5 Ways To Reduce & Remove Dust In Your Home

Here are 5 ways you can reduce and remove dust in your home to save yourself a lot of extra housework, as well as keep allergies at bay.

Dust is something that inevitably accumulates in our homes, but we can combat it, and reduce the amount of dust on flat surfaces, floors, and in fabrics and fibers.

Before we can fight the enemy -- dust, we've got to know what it is though, and why you don't want to keep it around your home more than can absolutely be avoided.

For most people a little dust isn't a big deal, and I'm definitely not advocating using enough energy to try to eradicate every dust particle in your home. That would be impossible, and just thinking about all that effort makes me tired.

But when you know what dust is made up of -- including dead skin, pet dander, dust mites, their feces and remains, insect parts, and more -- yuck, you can see why you don't want a lot of it around.

In addition, while small amounts of dust aren't necessarily a huge deal (unless you've got dust allergies for example), dust in larger quantities isn't healthy, for anyone.

Everyone breathes better in a home that isn't so dusty, because even for those without allergies dust acts as an irritant to your eyes, nose and lungs.

In addition, along with not looking pleasant on surfaces, dust also negatively impacts many items in your home, including clogging up vents in electronics such as your computer, or your refrigerator coils.

So now that you know what it is, and why you want to get rid of (most) of it, here's how to reduce and remove the total amount of dust found in your home.

1. Vacuum Regularly

The number one thing you can do in your home to reduce dust is to vacuum regularly, assuming your vacuum has a good filter in it.

Vacuums suck up the dust so you can physically remove it from your home, but if they don't have tight seals at the joints and hoses, or the vacuum doesn't have a good filter, then vacuuming ends up spraying dust back into the air from the back of the motor.

Ideally you want to use a quality vacuum with a HEPA filtration system.

In addition to vacuuming carpeting, you should also vacuum hard floors, instead of just dust mopping or sweeping them. Vacuuming removes more dust than these other methods.

Further, don't forget to also vacuum upholstered furniture. Anything with fibers, such as upholstery, carpeting, draperies, etc. are a place for dust to cling and then stay, so you've got to vacuum these spots thoroughly and regularly to remove it.

That's why if you have extremely bad dust allergies doctors recommend completely getting rid of carpet, since it holds onto a lot more dust than hard floors.

2. Dust Regularly (And Correctly)

Along with vacuuming, the other main method for removing dust from your home that has accumulated there is to dust.

Dusting isn't hard, but it should be done regularly, and to make sure you're not wasting your time it should be done correctly.

Don't use a feather duster, since they just push dust around. Instead, to remove the most dust use a slightly damp cloth, which will pick up and hold the dust for easier removal.

Be careful with this damp dusting cloth -- you only want enough moisture to have the dust stick to the cloth, not so much that you damage surfaces with excess water.

And to settle the age old debate, you should clean your home, including removing dust, starting at the top and then working down to the bottom.

Also, dust first and then vacuum.

Doing these cleaning steps in this order will help you work with gravity, and remove the most dust by letting it settle back onto the lower surfaces for easier cleaning and removal.

3. Wash Bedding Regularly

Washing your bedding regularly will actually reduce the overall amount of your dust in your home. This may surprise some people, but it's definitely true.

The reason this is true is because as you sleep at night, and your body rubs against the sheets and pillowcase, you make "dust," including sloughing off dead skin cells. In addition, bedding is a place dust mites can thrive, if you're not careful. (Yuck, I know!)

That's why underneath your bed can get so dusty, so fast. (You can read tips on the sister site, Home Storage Solutions 101, about how to clean underneath your bed.)

So head off the dust factory by washing those sheets regularly (I recommend at least weekly). (You can find out how often I recommend washing many types of household fabrics and clothes here.)

In addition, you should also vacuum your mattress regularly, as well as wash your pillows, for this same reason.

4. Change Air Filters As Recommended

Your air filter, that works in conjunction with your HVAC system, is another way to reduce dust in your home. And you know it's working when you pull it out and it is absolutely covered in dust that it has collected.

First, if you're concerned about dust don't go with the cheapest air filters. Instead, read how much particulate each type of filter can filter from the air, and how small that particulate can be. If your home is dusty I suggest, along with these other strategies I've listed, to get a better filter and see if that will make a difference for you.

Of course, even the most expensive and advanced air filters will only work as long as they're changed out regularly. There comes a point when they're so full of dust air can't flow properly through them anymore and it's long past time to switch to a new one.

Make sure to read the instructions on the filter you choose and follow the recommendations for the time intervals for switching these out, so they can do their job and reduce the dust in your home as intended.

You can find a whole range of HVAC furnace filters here, and make sure to stock up so you always have a new one to replace them regularly.

5. Open The Windows & Let In Fresh Air

Finally, to reduce dust in your home you've got to have good ventilation.

For many years homes have become what they term, "tighter," meaning to save energy costs they're sealing homes more, reducing air leaks and drafts, etc. This may save you money, but it doesn't generally improve air quality.

There's a reason we find "fresh air" to be fresh, and "stale" air to have a dusty quality. The reason is that in a "tight" house, with time, the same air keeps getting dustier and dustier, and without new fresher air coming in to mix with it, eventually the air within your home will be more dust laden than the air outside it.

So to reduce the overall concentration of dust in your home let in fresh air from time to time. Not only is it pleasant, but it really can keep your home a bit cleaner and less dusty.

How do you reduce and remove dust in your home? I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments below.

Looking for more places to clean in your home? Don't forget these 10 places when you clean your house.

In addition, get more tips for how to clean just about anything here, in the site's room to room guide.

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