfect size and shape.</li> <li>Vertical blinds – Remove dust quickly and easily by wrapping a microfiber cloth around a pair of tongs and inserting onto each section of blind to wipe clean.</li> <li>Dishwasher filter and screen – The humble toothbrush has a multitude of uses when it comes to cleaning and here’s another! The size and shape make it perfect for cleaning your dishwasher filter. Use soap and an old brush to scrub off soap and grease build up.</li> <li>Air vents – If your air quality seems a bit musty or dusty then the vents may be to blame. Similar to the blind cleaning hack, a blunt butter knife makes the perfect tool for cleaning between vents. Wrap in a microfiber cloth then gently wiggle into and between vents.</li> <li>Mattress quilting – We change our sheets regularly and may even turn out mattress but what about the indented quilting? It’s a haven for dust and other nasties. Give it a good once over with the upholstery hose on your vacuum or use the narrowest nozzle you’ve got to suck each indent clean.</li> <li>Tap crevices – Soap scum, mildew and mould love hanging around the base of your taps. To remove it thoroughly use an old toothbrush, soap and water. The bristles make short work of debris and will also help prevent it growing back.</li> </ol> What do you do around the house to make cleaning that little bit easier? Share your cleaning secrets with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/09/how-often-you-really-should-wash-your-sheets-towels-and-curtains/">How often you really should wash your sheets, towels and curtains</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/08/20-fixes-for-household-problems/">20 must-know fixes for everyday household problems</a> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/08/how-to-clean-your-bathroom-like-a-professional/">How to clean your bathroom like a professional</a>

Home & Garden

Beer battered fish with a macadamia salt and pepper dust

The classic beer battered fish is lifted to new heights when sprinkled with macadamia salt and pepper dust. If you have any leftover try sprinkling it on steak before grilling. Serves: 4 Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 teaspoons sea salt</li> <li>½ tablespoon Szechuan pepper (available at Asian supermarkets)</li> <li>½ tablespoon black peppercorns</li> <li>½ cup macadamias, roasted, finely chopped</li> <li>1 ½ cups plain flour</li> <li>1 tablespoon baking powder</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> <li>375ml chilled beer</li> <li>Macadamia oil for deep frying</li> <li>1kg flathead fillets, skin off, bones removed (or whiting fillets)</li> <li>Plain flour for dusting, extra</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>To make the macadamia salt and pepper dust, dry roast combined sea salt and peppers in a heavy-based pan over medium heat.</li> <li>Stir until aromatic and lightly toasted, remove from the heat and cool.</li> <li>Use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to crush to a coarse powder.</li> <li>Pour into a bowl and stir through the macadamias. Set aside.</li> <li>Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl and mix well.</li> <li>Make a well in the centre and gradually whisk in the beer until the batter reaches the consistency of thickened cream (you may not need all of the beer).</li> <li>Heat the macadamia oil in a wok or deep fryer to 190°C or until a cube of bread turns brown in 15 seconds when added to the oil.</li> <li>Pat the fish fillets dry with a paper towel, dust lightly with the extra flour and dip two pieces of fish, one at a time, into the batter to coat.</li> <li>Drain off any excess and deep-fry the fish for three to five minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the fillets, until golden brown and cooked. Drain on absorbent paper and immediately sprinkle each cooked fillet with a teaspoon of macadamia dust.</li> <li>Repeat until all the fish is cooked, reheating oil between batches and keeping the cooked fillets warm.</li> <li>Serve cooked fish with tartare sauce, a green salad and extra macadamia dust on the side.</li> </ol> Recipe courtesy of Australian Macadamias – <a href="http://www.australian-macadamias.org/consumer/en/taste/recipes" target="_blank">visit their site for more yummy food ideas</a>. Have you ordered your copy of the Over60 cookbook, The Way Mum Made It, yet? Featuring 178 delicious tried-and-true recipes from you, the Over60 community, and your favourites that have appeared on the Over60 website, <a href="https://shop.abc.net.au/products/way-mum-made-it-pbk" target="_blank">head to the abcshop.com.au to order your copy now</a>. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/macadamia-date-chocolate-torte/">Macadamia, date and chocolate torte</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/04/zucchini-tomato-macadamia-salad/">Zucchini, tomato and macadamia salad with parmesan crisps</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2016/05/banana-chocolate-and-almond-cake/">Banana, chocolate and almond cake</a>

