Dust in your home
Where it comes from and how to keep it under control
A large percentage of household dust comes from people, pets, and fabric. Letting it build up too much can lead to allergies and other health problems, so it’s a good idea to keep it under control.
There’s no way to entirely eliminate dust from your life, but you can work to eliminate it as much as possible and there are cleaning methods, clutter remedies and improvements that can help reduce the amount of dust.
Here are some suggestions:
- Much of the dust is entering the house from outside. Use caulking to seal cracks around door and window frames. Check any fireplaces for openings and for accumulations of ash and soot. It may be necessary to hire a chimney sweep. Check clothes dryer ductwork and exterior venting for holes and blockages. Fix as needed.
- Organize your closets and change your bedding regularly, and beat your cushions and rugs once a month to keep dust to a minimum. Clothes, sheets, blanket, and carpets are places where dust tends to accumulate.
- Vacuum frequently. Using a vacuum equipped with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter will ensure that you’re sucking up as much dust as possible. Concentrate on high-traffic areas and be sure to change your vacuum filter frequently.
- Sweep and Mop the floors frequently to get rid of the dust on the floors you don’t vacuum are another way to reduce your household dust. Remember to use the right cleaning supplies; Damp rags or disposable cloths that attract and hold dust with an electrostatic charge work much better.
- Clean your walls from top to bottom, and clearing clutters. Every few months, when your house is due for a deep cleaning, go over the walls, trim and baseboards. Get rid of unnecessary boxes and pile of storages such as books and newspapers.
- Have people take off dirty shoes at the door. Mud and dirt that gets tracked into the house will eventually contribute to your household dust. Also grooming and cleaning pets regularly will help eliminate some of the exterior dirt and dust.
- Use an air purifier to clean the air by trapping air particles. Air purifiers will only clean the room that they’re in, so you might consider using them in rooms that requires them the most.
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