Dust can be a big problem in any house. Made up of dirt, dead skin cells, fabric pieces, and even stuff from outside like wood ash and car exhaust—dust builds up quickly and can even trigger certain health conditions like asthma.
Simply put, if you want to clean up your home or rental property—getting rid of dust is important for your health (and your tenants' health). It's also good for keeping your furniture, gadgets, and appliances in top shape. The question is: how do you prevent buildup of dust overtime?
Whether you're doing some spring cleaning or prepping a rental for new tenants, follow these dust control strategies to achieve a sparkling clean home all year long.
TL;DR
How to Get Rid of Dust at Home: Start by dusting from top to bottom of your home using a dust brush and damp cloth. Focus on highest areas first, dusting from ceiling fans and light fixtures to blinds, shelves, and lower objects and furniture. Complete your dusting with a thorough vacuum and air purifier with a HEPA filter. Vacuum weekly to keep on top of dust and wash bedding weekly to reduce dust mites.
How To Remove Dust In Your Home
First, start your dusting routine from the highest points in the room. This approach ensures that any dust dislodged from higher surfaces doesn't settle on areas you've already cleaned below and create more work.
Here's how to dust properly so you only have to touch each surface once:
- Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures: Use an extendable duster or a step ladder to reach these spots. For ceiling fans, a neat trick is to use an old pillowcase. Slide it over each blade and pull it back to capture the dust inside, preventing it from falling onto the floor or furniture below.
- Curtains and Window Blinds: Gently vacuum curtains with an upholstery attachment and wash every few months. Use a duster or damp microfiber cloth to clean the blinds regularly.
- Top Shelves and High Furniture: Bookcases, wardrobes, and cabinets collect a lot of dust. Use a microfiber duster with a long handle to reach these spots.
- Wall Art and Picture Frames: Don't forget about the tops of picture frames and wall-mounted decor. A quick swipe with a microfiber cloth or duster can remove the dust without damaging these items.
- Lowest Level Points: After you've dusted all of the highest points, move to mid-level surfaces like tables, countertops, and appliances. Finish with the lowest levels – baseboards, floors, and under furniture.
Using the Right Tools to Get the Job Done
There are several tools you'll want to have on hand to remove dust properly. In this section, we'll cover the best ones—and good news, you likely already have most of them.
- Microfiber Dusters: This essential tool is designed to attract and hold onto dust particles rather than just moving them around, like their feather duster counterpart. Microfiber is especially effective for picking up fine dust and allergens.
- Damp Cloth Method: For surfaces that scratch easily, like delicate wood or glass, use a damp cloth. The moisture helps trap dust, making it easier to wipe away. Make sure the cloth is only slightly wet, as too much water can damage some surfaces.
- Extendable Dusters: These are perfect for reaching high, hard-to-access areas like ceiling corners, light fixtures, and top shelves.
- Vacuum with Brush Attachment: A vacuum cleaner fitted with a brush attachment can be ideal for dusting upholstery, window treatments, area rugs, and other fabric surfaces.
- Electrostatic Dusters: These dusters are designed to attract dust through a static charge, making them highly effective for picking up dust from a variety of surfaces. They are particularly good for blinds, vents, and other areas where dust tends to stick.
- Gloved Dusting: For intricate objects and detailed work, dusting gloves can be very effective. They allow you to clean objects by simply running your hands over them, ensuring all surfaces, nooks, and crannies are reached.
- Cleaning Solutions for Stubborn Dust: In cases where dust has turned into grime (like on kitchen appliances or sticky surfaces), a gentle cleaning solution might be needed. Opt for a mild cleaner or make a DIY solution with water and vinegar to break down the grime before wiping it away with a microfiber cloth.
- Anti-Static Dryer Sheets: Anti-static dryer sheets can do more than just soften clothes and reduce static in the dryer. After they've been used, these sheets can still serve a purpose. Gently wiping surfaces with used dryer sheets can help reduce dust accumulation. The sheets have anti-static properties that help repel dust, making them effective for wiping down electronics, blinds, and other surfaces where dust commonly settles.
How to Clean Dust Tools Thoroughly
It's important to regularly wash your microfiber cloths and dusters to maintain their effectiveness. Over time, they can become clogged with dust and lose their ability to trap particles effectively.
By choosing the right tools and using them appropriately, you can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your dusting routine, leading to a cleaner, healthier living environment.
Tackling Upholstery and Carpets
Just like solid surfaces, fabrics can be a dust magnet. In fact, the fewer fabrics that you have in your home in general, the better off you are when it comes to keeping on top of dust.
Clean Carpets Regularly
Upholstery dust and carpet fibers are havens for dust mites. Make sure to clean carpets weekly—a quick sweep with either a regular or robot vacuum will do. Pay careful attention to high traffic areas, as these sections will have the most dirt and grime.
Maintain Rugs
In addition to regular vacuuming, it's also a good idea to have rugs, carpet, and upholstery cleaned by a professional twice a year. If you want to go the extra mile, take area rugs outside and shake them off or use an old fashioned rug beater. While vacuuming is a more effective tool than smacking your area rugs, wrestling style, some rug professionals still swear by this technique.
Keeping the Indoor Air Clean
If your allergies tend to worsen in dusty areas, using an air purifier can help maintain breathable air quality in the home. Designed to capture airborne particles, including dust, pollen, and mold spores, a purifier is relatively low cost and easy to maintain. Maintaining a good filter in your HVAC system also plays a crucial role and can make a huge difference in reducing indoor dust.