Food & Wine

Your bed sheets could be making you sick

After a long hard day there’s nothing better than to fall into a comfy bed for a restful night’s sleep, right? Maybe not, according to home hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley, millions of tiny organisms, such as dust mites and dead, castaway skin cells live in our bed sheets. Our mattresses, doonas, and pillows are reservoirs of human skin cells, which encourages dust mites and increases our risk of suffering a cold as well allergies. But that’s not all – our bed linen can harbour bacteria that causes nasty illnesses like the flu and food poisoning. Dr Ackerley calls this "sick bed syndrome" and said most people don't realise it's happening to them. She told the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3063876/Is-BED-making-ill-Expert-warns-dust-mites-germs-living-sheets-cause-asthma-hayfever-flu-food-poisoning.html">DailyMail:</a> “Humans shed half an ounce of skin week and a lot of that will be in the bed. “Dust mites like warm moist environments, the bed’s the perfect environment. They reproduce so there will be about 10 million per bed. “Often people are away in the day, so they shut the windows and the moisture stays in the house. “If you make the bed when you go out that traps the duvet and the moisture, and the dust mites have a great time.” She added, in two years around 10 per cent of the weight of a pillow will be made up of dust mites and their droppings. While dust mites themselves won’t cause you to get sick, their faeces and body fragments can irritate allergies, eczema, hay fever and asthma. "If people have a cold, it can survive on the bed linen and it can survive a wash. Someone with food poisoning could be excreting salmonella into the bed," Dr Ackerley added. So how exactly do you get rid of these dust mites and bacteria? Dr Ackerley recommends washing bed linens at a low temperature, using an antibacterial detergent. She also suggests keeping your widows open when possible to let some of the humidity and moisture out to reduce the likelihood of dust mites breeding in your sheets. Related links: <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: #ffffff;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none; text-decoration: underline; color: #20831d; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" href="/news/news/2016/07/7-common-items-you-should-never-put-in-a-dryer/">7 common items you should never put in a dryer</a> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: #ffffff;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none; text-decoration: underline; color: #20831d; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" href="/news/news/2016/07/reason-buttons-on-mens-and-womens-shirts-are-on-opposite-sides/">Reason buttons on men’s and women’s shirts are on opposite sides</a> <p style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #000000; font-family: 'Open Sans'; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: #ffffff;"><a style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px none; outline: 0px none; text-decoration: underline; color: #20831d; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%;" href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/07/ways-you-are-doing-your-ironing-wrong/">10 ways you’re doing your ironing wrong</a>

Home & Garden

8 surprising things in your home that make you sneeze

Find yourself sneezing up a storm at home? Here are eight unexpected things that could be triggering your “achoos”. 1. Scented candles/sprays/diffusers A 2011 study found home fragrances – like candles, room sprays, and diffusers – are a common cause of respiratory allergies. If you’re particular susceptible, any strong scent or perfume can be a trigger for your sneeze. 2. Vacuuming Not all vacuum cleaners suck up dust and particles properly. A badly maintained vacuum will dredge up dust and spread it around the home. Make sure you regularly clean your machine and change the bag when it’s three-quarters full. If the vacuum is too full, the suction is inhibited and won’t be able to effectively suck up that dust. 3. Open window It might be cooling to prop open a window in the house, but the cold breeze could be responsible for the tickle in your nose. Cold air can irritate your nasal passage or stimulate the nerve running through your nose, both of which trigger sneezing. 4. Flowers Indoor plants and flowers can produce pollen, which are irritating to sensitive noses. If you’re prone to sneezing, steer clear of strong-scented blossoms and try more neutral-smelling blooms for your next vase of flowers. 5. Sun-drenched rooms It’s a strange phenomenon called “photic sneeze reflex” where light, particularly sunlight, causes some people to reflexively sneeze. Roughly one quarter of the population has this strange sneezing reflex, but its affects vary widely. 6. Bathmats The damp conditions of bathmats is a haven for mould to grow. When the spores disperse in the air, it can cause sneezing. If you don’t already, make it a habit to wash your bathmat every week. 7. Soft toys If you’ve got a box full of soft toys for when the grandkids are over it could be the culprit behind your sneezing fits. Dust mites are commonly found in furry toys so make sure to wash them occasionally, especially if they’ve been played with recently. 8. Air-conditioner/Heater Your heating and cooling system is the perfect breeding ground for dust, mould and bacteria. When you switch the system on, all those sneeze-triggers will just fly into the air. Make sure you clean the filters, especially if you haven’t used it for months. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/household-uses-for-vaseline/">Clever uses for Vaseline around the house</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/natural-ways-to-get-rid-of-cockroaches/">8 natural ways to get rid of cockroaches</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/01/how-to-keep-food-for-longer/">15 great kitchen hacks to extend the life of food and save on waste</a>

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