How to Dust Proof Your Home
Fortunately, you can do something about it. You don’t have to tolerate a dusty home, but you also don’t have to spend a full weekend to simply create a dust-free environment. With these tips, you be able to dust proof your home, giving you cleaner, healthier air with fewer allergens and less effort.
Let’s look at how to dust proof your home so you have healthier air and a cleaner house for your family!
Leave Mats Near the Doorways
Most dust comes from outside sources, including dirt and sand, and a large portion of this dust is tracked in on your shoes, sandals, and boots. One of the ways you can reduce dust that is tracked into your home is to place mats near entryways. Place a mat on the outside and inside of your doorways and you’ll reduce the amount of dust that is brought into the home.Take Off Your Shoes!
While mats on the inside and outside are a good start, you should make sure to remove your footwear before entering your home so you have less allergens tracked inside. Have a space where you can place your shoes, and you’ll keep loads of dust from being tracked into the house.Create an Entry Way for Jackets, Boots, and Winter Clothing
Dust is not only brought in on shoes. It’s also brought inside on the clothing that you wear. If you are wearing jackets or sweatshirts, a good strategy is to have a separate entry way where you can leave all exterior layers. This should be separate from the main living space so you have a closed-in area where dust can stay put.
Choose Hardwood Over Carpets
Some of these steps won’t keep dust from coming into your home, but they will help make your home dust free. This is one of those steps. If dust is a concern in your house, wall-to-wall carpeting is one of the worst materials you can have. This is because dust will fall into the fabrics of carpet and stay there until it is stirred up; usually when someone walks across the room.Carpet makes dust particles harder to remove, as they get stubbornly lodged in the fabrics. A better option is hardwood, tile, and other forms of hard flooring. When dust settles on these surfaces, it is easily cleaned by mopping the floor, which is more effective than a vacuum cleaner over wall-to-wall carpeting. Vacuuming wall-to-wall carpeting can help, but it won’t remove dust and allergens as effectively as mopping hardwood or cleaning with a damp cloth.
Close Windows During Pollen, Dust Season
Opening windows is a great way to improve the air quality in your home, but if there is a lot of dust, pollen, or even smoke in the air, it’s best to keep the windows closed. Dust often comes from dirt and sand that has been kicked up by heavy winds, so keeping your windows closed will reduce the amount of outdoor pollutants that are able to make their way into your home.Wrap Unused Closet Clothing in Bags
Some of the dust you find in your home will be made of fibers from clothing. This means that the closet can be a strong contributor to dust. To keep dust to a minimum, wrap any clothing that isn’t used in plastic storage bags. This will keep clothing fibers from becoming indoor air pollution.Don’t Allow Smoking in the Home
By now, this should come as a no-brainer, but if you should not smoke in your home. Yes, smoking obviously has more significant consequences than simply creating dust, but tobacco smoke can become a contributor to dust in the home while remaining a health hazard as thirdhand smoke. Start smoking outside and you’ll notice that the dust in your home is less common. You’ll also find that your home smells better, so it’s a double win for you and your family.
Avoid Heavy Drapes
Like carpets, curtains and drapes will trap dust and allergens and release them later. A better option for your windows would be blinds or shutters. These items are far easier to clean compared to heavy drapes.Similarly, upholstered furniture can hold in large amounts of dust. Dust will often kick into the air where it is breathed in upon sitting on a cloth couch. Vacuuming regularly is the best way to keep the dust down.
Replace Your Furnace Filters Regularly
No one likes to replace furnace filters, however having clean filters for your HVAC system will reduce your energy bill since your air conditioning or heating system will not have to work as hard. It will also improve your indoor air quality by reducing the amount of dust in the air.If you see more dust after turning on your heating or cooling system you should have your air ducts checked and cleaned. It is quite common, especially in early winter for dust to be a problem when a heating system is first turned on since dust that has accumulated in your air ducts will be blown throughout your home.
Choose Hypoallergenic Pets
No dog or cat is 100% hypoallergenic, but there are pets that are less likely to cause allergies because they shed less pet dander. Pet allergies are caused by pet dander, which is simply the pet’s skin cells that have been flaked off. Hair is not the cause of allergies, but it can carry the animal dander and act as a vehicle, moving the allergens from one place to another. Cats and dogs will shed pet dander no matter what breed you have. However, there are some breeds that shed less skin cells, which makes them better for homes with allergy sufferers.Don’t Wear Dirty Clothes Around the House
If you work in a dusty industry, make sure you are not dragging your work home with you. Leave dusty clothing in the entry way. If you don’t have the option of removing clothes before entering the main living space, go to your bedroom and immediately remove them. Preferably, you should put dusty clothes immediately in the wash to ensure dust doesn’t spread through the home.