Maintain HVAC and Purifier Filters
Regularly changing out your HEPA air filters and implementing annual duct cleaning can play a huge role in maintaining fresh air and minimizing dust levels in your home. Even if you have HEPA filters in your central air system, adding supplemental air purifiers in each room can also be beneficial.
Keep Windows Closed on High Allergen Days
If you have outdoor allergies such as tree or grass allergies, make sure to keep windows shut on particularly high pollen count days.
Balance Humidity in the Home
Maintaining a balanced humidity level not only makes the air more comfortable but also creates less hospitable conditions for these microscopic invaders. Using dehumidifiers in damp areas or humidifiers in overly dry spaces helps stabilize the indoor climate.
By keeping the humidity in check, you can help ensure your home remains cleaner, healthier, and more comfortable.
Prevention Tips: How to Prevent Dust Buildup
Dusting your home and changing air filters helps to keep things clean when dust accumulates. But how can we prevent dust accumulation in the first place? While we can't guarantee you'll never see a dust particle again, there are some practical ways to get rid of dust accumulation, so you're not seeing as much dust in general.
Reduce Dust from Clothing and Fabrics
Clothing and household fabrics like bed linens and curtains significantly contribute to household dust, as they shed fibers. Regularly washing and thoroughly drying these items can significantly reduce the amount of fabric fibers that result in dust in your home. The dryer captures these fibers in the lint trap, preventing them from becoming airborne and settling around your house.
Proper Pet Care
While pets can be a great addition to the home, they can contribute to house dust. Make sure to have your furry pets groomed regularly to reduce shedding and pet dander. Here are some pro tips on how to control dust in your home through proper pet care:
- Brush & Bathe Pets Regularly - Brushing cat or dog fur helps to capture loose hair and dander before they become airborne. (Always make sure to groom pets outdoors!) Follow a regular grooming and bathing schedule to keep pets clean and happy.
- Use Pet-Friendly Cleaning Products: Get one with a pet hair attachment and filter to clean areas where your pets spend most of their time. Invest in quality pet grooming tools, like fine-toothed combs or de-shedding brushes, especially for long-haired breeds.
- Clean Pet Bedding Often: Wash pet beds, blankets, and toys often to reduce the accumulation of hair and dander and to help eliminate cat odor.
- Manage Pet Allergies Consult your vet about dietary supplements or skin care products for pets prone to dry skin (which can increase dander).
- Designate Pet-Free Zones: Consider keeping certain areas of your home pet-free to limit the spread of dander.
Clutter & Dust-Free Spaces
Decluttering and eliminating dust-loving spaces reduces the number of surfaces where dust can settle, making home cleaning more manageable. By eliminating areas where dust accumulates, you'll make it much easier to manage.
Upgrading to Hard Floors
When it comes to preventing and getting rid of dust, hardwood floors or vinyl floors are superior. Switch out your carpet in high-traffic areas whenever possible for a cleaner material more ideal for dust prevention.
8 Practical Tips: Everyday Adjustments
Last but not least, here are a few lifestyle tips that you may want to consider making if you're particularly sensitive to dust or want to stay on top of cleaning in your home.
- No Shoe Policy: You can make it as strict as you want, but in general, limiting the use of outdoor shoes inside the home can greatly reduce the amount of dust and dirt that gets tracked into your home.
- Use Doormats: Place doormats outside and inside entry doors to trap dirt and debris from shoes, even if you have a no-shoes policy.
- Air Purifying Plants: In addition to air purifiers, you can also incorporate indoor plants that naturally purify the air, helping to reduce airborne dust particles. Just remember to maintain them to help them retain their optimum performance levels.
- Seal Front Doors: Check the weather seal on your front and entryway doors to ensure that your doors are sealed properly—you don't want a wind storm to blow outdoor dust into your home.
- Dusting over Sweeping: Choose dusting over sweeping, as sweeping can stir up more dust into the air. If sweeping is necessary, use a Swiffer or damp mop.
- Smoke-Free Home: Enforce a no-smoking policy inside the house as smoke particles significantly contribute to indoor dust and air pollution.
- Ventilation During Cleaning: Open windows or use fans during and after cleaning to circulate and refresh indoor air.
- Close Windows on Windy Days: While it's good to keep windows open every once in awhile to let your home breathe, make sure to keep windows closed on windy days.
Conclusion: A Fresh Perspective on Dust Control
While completely eliminating dust may be an impossible feat, following these cleaning tips and incorporating a regular cleaning routine can help you get rid of significantly more dust in less time.
So, whether you've got a solid cleaning schedule or tackle it as you go, hopefully these tips can help you maintain the right lifestyle habits to have clean, dust-free rooms on the regular.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How often should you dust?
Ideally, dusting should happen at least once a week. This is important because it helps keep your home clean and reduces allergens which can aggravate allergies and respiratory issues. It also helps prolong the life of your furniture and appliances by preventing the buildup of dust that can cause damage over time.
How to get rid of dust in room regularly?
To get rid of dust in your living space, wipe areas with a damp microfiber cloth and vacuum floors and furniture regularly. It's also a good idea to wash bedding once a week, use air purifiers in rooms, and change your HVAC filter often to cut down on dust buildup and keep your rooms clean.
How to remove dust in a home naturally?
Besides cleaning regularly, it's a good idea to increase ventilation (open windows often when outdoor air quality is good and allergen counts are down). House plants can also reduce particles, such as Spider Plants. Keeping bedding and curtains washed regularly also helps reduce dust that can occur over time.
