How to Reduce Dust in Your House

What you need to know about kicking dust to the curb

Do you ever look around your house only to notice dust here, there, and everywhere? Dust is an accumulation of tiny particles that include bits of cloth fibers, paper, hair, pet dander, skin cells, dirt, and more. Taking control of your dust situation can reduce allergies and other health problems—sounds pretty good, right?^[1] Fortunately, there are a variety of simple steps you can take to reduce the amount of dust that's in your home, and in this article, we’ll cover them all.

This article is based on an interview with our house cleaning professional, James Sears.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Use a purifier with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters to reduce the dust floating around your home. It'll also limit mold and other allergens!
• Wash your sheets at least once a week. Sheets, blankets, and pillows are places where dust accumulates and gets sent flying into the air with every touch.
• Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter to vacuum your entire home at least twice a week.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Try an air purifier.

1. Get an air purifier. These fabulous machines clean the air by trapping dust particles and are perfect for high-dust households or families with dust allergies. Air purifiers only clean the air in the room they're in, so consider getting one for each high-traffic room in your house, like your living room and bedroom.^[2]
   
   • Air purifiers can range anywhere from $30-$500 and up. The important thing here is to choose an air purifier equipped with HEPA filters.
   • For a highly-reviewed, middle-of-the-road option, you might go for the Toshiba CAF-W36USW Air Purifier, which is wifi and Alexa compatible, as well as equipped with a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter.

[Edit]Replace your existing air filter.

1. Switch-out or upgrade your air filters.^[3] If your house is heated and/or cooled by a central system, change the filters to control the dust levels in the air. Dust will continue to build up in your home, but a quality filter, such as a HEPA filter, can slow down the rate of dust accumulation by extracting those pesky particles straight from the air.^[4]
   
   • To prevent dust, use high-quality paper or pleated fabric filters that are disposable and replace them every 1 to 3 months.^[5]

[Edit]Vacuum regularly.

1. Vacuum twice a week. A vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will ensure that you're sucking up as much dust as possible. Vacuum all the rugs and carpeting in your home, focusing especially on high-traffic areas like your living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Frequent vacuuming reduces how much dust builds up under furniture and in corners and reduces related allergy symptoms like a stuffy nose—you'll likely notice a huge difference in no time!^[6]
   
   • Change your vacuum filter every 3-6 months.
   • Make sure your vacuum is in good working order. A broken vacuum will spit dust back into the air, making the problem worse.
   • Consider investing or switching to a bagged vacuum cleaner, as they’re better at trapping dust.^[7]

[Edit]Mop your floors.

1. Mop the floors at least once a week. Going over your flooring with a wet mop is a great way to collect any dust you might have missed while sweeping and stop dust from getting tracked all around your house. Frequent mopping (at least once a week) will help keep that pesky dust at bay, as letting the dust build up for weeks will make it a lot more difficult to clean and might even require some scrubbing!^[8]
   
   • Be sure to refill your bucket with fresh water once it gets dark brown and murky.

[Edit]Use microfiber cloths.

1. Dust with microfiber cloths. Not all dusting cloths are made alike! Where feather dusters simply move the dust particles into the air, these super affordable and effective do-it-all cloths are designed to trap and hold onto dust. Simply wipe down any dusty areas in your house with a microfiber cloth, and be amazed at how much dander these bad boys pick up!^[9]
   
   • Use microfiber cloths to dust all surfaces where dust accumulates, like the top of your mantel, desk, bedside tables, etc.
   • Wet cloths tend to collect dust better than dry cloths, so when dusting furniture that isn't wooden, try wetting the cloth first.
   • Wash microfiber cloths in the washing machine immediately after dusting to get rid of everything the cloth collected.^[10]
   • Avoid using dryer sheets when you run them through the dryer, as fabric softener reduces the cloths' capacity to hold the dust.

[Edit]Wash your bedding frequently.

1. Wash your sheets at lease once a week. Sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillows are places where dust tends to accumulate, often causing people to wake up with stuffy noses from breathing dusty air all night. To kick dust to the curb, particularly in your bedroom, wash your sheets at last once a week—especially if you or your family members have dry skin or if your pets sleep with you in the bed.^[11]
   
   • Wash other bedding and blankets once every 3-4 weeks.

[Edit]Beat your cushions and rugs.

1. Beat your cushions and rugs once a month. Like your bedding, furniture cushions and rugs tend to pick up a lot of dust over time. Unfortunately, you send dust flying into the air whenever you sit on your couch or walk on your rug! To combat this, take your cushions and rugs outside for a few whacks and eliminate as much dust as possible at least every 3 months.^[12]
   
   • An old broom handle is great for beating rugs and cushions.
   • Keep beating rugs and cushions until you no longer see dust particles flying into the air.

[Edit]Wipe down your walls.

1. Clean your walls from top to bottom every few months. Go over the walls, trim, and baseboards with damp cloths every 2-3 months. Clean the top of the walls first, making your way down to the bottom. That way, you'll be able to collect all the dust that falls as you clean.^[13]
   

[Edit]Clear away clutter.

1. Get rid of knick-knacks. Go through your house and do a sweep for dust-collecting items like extra decor, blankets, books, you name it, that you no longer need. This will leave your surfaces much easier to clean.^[14]
   
   • For those items you want to keep, consider moving some of them to a room your family doesn't use as frequently, like a spare bedroom. That way, the main rooms in your house won't be as likely to accumulate dust.

