What is dust made of?

Think it's human skin? Think again...


Asked by: Tim Sully, Colchester

There's a common misconception that it’s mostly human skin. It's not: that mainly ends up in the bath or shower.

Two thirds of the dust in your house comes from outside, as dirt tracked in on your feet, and airborne particles like pollen and soot. The rest is mostly carpet fluff, clothes fibres and pet hair.

Read more:

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.