Dust isn’t necessarily harmful, but there are good reasons to try and keep dust to a minimum inside your home. Inside the dust particles are dust mites, which are microscopic, spider-like critters that feed on the dead skin cells that we constantly shed.
According to allergy experts, dust mites play a role in why about 30 percent of the population suffers from one or more allergic disorders. So if you (or someone in your household, for that matter) experiences asthma or allergy symptoms, preventing dust accumulation is well worth the effort.
If that seems like an almost-impossible task now, it should seem a lot more possible after you read today’s post! These 10 simple tips can go a long way toward reducing the amount of dust throughout your home (and will make your regular cleaning routine easier, too!).
10 Ways to Reduce Dust in Your Home
1. Keep windows and doors closed
While fresh air is great, it can also be full of dust! Even window and door screens can’t prevent airborne pollen and small dust particles from entering your home through open windows and doors, so keep them closed to reduce the amount of dust that gets inside.
2. Change or clean air filters every month
Whether you have a central air conditioning system or an individual A/C unit, it is important to regularly replace or clean air filters to remove trapped dust and dirt. (If you have a hard time remembering to do that, use the monthly arrival of your power bill as a sign that it’s time to clean those filters!)
For central air systems, consider replacing dirty filters with clean HEPA filters that remove at least 99.9 percent of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and airborne particles. And don’t forget to regularly clean or change the filters on your range hoods, clothes dryers, and other appliances with air intakes!
Placing washable or easy-to-clean doormats inside and outside your home’s doors will go a long way toward keeping away dust and dirt that can be tracked in by shoes and paws. Reminding everyone to take off their shoes at the door will also help a lot.
4. Add an air purifier
Air purifiers do more than remove odors from the air—they also capture dust. Most purifiers use a fan system that draws air in through a filter that captures particles, then recirculates the clean air.
Air purifiers are available in a variety of sizes, capacities and prices and are worth the investment if you have allergy or asthma sufferers at home. (My husband and kids who have seasonal allergies swear by their air purifiers for making life more bearable when the pollen count is high!)
5. Change bedding and towels weekly
Dust mites feed on dead skin cells, so bedrooms and bathrooms are prime real estate for these critters. Keep allergens and dust mites down by washing your bed linens, towels and bath mats once a week.
You can also reduce the number of dust mites in your sleeping area by encasing your pillows and mattresses in protective covers.
6. Clean up the clutter
From the stack of papers on your desk to your grandmother’s collection of teapots on an open shelf, everything out in the open is constantly gathering dust. Reduce the number of dust-collecting items in your home by getting rid of things you don’t use or need, or by displaying storage behind glass to keep it dust-free.
7. Identify dust traps
Certain surfaces trap dust more than others, and while you may not want to get rid of them all, it’s important to at least identify them so you know. which needs to be washed or cleaned regularly.
- Fabric Upholstery: Fabric traps and releases dust more easily than leather upholstery or non-upholstered furniture.
- Heavy drapes and blinds: These traps hold more dust than lightweight curtains that can be washed repeatedly.
- False Plants: Dust has a way of sticking to false plants, where live plants can easily be washed away.
- Faux Fur: Throw pillows and blankets made of faux fur trap shed more dust than their lightweight counterparts.
8. Use dust-trapping cleaning tools
Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will help trap dust instead of pushing it into the air or back, like an electrostatic duster like a Swiffer duster or Microfiber cloth. Additionally, make sure to keep your cleaning equipment clean so that they can work at full strength and function.
They may be part of the family, but pets also contribute significantly to the amount of dust in our homes and the particles that settle on their fur. Bathe and brush your pets frequently—or vacuum them, if that’s what your pet likes—and consider keeping your pets down if someone in the house is highly sensitive to dust.
10. Don’t forget your clothes
If any clothes hanging in your closet have dust on their shoulders, it may be a sign that it’s time to get rid of them. For items you want to keep, wash them before storing them in a breathable storage bag (which, ideally, should also be washable).
How do you fight dust in your home?
