Tiny dust particles are everywhere, and even if you’re hitting your shelves with a feather duster each week, you may still see dust floating through the air.
Dust is more than dirt—it comprises several substances, including dead skin cells, pet dander, dust mites, and even clothing particles. It coats any surface it lands on, making your house look grimy and irritating your allergies.
If you feel that no matter what you do, you can get rid of dust, here are the best ways to prevent it from entering your home and to effectively eliminate it once it does.
Change Your HVAC Filters Regularly
Your HVAC system pulls in air and its filter traps dust. If your filters are dirty, they won’t be able to do their job effectively.
Change your filters every 90 days. If you have pets indoors and suffer from excess dust buildup, change them more often.
Dust From Top to Bottom with a Damp Cloth
While your flat surfaces may look cleaner after you go over them with a feather duster, much of the dust is just pushed back into the air and then resettles on flat surfaces. Avoid dry dusting, and instead use a damp microfiber cloth, which will lock dust into its fibers.
Also, be sure to dust from top to bottom. As you dust, some particles fall, and dusting in this manner gives you a better chance of trapping them all.
Invest in an Air Purifier
Air purifiers capture small particles and filter them from the air. They can make a huge difference in especially dusty rooms (like the ones your pets spend the most time in, for example) by helping trap pet dander, dirt, and other allergens.
Clean Your Ceiling Fan
Remember to look up when removing dust from your home. Ceiling fan blades are notorious for being dust magnets. The best way to remove the buildup is to vacuum the blades first and then use a pillowcase to capture the remaining dust.
You should also clean your ceiling if it looks dingy.
Use Welcome Mats
Your shoes bring dirt into your home even if you can’t see it. Wiping them off on a welcome mat helps eliminate dirt molecules. You can even take it a step further and have family members take their shoes off at the door.
Launder Your Curtains
If it’s been a while since you’ve washed your curtains, run your hand down one. There’s a good chance that your finger will be covered in dust. Curtains and drapes, especially heavy ones, cling to dirt particles in the air, which can spread when you run a fan or open the curtains.
Most curtains are machine washable, but you can locate the care tag for specific cleaning instructions.
Groom Your Pets Outdoors
Homes with pets tend to be dustier than those without due to pet hair and skin dander. Groom your pets frequently, but do it outside if possible so that the dander and hair don’t build up in your home.
Reduce the Amount of Carpet in Your House
If your allergies are suffering this year, your carpet may be the culprit. Carpet clings to dust, making it much harder to remove than on hard floors. While you may be unable to replace your carpet with hard floors, you can remove excess area rugs.
Monitor Humidity Levels
Dust mites and mold thrive in high-humidity homes, and both are particles found in dust.
High humidity is most likely to occur in basements and bathrooms. Running a dehumidifier and setting humidity levels in the 30 to 50 percent range can reduce bad smells in the home and the formation of dust particles.
Don’t Open Windows on Breezy Days
There’s nothing quite like feeling a breeze on a mild day. However, if excess dust is your problem, keep your windows shut. A breeze can bring in outdoor dirt and pollen particles.
