Dust and the Winter Colds: Is There a Link?

It’s the dead of winter. You’re bundled up, drinking tea, and—sniffling? Again? You’re not imagining it: your dusty home might actually be making you feel sicker.

Here’s what’s going on:
In the colder months, we close up our windows, crank up the heat, and spend way more time indoors. That means less airflow and more build-up of indoor pollutants like dust, pet dander, and mold spores.

And dust isn’t just annoying—it’s biologically active.
Dust is made up of everything from skin flakes and pollen to bacteria, dust mites, and even microplastics. Yikes. Breathing that in all day can irritate your respiratory system, trigger allergies, and make you more susceptible to colds or sinus infections.

So what can you do?

• Vacuum regularly, especially under furniture and along baseboards.
• Change furnace filters more often than you think—every 1–3 months in winter.
• Wipe down surfaces (even the ones you don’t see) like fan blades and light fixtures.
• Use an air purifier if you can swing it—or at the very least, crack open a window now and then.

Clean air isn’t just about comfort—it can actually help your body fight off the winter blahs. Turns out, your vacuum might be just as important as your vitamin C.

Looking for a vacuum that won’t blow allergens back into the air? We’ve got you.