[Edit]Pack up paper.

1. Remove piles of magazines and books. Believe it or not, paper products produce a lot of dust as they degrade over time. Having piles of books and magazines stacked around the house is a sure-fire way to create a dusty atmosphere, so place your books on bookshelves and regularly recycle magazines and other paper items.^[15]
   
   • Store paper items you want to keep in sealed containers so they won't make your house dusty.

[Edit]Cut back on fabrics.

1. Use fewer textiles in your house. Throw blankets, pillows, tablecloths, and plushy furniture all contribute to household dust.^[16] Get rid of or donate the linen and cloth items you no longer need to see a reduction in the amount of dust flying around your bedroom and the rest of the house.
   
   • Instead of buying cloth furniture, go for leather or wood.
   • It may be that one piece of older furniture is disintegrating and producing dust. If so, get rid of it.

[Edit]Tidy up your closet.

1. Keep your closets clean. Every time you open the door to your closet, tiny changes in air pressure cause flakes of fiber to shed from clothing and fabrics, which end up accumulating on the ground. Reduce dust in your closet by doing the following:^[17]
   
   • Hang up your clothes neatly instead of keeping them in piles or stacks.
   • Have a place for your shoes to go, like an over-the-door shoe hanger, rather than throwing them all in a bin.
   • Regularly vacuum the floor of your closet.

[Edit]Store seasonal clothing.

1. Keep unused clothing in boxes or bags. Store away out-of-season clothing instead of leaving them out year-round. Keeping clothing and fabrics in storage like an under-the-bed container during the off-season means they are less likely to be disturbed, resulting in fewer pieces of dust floating around your bedroom.^[18]
   
   • Store your off-season or unused clothing in transparent clothing containers or bags so you can easily see what you have, should you want to add an item back into your closet.

[Edit]Leave your shoes at the door.

1. Enforce a no-shoes in the house policy. Wearing shoes in the house tracks in mud and dirt and eventually turns into dust once it dries out. Consider asking people to remove their shoes at the door or in an outdoor or entryway shoe rack. That way, you can keep the dust and grime in one area rather than all over your home. Plus, it’s more sanitary!^[19]
   

[Edit]Keep up with pet grooming.

1. Groom your pets once a month. Our shedding furry friends can contribute fur and dander to the household dust count. Grooming your shedding pets around once a month by taking them to be professionally groomed or grooming them at home will help reduce the particulates floating around your house and reduce allergens!^[20]
   
   • If you choose to groom your pets at home, be sure to groom them in the bathroom or laundry room rather than in the living room, couch, or bedroom since these areas are harder to keep clean.
   • Try brushing your pet between grooming sessions to help reduce hair around the house!
   • Washing your pets' bedding once a week is another great way to keep dander down.

[Edit]Seal up cracks in drafty doors and window frames.

1. Use caulk to seal any cracks you might have in your home. Cracks at entry points such as windows and doors may be letting in unwanted dust and pollen into your home, so filling them with caulking will reduce your dust problem and potentially lower your heating bill. Drafts and dander be gone!^[21]
   

[Edit]Check the chimney for soot.

1. Inspect any fireplaces and chimneys for ash and soot. If it’s been a while since you cleaned out your chimney, hiring a chimney sweep might be a good idea to stop the soot from swirling around in your home. Alternately, use an industrial vacuum to vacuum up the soot, and dispose of it in your outside trash can.^[22]
   

[Edit]Clean your lint trap.

1. Check your dryer for lint loss. If left unchecked, your lint trap can fill up with lint and send dust particles flying each time you run the machine. Plus, it’s a huge fire hazard, so be sure to clean it out each time you run a load of laundry.^[23]
   

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Dust Your Entire House
• Get Rid of Dust
• Keep Dust off a Television Screen
• Maintain a Clean Home
• Clean Your Carpets

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/F_I/Health-effects-of-dust
2. ↑ [v161119_b01]. 28 August 2019.
3. ↑ [v161119_b01]. 28 August 2019.
4. ↑ [v161119_b01]. 28 August 2019.
5. ↑ https://www.directenergy.com/blog/check-air-filters-right-home/
6. ↑ https://www.peacehealth.org/medical-topics/id/rt1233
7. ↑ [v160993_b01]. 16 May 2019.
8. ↑ [v161119_b01]. 28 August 2019.
9. ↑ [v161119_b01]. 28 August 2019.
10. ↑ [v160993_b01]. 16 May 2019.
11. ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedding-information/how-often-should-you-wash-your-sheets
12. ↑ https://www.thehealthy.com/respiratory/asthma/dust-allergy-rid-dust-your-house/
13. ↑ [v161150_b01]. 22 September 2019.
14. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/in-depth/allergy/art-20049365
15. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/allergies/in-depth/allergy/art-20049365
16. ↑ ​​https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/Pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=rt1233
17. ↑ https://www.thehealthy.com/respiratory/asthma/dust-allergy-rid-dust-your-house/
18. ↑ https://www.thehealthy.com/respiratory/asthma/dust-allergy-rid-dust-your-house/
19. ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35462/dont-wear-shoes-in-house/
20. ↑ https://aafa.org/allergies/prevent-allergies/control-indoor-allergens/
21. ↑ https://www.ewg.org/healthyhomeguide/reducing-household-dust/
22. ↑ https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
23. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-a-dryer-vent/

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