Dyson scientists reveal why you shouldn’t let your dog or cat sleep at the end of your bed

Almost half of Australians who own pets allow them to sleep in their beds, but are unaware of the possible health conditions resulting from it, new research shows.

Dyson shared the results of its annual Global Dust Study, which investigates cleaning habits and behaviours, and delves into our understanding of household dust and its potential impact on our health.

The study, conducted with 12,309 respondents from 11 countries around the world, found that people continue to worry about the cleanliness of their homes due to the pandemic.

A whopping 93 per cent of Australians are cleaning as much or more than last year to ensure their homes stay clean and healthy.

The pandemic has also led to a surge in pet ownership, with 57% of households worldwide now owning a pet. In Australia, 52% of households own pets and 56% of owners have no restrictions on where their cat or dog may be.

More than 60% of Australians were unaware that pollen could live on their pets, and less than half (49%) were unaware that bacteria could also live on their pets.

Nearly two-thirds of Australian pet owners are unaware that viruses and house dust mite droppings can also be present in their pets.

“A lot of people think pet hair is the biggest problem because it’s the most visible,” said Dyson microbiology research scientist Monika Stuczen.

“It’s not surprising that other particles that may be present in pets are not known, since these tend to be small in size.”

Over 60% of Australians are unaware that pollen can live on their pets and less than half (49%) are unaware that bacteria can also live on their pets

Pet hair is often thought to trigger allergies. However, some allergies are triggered by allergens, which can also be found in pet dander.

While nearly a third of Australian pet owners groom their pets at home at least once a week, 81% can do this with just a brush or comb.

This reduces the amount of pet hair they shed around the home; but the tiny particles remain on their pets and may spread around the home.

This lack of awareness of what constitutes household dust extends beyond pet owners, with 38% of Australians admitting they are only motivated to clean their house when there is visible dust and grime.

“It’s a cause for concern if people only clean when they see visible dust on the floor, because many dust particles are small in size,” Monica said.

“In fact, by the time people find visible dust in their homes, chances are you already have dust mites in your home.”

Lack of awareness about what constitutes household dust extends beyond pet owners, with 38% of Australians admitting they are only motivated to clean their house when there is visible dust and grime

Yet every year more people vacuum some spaces that are often overlooked when cleaning their home, including their mattresses and sofas.

Still, 77% of owners don’t vacuum their mattresses, which is even more concerning when you consider that 45% of pet owners share their beds with their pets.

“We hope this research inspires you to think about what dust is in your home,” Monica said.

‘Just because it’s out of sight doesn’t mean it should be out of mind. Tiny dust particles like pet dander and dust mite allergens can have a bigger impact on your health and well-being than the particles actually see with the naked eye.