Lifestyle
8 Simple Secrets to a Forever Dust-Free Home
Apartment Therapy · 19 Jan 2018
Do you feel like you're always battling dust? If it seems like it just starts accumulating again the second you're done cleaning, there's good news: you can totally cut down on how much dust your home produces and keep it from building up. These simple secrets can help you stay as dust-free as possible, and at least make cleaning up a little bit easier and less time-consuming.
Dust with Microfiber Cloths: If you typically dust with a feather duster or rags from old t-shirts, consider making the switch to microfiber cloths. According to Molly Maid, feather dusters and cotton cloths tend to push dust around, while microfiber material is made up of tiny wedges that trap dust and dirt. Microfiber cloths also leave behind less streaking and residue.
Use a Vacuum with a HEPA Filter Weekly: This is especially important for allergy sufferers - vacuums with HEPA or high-efficiency particulate air filters are recommended for people with dust allergies because, according to Consumer Reports, they trap the molecules and air that come in so they don't go back out into the air. And vacuuming at least once a week will help keep dust (which inevitably ends up on the floor) from accumulating too much.
Swap Out Your Blinds: Slatted blinds tend to collect dust and can be difficult to clean, so if you live in a high-dust household, it might be worth switching to window treatments that are lightweight and easier to clean. Allergy & Air suggests washable synthetic curtains or cleanable roller shades - but if you must keep your blinds, be sure to vacuum them and wipe them down once a week.
Invest in an Air Purifier (and Place it Properly): Speaking of windows, that's where you should be placing your air purifier if you have one or plan on investing in one. According to Allergy & Air, this helps trap dust and air contaminants right as they come in from outside, ultimately stopping them from building up. Your air purifier, like your vacuum, should also feature a HEPA filter.
Declutter and Cut Back on Trinkets and Textiles: This is pretty straightforward, as far as trinket-y things go - the more stuff you have sitting around, the more dust tends to collect (and the more time-consuming it is to get rid of it). And with textiles, not only do fabrics tend to trap more dust, they also produce it - according to HGTV, human skin and particles and textile fibers are the biggest offenders. Cutting back on items that both collect and produce dust should make things a little easier.
Change Your Sheets Every Week: Again, fabrics tend to collect (and with your bedding, especially those skin particles) and cause a lot of dust, so keeping your sheets and bedding as clean as possible is important for keeping dust levels down. Wash sheets weekly, and be sure to clean comforters, pillows and mattress pads regularly.
Groom Your Pets in an Easy-to-Clean Space: It can be tempting to brush your furry friends when they're so peacefully curled up next to you on the couch, but you're basically stirring up hair and dust and allergens in your living room, which is - one - full of fabrics that it can cling to, and - two - where you spend a lot of your relaxation time. Instead, be sure to groom your furry friends in a space that's easier to clean, like the bathroom (tile floors!) or at least a spot on a hardwood floor that's not by the rug.
Keep Your Houseplants Clean: If you're an enthusiastic plant parent with greenery everywhere, it's also important to note that your plants can collect dust, too. Keep your green friends - and the rest of your home - free from dust by giving them a once-over with a microfiber cloth on a monthly basis.